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View Full Version : [SOLVED] Not booting from either CD or hard disk (SSD)



Claritux
February 1st, 2012, 07:10 PM
I have a newly purchased home built computer that I want to dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7 on:
Intel – Core i7 2600K
ASUS Sabertooth P67 REV 3.0
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 2x4GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570
Corsair SSD Force Series 3, 120GB 2.5"
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB
Samsung DVD±RW/Blu-Ray Reader SH-B123L

The main idea is to run both Ubuntu and Windows from the SSD, with a separate *hard disk* partition for the Windows install to put files on and a separate home partition for Ubuntu on the same hard disk. Windows installed itself on the SSD without problems, but I am having major problems getting Ubuntu to run. The first problem I encountered was that I was not able to boot up the Live-CD whatsoever. It seems like it gets stuck at a random(?) place when registering hardware components. However, I were able to run and install from the alternate CD installer. Now, when trying to boot to Ubuntu after a fresh install I first get to a completely purple screen. After doing a power shut (could probably use REISUB, didn't think of it at the time when I tried) I can at least access GRUB, but I still get nowhere when trying to boot. I tried following the guide from this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11343673&postcount=2) post and remove splash screen etc. via recovery mode, but when booting regularly after using recovery mode the boot up gets stuck before I am able to reach a command prompt. I suspect it gets stuck for the same reason that I can't get the Live-CD to boot. Also, for some reason the GRUB install won't recognize the Windows partition, so currently I am stuck with no bootable operating system.

PS: I have also tried running a Fedora Live-CD with exactly the same problem.

oldfred
February 1st, 2012, 07:50 PM
Did your install 64bit Windows? And if so, is it in UEFI or BIOS?

If UEFi the first partition must be efi and the drive will be gpt not MBR(msdos).

Post this (or sdb or both):

sudo parted /dev/sda unit s print

archangel2003
February 1st, 2012, 10:55 PM
I wanted the UBUNTU 10 LTS version on my new lap top.
I partitioned the HD space and everything.
The problem is that when I use a flash or disc to install UBUNTU 10, it will not boot.
The only option that worked was the direct download in Windows.
However, the only version available with that method was the UBUNTU 11, AND IT SERIOUSLY SUCKS COMPARED TO UBUNTU 10!

Who decided to only allow 11 with the in windows option?

My daughter installed UBUNTU 10 on my last lap top and I EXCLUSIVELY used it and almost never felt the need to touch the XP partition.

Now I'm using 7 and rarely touch the UBUNTU 11.

So now that I have Ubuntu 11, I tried it and used the disc option to make the start up disc for UBUNTU 10.
Even watched a video to see it done.

UBUNTU 11 works for making a start up disc right up until the point of selecting the disc for writing the image to, then it does not recognize the empty disc in the drive.

I had to click and drag the UBUNTU 10 into the disc directly and burn it, but I don't think it's making a proper start up disc that way because the disc whirrs, but nothing happens, then it gives me the standard boot choices to choose from, and yes, I told it to boot from the disc first.

I'm so frustrated I feel like I just want to delete the UBUNTU partition and say screw it!

How in the heck do I get UBUNTU 10 on my new computer??

Claritux
February 1st, 2012, 11:53 PM
archangel2003:
I don't mean to be rude, but I'd rather want this thread to be about how to fix my computer than Ubuntu 10.XX Vs 11.XX.


Did your install 64bit Windows? And if so, is it in UEFI or BIOS?

If UEFi the first partition must be efi and the drive will be gpt not MBR(msdos).

Post this (or sdb or both):

sudo parted /dev/sda unit s print

Yes, the Windows install is 64bit and I'm trying to install 64bit 11.10. As far as I understand it is in UEFI, but my knowledge about it is a little limited. I'll see if I can get the command to run, but so far I can't access any command line while booting normally. Will it be ok to run it from recovery mode or the rescue mode on the alternate CD?

oldfred
February 1st, 2012, 11:54 PM
Need to see how your drive is partitioned.

If Windows made it UEFI and you want Ubuntu 10.04 or 10.10, you may have to reinstall Windows in BIOS/MBR mode.

I find that the fallback to be close but not exactly the same as the old gnome.

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
sudo apt-get install gnome-panel
Before you log in, click the gear icon and select GNOME Classic.

Claritux
February 2nd, 2012, 12:43 AM
From recovery:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/955480/IMAG0039.jpg

Claritux
February 2nd, 2012, 01:02 AM
Need to see how your drive is partitioned.

If Windows made it UEFI and you want Ubuntu 10.04 or 10.10, you may have to reinstall Windows in BIOS/MBR mode.

I find that the fallback to be close but not exactly the same as the old gnome.

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
sudo apt-get install gnome-panel
Before you log in, click the gear icon and select GNOME Classic.

It's currently impossible for me to run any sort of GUI, and I'm prevented from installing anything since I can't get to a command window by booting normally. (Recovery says Read-only file system if I try to use apt-get.)

oldfred
February 2nd, 2012, 02:07 AM
I thought you could not install, not that liveCD does not work.

All of above assumed a working liveCD which is what you have to have before installing.

You may need boot parameters on liveCD.

Natty or later Video issues. MAFoElffen
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1743535

Resetting an out‐of‐range resolution (does not include grub's set gfxmode=640x480)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution#Resetting_an_out-of-range_resolution
Repair grub's video mode and other settings
https://launchpad.net/grub-customizer

How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

Some other parameters that worked
[SOLVED] UEFI Boot Problems
quiet splash vt.handoff=7 rootdelay=90 reboot=a,w
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1857639

Claritux
February 2nd, 2012, 11:38 PM
:D I've got a working desktop. The graphic card was the source of the problem or in fact the open source NOVEAU driver. I was a little to quick when I said I couldn't get to any command prompt by regular booting. After I followed the guide from the post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11343673&postcount=2) I thought I originally mentioned I was in fact able to get to a command prompt by Ctrl+Alt+F(X). (At this stage I tried out another graphic card which allowed me to run "sudo service lightdm start" and get a working desktop so I could conclude that the graphic card was the problem.) I then downloaded the appropriate driver install file from NVIDIAs website and proceeded with running it from command line. When I ran it the first time it complained about the NOVEAU driver and asked me if I wanted to disable it. After that I rebooted and found myself able to get a working desktop with my original graphics card. I then ran the install file a second time (Note: This can't be done while X is running) and installed the graphic drivers.

Now I only need to get access to Windows from GRUB. I'm going do a reinstall of Ubuntu since I messed up a couple of things while troubleshooting, but do I need to get a working EFI partition in order to accomplish this?*

Edit:*In order to get GRUB to discover Windows.

oldfred
February 3rd, 2012, 02:01 AM
Grub should have found Windows. Unless you installed Windows in efi and Ubuntu in BIOS/mbr.

Have you tried this?
sudo update-grub

If not then we need the full output from the bootinfo script to see what is where.Test version has some fixes:

wget -O bootinfoscript 'http://bootinfoscript.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=bootinfoscript/bootinfoscript;a=blob_plain;f=bootinfoscript;hb=HE AD'
chmod a+x bootinfoscript
sudo bash bootinfoscript

Boot Info Script courtesy of forum members meierfra & Gert Hulselmans
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Paste contents of results.txt in a New Reply, then highlight entire file and click on # in edit panel(code tags) to make it easier to read.
Or You can generate the tags first by pressing the # icon in the New Reply Edit toolbar and then paste the contents between the generated [ code] paste here [ /code] tags.
V60 has improved formating and requires code tags to make it legible. New Version is a zip file that you have to extract to get .sh to run.
Install these before running script:
sudo apt-get install gawk
sudo apt-get install xz-utils

Claritux
February 3rd, 2012, 03:03 AM
Boot Info Script 0.60 [17 May 2011]


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

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos2)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> Grub2 (v1.99) 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 uses an
embedded config file:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
search.fs_uuid ca7dc3bd-a316-41fd-9900-31d5eb35650a root
set prefix=($root)/boot/grub
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.10
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

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

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders, total 234441648 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 2,048 143,362,047 143,360,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 * 143,362,048 234,440,703 91,078,656 83 Linux


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 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/sdb2 * 1,172,275,200 1,953,523,711 781,248,512 83 Linux


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 EAA036E6A036B941 ntfs
/dev/sda2 df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 ext4
/dev/sdb2 41797c1f-8f3c-4525-a412-ceb338d39bce ext4

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda2 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
/dev/sdb2 /home ext4 (rw,commit=0)


=========================== sda2/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 vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=nb_NO
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${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, med Linux 3.0.0-15-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-15-generic root=UUID=df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-15-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, med Linux 3.0.0-15-generic (gjenopprettelsesmodus)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
echo 'Laster Linux 3.0.0-15-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-15-generic root=UUID=df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-15-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, med Linux 3.0.0-12-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, med Linux 3.0.0-12-generic (gjenopprettelsesmodus)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
echo 'Laster Linux 3.0.0-12-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-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='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then
if keystatus; then
if keystatus --shift; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=0
fi
else
if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
set timeout=0
fi
fi
fi
### 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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda2/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' 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/sda2 during installation
UUID=df7b3067-4b85-4269-8225-5ed0c6bee3e5 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb2 during installation
UUID=41797c1f-8f3c-4525-a412-ceb338d39bce /home ext4 defaults 0 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

92.489231110 = 99.309555712 boot/grub/core.img 1
102.543945312 = 110.105722880 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
71.744243622 = 77.034795008 boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic 2
71.990329742 = 77.299027968 boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-15-generic 2
68.579536438 = 73.636716544 boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic 1
71.763153076 = 77.055098880 boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-15-generic 1
71.990329742 = 77.299027968 initrd.img 2
71.744243622 = 77.034795008 initrd.img.old 2
71.763153076 = 77.055098880 vmlinuz 1
68.579536438 = 73.636716544 vmlinuz.old 1

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt


sudo update-grub does not help

Claritux
February 3rd, 2012, 03:31 PM
sudo parted /dev/sda unit s print


Model: ATA Corsair Force 3 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 234441648s
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 2048s 143362047s 143360000s primary ntfs
2 143362048s 234440703s 91078656s primary ext4 boot

oldfred
February 3rd, 2012, 03:49 PM
Windows 7's default install is to two partitions, but can be installed in one. The first is a small hidden 100MB boot/repair partition. Your Windows boot partition is missing.

Vista/7 (with 7 the first two files are usually in a separate 100MB boot partition)
/bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

You can put bootmgr & the /Boot/BCD into your sda1 partition, repair BCD and possibly other repairs and your Windows install then should work.

If you have a Windows repairCD, some have just copied the files & then run the Windows repairs.

Both drives are MBR(msdos). The grub you have installed to the MBR of the 1TB drive is looking for a UUID that does not exist, so you cannot boot from sdb. Otherwise your install looks normal.

Edit:
Grub does not use boot flag, but Windows uses it for booting, install or repair as it is the active partition in Windows. Use gparted or Disk Utility (or Windows) to set sda1, the NTFS partition as bootable.

Claritux
February 4th, 2012, 07:04 AM
Solved! I ended up reinstalling Windows and reinstalling GRUB to /dev/sda. Windows shows up nicely now. Thanks for the help!