Dual Boot Ubuntu, Win 7, With Two Hard Drives

[dr_shred]

I have a an hp desktop with two 250G HDs
with Win 7. When I try to install ubuntu it hangs up on
restart if I use the default settings which, I believe
installs ubuntu to sb1, i.e. the second HD.

I've done a lot of research in various forums on how to
install different partitions, but there doesn't appear to be
a definitive description on how to do this without, as some
suggest, disconnecting one of the HDs.

I've tried creating the /. boot, swap and /home or /data
partitions manually on sb1, but it always boots Win 7.

This is not a trivial task by any means and it would be
awesome for a detailed set of instructions to do this.

The current status is:

I'm able to boot from the ubuntu image cd

The installer installs ubuntui but on restart it hangs. I
think it installs it on the second 250G drive.

The manual partition manager comes up just fine, but it
doesn't allow me to place the required directories - /,
/boot, swap and /home on sa1, where, I assume, the win 7
boot sector is.

I have run

sudo fdisk -lu
sudo blkid
boot_info_script.sh

but can't decipher where the problem is. Any help would
be greatly appreciated

Here are the screen dumps of the commands

sudo fdisk -lu



ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb6611f26

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 206847 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 206848 953497599 476645376 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 953497600 976771071 11636736 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x307193bd

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2048 488386559 244192256 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 488388606 976771071 244191233 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 968579072 976771071 4096000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 488388608 960382975 235997184 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 960385024 968574975 4094976 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdc: 1004 MB, 1004011520 bytes
248 heads, 32 sectors/track, 247 cylinders, total 1960960 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc3072e18

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 32 1960959 980464 4 FAT16 <32M
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(249, 247, 32) logical=(247, 23, 32)


sudo blkid



sudo blkid

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: LABEL="SYSTEM" UUID="961C03E41C03BDED" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="OS" UUID="F2487D6F487D3387" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="HP_RECOVERY" UUID="2C0A19E30A19AB3A" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb1: LABEL="DATA_DRIVE_1" UUID="F6AC0FEBAC0FA4E9" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="585f74b9-bd9f-4c32-8b9d-3a6759dbc864" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb7: UUID="9da01abf-b670-4852-aa15-7d67cbe59765" TYPE="swap"


RESULTS.txt



Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.
=> Grub2 (v1.97-1.98) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector
1 of the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and
looks in partition 6 for (,msdos6)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /bootmgr /boot/bcd

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Linux Mint Xfce Edition
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 206,848 953,497,599 953,290,752 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 953,497,600 976,771,071 23,273,472 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 2,048 488,386,559 488,384,512 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb2 488,388,606 976,771,071 488,382,466 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 968,579,072 976,771,071 8,192,000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 488,388,608 960,382,975 471,994,368 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 960,385,024 968,574,975 8,189,952 82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 961C03E41C03BDED ntfs SYSTEM
/dev/sda2 F2487D6F487D3387 ntfs OS
/dev/sda3 2C0A19E30A19AB3A ntfs HP_RECOVERY
/dev/sdb1 F6AC0FEBAC0FA4E9 ntfs DATA_DRIVE_1
/dev/sdb5 585f74b9-bd9f-4c32-8b9d-3a6759dbc864 swap
/dev/sdb6 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ext4
/dev/sdb7 9da01abf-b670-4852-aa15-7d67cbe59765 swap

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)


=========================== sdb6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png; then
true
else
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png ; then
set color_normal=white/black
set color_highlight=white/light-gray
else
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
menuentry 'LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 961c03e41c03bded
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Recovery Environment (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2c0a19e30a19ab3a
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb6/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
/dev/sdb6 / ext4 rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /home ntfs rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

441.023502350 = 473.545379840 boot/grub/core.img 1
449.016834259 = 482.128154624 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
441.022006989 = 473.543774208 boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64 1
441.010738373 = 473.531674624 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 1
441.022006989 = 473.543774208 initrd.img 1
441.010738373 = 473.531674624 vmlinuz 1

[YesWeCan]

Your install looks ok at first glance.
If you boot the sda drive it boots into Windows ok and if you boot the sdb drive it just hangs, is that right?

How does it hang, as it were? What exactly do you see on the screen? Do you get a grub rescue prompt or something else?

How old is your HP computer?

[Mark Phelps]

Since this appears to be Mint, have you checked in with the Mint forums to see what they have to say?

[oldfred]

With MBR(msdos) partitioning, do not mix up a windows hidden boot/recovery partition with an Ubuntu /boot partition. That cannot be the same and in fact most installation of Ubuntu files into windows damages Windows.

You do not show a /boot partition and for most desktops you do not need one. Just /(root) and swap is the standard install but we often recommend a separate /home. If all your data will be in a shared data partition you may not need the separate partition for /home as it is tiny and very easy to backup before a new reinstall.

Have you tried booting from sdb? And what error messages or screens do you get?

[dr_shred]

With MBR(msdos) partitioning, do not mix up a windows hidden boot/recovery partition with an Ubuntu /boot partition. That cannot be the same and in fact most installation of Ubuntu files into windows damages Windows.

You do not show a /boot partition and for most desktops you do not need one. Just /(root) and swap is the standard install but we often recommend a separate /home. If all your data will be in a shared data partition you may not need the separate partition for /home as it is tiny and very easy to backup before a new reinstall.

Have you tried booting from sdb? And what error messages or screens do you get?

Here's what I tried
reinstalled ubuntu
remove disk, cr
get nothing, no errors printed to the screen as before, hung up
toggle power, which boots win7
insert ubuntu cd
boot ubuntu
run boot_info_script.sh
restart

tries to boot ubuntu with the following
printed to the screen and it hangs
(obviously, this is not in its entirety since
I had to copy it by hand)



...
CR
...
BUG unable to handle kernal paging request
...
RIP ...
RSP ...
RAX ...
RBP ...
...
Call Trace: ...
...
Code: ...
...
RIP ...
RSP ...
CR2: 00000000babd7e60
(this is where it hangs)
toggle power
boots to win7

Reply to YesWeCan (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=934104)



If you boot the sda drive it boots into Windows ok and if you boot the sdb drive it just hangs, is that right?

-- The only way I can boot sdb it as described above: install ubuntu and restart, but it hangs.

How does it hang, as it were? What exactly do you see on the screen? Do you get a grub rescue prompt or something else?

-- See above.

How old is your HP computer?

-- About two weeks old
reply to Mark Phelps (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=311399)



Since this appears to be Mint, have you checked in with the Mint forums to see what they have to say?

-- Actually, it's both ubuntu and mint. I may have done a dumb thing and installed
mint after ubuntu didn't work. Ubuntu did the same this as described above before
I installed mint.
reply to oldfred (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=852711)


With MBR(msdos) partitioning, do not mix up a windows hidden boot/recovery partition with an Ubuntu /boot partition. That cannot be the same and in fact most installation of Ubuntu files into windows damages Windows.

You do not show a /boot partition and for most desktops you do not need one. Just /(root) and swap is the standard install but we often recommend a separate /home. If all your data will be in a shared data partition you may not need the separate partition for /home as it is tiny and very easy to backup before a new reinstall.

-- The first time I installed ubuntu, I accepted the default, which installed it on sdb1

Have you tried booting from sdb? And what error messages or screens do you get?

-- I don't know how to do this. I did try modifying the bios boot order but I couldn't
put the second hd ahead of the first.
Here is the current boot_info_script.sh
output



Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.
=> Grub2 (v1.97-1.98) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector
1 of the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and
looks in partition 6 for (,msdos6)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /bootmgr /boot/bcd

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Linux Mint Xfce Edition
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.04
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sdb9: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 206,848 953,497,599 953,290,752 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 953,497,600 976,771,071 23,273,472 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 2,048 244,194,303 244,192,256 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb2 244,195,326 976,771,071 732,575,746 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 968,579,072 976,771,071 8,192,000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 488,388,608 960,382,975 471,994,368 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 960,385,024 968,574,975 8,189,952 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb8 244,195,328 480,192,511 235,997,184 83 Linux
/dev/sdb9 480,194,560 488,376,319 8,181,760 82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 961C03E41C03BDED ntfs SYSTEM
/dev/sda2 F2487D6F487D3387 ntfs OS
/dev/sda3 2C0A19E30A19AB3A ntfs HP_RECOVERY
/dev/sdb1 F6AC0FEBAC0FA4E9 ntfs DATA_DRIVE_1
/dev/sdb5 585f74b9-bd9f-4c32-8b9d-3a6759dbc864 swap
/dev/sdb6 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ext4
/dev/sdb7 9da01abf-b670-4852-aa15-7d67cbe59765 swap
/dev/sdb8 de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f ext4
/dev/sdb9 ef0a21b2-e921-440f-aca2-3f5452e04ca0 swap

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)


=========================== sdb6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png; then
true
else
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png ; then
set color_normal=white/black
set color_highlight=white/light-gray
else
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
menuentry 'LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 961c03e41c03bded
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Recovery Environment (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2c0a19e30a19ab3a
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb6/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
/dev/sdb6 / ext4 rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /home ntfs rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

441.023502350 = 473.545379840 boot/grub/core.img 1
449.016834259 = 482.128154624 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
441.022006989 = 473.543774208 boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64 1
441.010738373 = 473.531674624 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 1
441.022006989 = 473.543774208 initrd.img 1
441.010738373 = 473.531674624 vmlinuz 1

=========================== sdb8/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos8)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 961C03E41C03BDED
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Recovery Environment (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2C0A19E30A19AB3A
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (on /dev/sdb6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro quiet
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
menuentry "LinuxMint GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sdb,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=3cce2773-3d49-4ebe-8aa7-58a37c45ecac ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb8/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdb8 during installation
UUID=de159de5-d983-4492-a797-057c2ffbf74f / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb9 during installation
UUID=ef0a21b2-e921-440f-aca2-3f5452e04ca0 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb8: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

201.024383545 = 215.848288256 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
117.605468750 = 126.277910528 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2
212.628009796 = 228.307587072 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1
117.605468750 = 126.277910528 initrd.img 2
212.628009796 = 228.307587072 vmlinuz 1

[oldfred]

All Linux system partitions have to use Linux formating not Windows. Windows does not support permissions & ownership which are fundemental to Linux.

/dev/sdb1 /home ntfs rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0

This may be why you cannot boot, and I did not think installer even let you do this.

[Hakunka-Matata]

/dev/sdb1 /home ntfs rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0

GOOD Find, oldfred, I read through that RESULTS.txt file a number of times and did not see that, and I thought I had patience.

[dr_shred]

All Linux system partitions have to use Linux formating not Windows. Windows does not support permissions & ownership which are fundemental to Linux.

/dev/sdb1 /home ntfs rw,errors=remount-ro 0 0

This may be why you cannot boot, and I did not think installer even let you do this.

So what can I do to fix it?

I was thinking about deleting the sdb partitions alltogether and starting from scratch with a manual installation. I downloaded the gparted tool and will start experimenting with that.

What I don't understand is:

Why doesn't the ubuntu installer simply put the correct partitions on sda like it would if there was only one hard drive?

If ubuntu is installed on sdb, with win 7 on sda, does this create confusion for the boot loader?

If I do a manual install, do I do it on sda or sdb?

[oldfred]

If you understand partitions a little I always suggest partitioning in advance. Then do manual install so you can also choose which drive's MBR to install the grub2 boot loader into. Then set BIOS to boot that drive. Some also suggest unplugging the Windows drive so then you do not have to worry about grub installing to the wrong place.

You are showing multiple Linux & swap partitions, so have you tried to use automatic install multiple times? After partitions are created it is better to reuse the partitions, but you have to use manual install. Delete the multiple Linux partitions and create one set of / (root), /home, & swap partitions.

For the Total space you want for Ubuntu:
Ubuntu's standard install is just / (root) & swap, but it is better to add another partition for /home:
1. 10-20 GB Mountpoint / primary or logical beginning ext4(or ext3)
2. all but 2 GB Mountpoint /home logical beginning ext4(or ext3)
3. 2 GB Mountpoint swap logical

Depending on how much memory you have you may not absolutely need swap but having some is still recommended. I do not hibernate (boots fast enough for me) but if hibernating then you need swap equal to RAM in GiB not GB. And if dual booting with windows a shared NTFS partition is also recommended. But you usually cannot create that as part of the install, just leave some space. Or partition in advance (recommended).
One advantage of partitioning in advance is that the installer will use the swap space to speed up the install. Thanks Herman for the tip.

Herman has lots of detail if you are interested.
Installing Ubuntu in Hard Disk Two (or more) internal or external
Maverick screens shown, other versions have slight difference in screens but process is the same.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p24.html

Install with separate /home from aysiu
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installseparatehome

[YesWeCan]

It looks to me like your Ubuntu installation is fine. But the Grub in sdb's MBR area is associated with your Mint OS rather than Ubuntu. So I think if you just reinstall Grub to reference Ubuntu it will boot Ubuntu ok.

boot Ubuntu live CD
sudo mount /dev/sdb8 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb

When you boot sdb you will get a grub menu with choice of Ubuntu and Mint. Mint probably wont boot until you sort a couple of things out in its fstab file. One is removing the mounting of sdb1 as /home for reasons already stated. You can still mount sdb1 but at some other, benign mount point. Also, the entries for root and swap will be better off using UUID numbers (which can be found from the blkid list).


If I were you I'd keep my sda drive Windows only. Don't start mixing Linux and Windows on the same drive. Don't install grub to sda.

[dr_shred]

It looks to me like your Ubuntu installation is fine. But the Grub in sdb's MBR area is associated with your Mint OS rather than Ubuntu. So I think if you just reinstall Grub to reference Ubuntu it will boot Ubuntu ok.

boot Ubuntu live CD
sudo mount /dev/sdb8 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sdb

When you boot sdb you will get a grub menu with choice of Ubuntu and Mint. Mint probably wont boot until you sort a couple of things out in its fstab file. One is removing the mounting of sdb1 as /home for reasons already stated. You can still mount sdb1 but at some other, benign mount point. Also, the entries for root and swap will be better off using UUID numbers (which can be found from the blkid list).


If I were you I'd keep my sda drive Windows only. Don't start mixing Linux and Windows on the same drive. Don't install grub to sda.

Did as you suggested, so now, the menu with the
different oses comes up and I can boot ubuntu and
win 7. Haven't tried mint yet.

So it looks like it's working!

Oh, one more thing: I had to disable the sata0 drive, the win 7 drive, from the
boot order in the bios, otherwise, ubuntu hung up like before. This, I think,
simply removes the windows loader on sata0 in favor of grub on sata1.
Grubs detects all the operating systems installed, including mint and they
all boot just fine.

Many thanks

[Mark Phelps]

Oh, one more thing: I had to disable the sata0 drive, the win 7 drive, from the
boot order in the bios, otherwise, ubuntu hung up like before. This, I think,
simply removes the windows loader on sata0 in favor of grub on sata1.

Why not just CHANGE the boot order of your hard drives in the BIOS? Most modern BIOS's have two entries:
1) Order of devices (i.e., CDROM, Hard Drive, etc)
2) Order of Hard Drives.

Change the second so that your Ubuntu drive is at the top of the list (normally done by tabbing to the drive and hitting the "+" key to move it to the top of the list). Then, when you reboot, it will use that instead of the Windows drive.

[dr_shred]

Why not just CHANGE the boot order of your hard drives in the BIOS? Most modern BIOS's have two entries:
1) Order of devices (i.e., CDROM, Hard Drive, etc)
2) Order of Hard Drives.

Change the second so that your Ubuntu drive is at the top of the list (normally done by tabbing to the drive and hitting the "+" key to move it to the top of the list). Then, when you reboot, it will use that instead of the Windows drive.

I tried that but I couldn't get it to work. I'll give it another shot.

[dr_shred]

Why not just CHANGE the boot order of your hard drives in the BIOS? Most modern BIOS's have two entries:
1) Order of devices (i.e., CDROM, Hard Drive, etc)
2) Order of Hard Drives.

Change the second so that your Ubuntu drive is at the top of the list (normally done by tabbing to the drive and hitting the "+" key to move it to the top of the list). Then, when you reboot, it will use that instead of the Windows drive.

O.K. I tried it again and it worked, i.e. both hds are enabled and sata1 precedes sata0 in the
boot order. I may have had a brief moment of mental abstraction, perhaps due to the primitive
gui of the bios.

Many Thanks to

YesWeCan (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=934104)
Mark Phelps (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=311399)
oldfred (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=852711)
Hakunka-Matata (http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=735950)

Sincerely,

dr_shred

[drkPu1se]

If you understand partitions a little I always suggest partitioning in advance. Then do manual install so you can also choose which drive's MBR to install the grub2 boot loader into. Then set BIOS to boot that drive. Some also suggest unplugging the Windows drive so then you do not have to worry about grub installing to the wrong place.

You are showing multiple Linux & swap partitions, so have you tried to use automatic install multiple times? After partitions are created it is better to reuse the partitions, but you have to use manual install. Delete the multiple Linux partitions and create one set of / (root), /home, & swap partitions.

For the Total space you want for Ubuntu:
Ubuntu's standard install is just / (root) & swap, but it is better to add another partition for /home:
1. 10-20 GB Mountpoint / primary or logical beginning ext4(or ext3)
2. all but 2 GB Mountpoint /home logical beginning ext4(or ext3)
3. 2 GB Mountpoint swap logical

Depending on how much memory you have you may not absolutely need swap but having some is still recommended. I do not hibernate (boots fast enough for me) but if hibernating then you need swap equal to RAM in GiB not GB. And if dual booting with windows a shared NTFS partition is also recommended. But you usually cannot create that as part of the install, just leave some space. Or partition in advance (recommended).
One advantage of partitioning in advance is that the installer will use the swap space to speed up the install. Thanks Herman for the tip.

Herman has lots of detail if you are interested.
Installing Ubuntu in Hard Disk Two (or more) internal or external
Maverick screens shown, other versions have slight difference in screens but process is the same.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~herman546/p24.html

Install with separate /home from aysiu
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installseparatehome

I've been using ubuntu for about 9 months now and never knew what the use for swap was except that it is needed for installation. I have Natty installed with Unity removed. Everything is peachy keen except where it excels in graphics because it is a gaming rig, it is rather slow generally. Sure 1 gig of ram is horrible when you want to play games, but atm I cant afford more and when I run windows and play video games it balls out rocks. I know that it doesnt take much ram to run a game and its alot about the graphics card but my rig takes about 3-5 minutes to load Chromium. once thats done it goes okay. well back to swap. ive always used no more than 512 mb for swap space. if im gathering this correctly should i increase this space used? and will this cure some of the general slowness? i do plan on adding more ram later on down the road when i receive another job.

[YesWeCan]

It looks to me like you have loads of swap space. You have 3 partitions of 4GB each.

If you boot your OS and run
swapon -s

It will tell you the amount of swap space available in kB.