Upgrade to 12.04 (64) won't boot

[DawgMan]

During upgrade from 11.10 to 12.04 from live usb I backed out of the upgrade when it asked for user/password and machine name. I didn't remember my machine name and didn't understand why an upgrade would ask that question. So I backed out of the upgrade as far as I could then figured I am on the live usb so I will just reboot.

Now reboot brings the screen that asked to boot to ubuntu or rescue mode or older versions. I tried them all and keep ending up at the (initramfs) prompt.

Is grub messed up? If so how do I know?

can I follow this to fix grub if it is broke?
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing#via_the_LiveCD_terminal

If grub is not broke will the above instructions break it?

Where do I go from here?

++++++++++++++++++++
I just noticed that when I proceed with startup from the hard drive the messages say that sda1 was mounted on EXT4-fs and I see references to the USB drive (which I not longer have plugged in). I also noticed that when I was Live on the USB that there was no shutdown option from the upper right corner. I assumed the USB made some change to the Hard Drive, maybe just grub. As I said above I stopped the install before anything really happened. It asked for computer name and I went no further.

So I created a new Live CD. When I boot to it I have the shutdown command.

That being said, can I safely assume that it is GRUB that is corrupt and I need only repair/reinstall it? Are the instructions in the link above accurate? Or try the install again from the live CD?

Please help....

Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]


============================= 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 (,msdos1)/boot/grub on this drive.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
/boot/grub/core.img

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

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

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 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 / 4096 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 1,945,141,247 1,945,139,200 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 1,945,143,294 1,953,523,711 8,380,418 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1,945,143,296 1,953,523,711 8,380,416 82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ext4
/dev/sda5 f020c209-056e-4d94-8f07-964903a325c6 swap
/dev/sr0 iso9660 Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS amd64

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

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


=========================== sda1/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,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${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, with Linux 3.0.0-29-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-29-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-29-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-29-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
echo 'Loading Linux 3.0.0-29-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-29-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-29-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-28-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
echo 'Loading Linux 3.0.0-28-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-28-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-27-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-27-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-27-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-27-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
echo 'Loading Linux 3.0.0-27-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-27-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-27-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-26-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-26-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-26-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.0.0-26-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
echo 'Loading Linux 3.0.0-26-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-26-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-26-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-16-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,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-16-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-16-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-16-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-16-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-16-generic root=UUID=bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-16-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,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root bad8f4a1-7564-41f4-ba5d-1721a5f48828
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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

====================== sda1/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf: =======================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
## /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
##
## IMPORTANT WARNING
##
## The configuration of this file is generated automatically.
## Do not edit this file manually, use: extlinux-update


default l0
prompt 1
timeout 50

include themes/debian/theme.cfg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

= boot/grub/core.img 1
= boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
= boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-16-generic 2
= boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-26-generic 2
= boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-27-generic 3
= boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-28-generic 2
= boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-29-generic 2
= boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-16-generic 2
= boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-26-generic 1
= boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-27-generic 1
= boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-28-generic 1
= boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-29-generic 1

================= sda1: Location of files loaded by Syslinux: ==================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

= boot/extlinux/chain.c32 1
= boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf 1

============== sda1: Version of COM32(R) files used by Syslinux: ===============

boot/extlinux/chain.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)

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

xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in

[oldfred]

If you get to the grub menu, then grub is fine and the issue is something else.

If you started an upgrade and forced a halt you may have corrupted data or have a partially upgraded system that will not work as parts are old and parts are new?

Also some systems have had issues with very large / (root) partitions. I normally use and suggest small root partitions and separate data or /home. I use data partitions and my / is only 25GB. That way I can easily add a new install to test in another 25Gb, link to same data and not worry about upgrades as old install is still fully functional.

Over install without formatting to reuse same home data. "Dirty Install"
System settings or anything in / may be overwritten with defaults. Good backups still important
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuReinstallation
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1941872

[DawgMan]

I didn't think it got that far since I backed out before entering my userid or machine name.

I also notice other posts about having home on a separate partition and I have done that in the past but always seemed to make / (root) too small. I will try to repartition later.

To get me back up, if I choose to install will I have the option of "over install" without formatting? What will the result of this "Dirty Install" be? Programs like vmware workstation would have to be reinstalled?

I did boot from the live USB and copied /home/dan to external drive, however, when I tried to copy from the gui I got an error about permissions. So I used the command line to to the cp. If I re-install and copy this data back will I have permission issues? I was thinking of the "Dirty Install" then re-copy my home files with proper credentials. does this make any sense?

FYI I got your reply right after I ran boot-repair. Now I reboot and it says no operating system found.

[oldfred]

If you copy /home you need to preserve permissions & ownership. If you copy to NTFS you will lose permissions & ownership as NTFS does not support those.
To move /home uses rsync- Be sure to use parameters to preserve ownership & permissions
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Partitioning/Home/Moving
Others that really are the same with different copy commands:
Uses cp -ax

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-partplan/index.html
http://www.ivankuznetsov.com/2008/04/moving-home-to-its-own-partition.html


If just /home you can really reset permissions & ownership as all but a few files are the same. But if system partitions, and you change ownership, you might as well just reinstall.
Sometimes there are dmrc errors or permission errors and this has how to correct them:

chmod -R a+rwX,o-w /home/$USER
All directories will be 775.
All files will be 664 except those that were set as executable to begin with.


https://help.ubuntu.com/community/dmrcErrors
#Replace all instances of username with your login name or use $USER
sudo chown username:username /home/username/.dmrc
chmod 644 /home/$USER/.dmrc
sudo chown $USER:$USER /home/username


I do not think any programs get reinstalled, but have not tried it. I would just make a list of installed apps and reinstall.

from lovinglinux - use dpkg to list installed apps
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=7157175&postcount=5
http://kevin.vanzonneveld.net/techblog/article/restore_packages_using_dselectupgrade/
From old install
dpkg --get-selections > ~/my-packages
From New install
sudo dpkg --set-selections < my-packages
sudo apt-get -y update
sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade

[DawgMan]

That all sounds promising.

Let me run this by you. What if I did the above to copy everything from /. Then installed fresh to a ubuntu 11.10 as before. Then copied it all back. What would I not want to copy? Everything BUT dev boot sys root and selinux? Or is this really not possible?

[oldfred]

All the user configurations are in /home. Unless you manually did some hardware configurations for video or wireless, everything else should be the same. It will not reinstall apps.

I prefer clean installs. And my backup is so I can recover back to where I am with a clean install.

discussion of alternatives/strategy backups
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem


Oldfred's list of stuff to backup May 2011:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1748541


Some folders to exclude from /home:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1883834

More detail on /etc files to backup - post #3:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1500559

[DawgMan]

Installed new 12.04 and restored home. Thanks oldfred. In reality it was time anyway. Gave me a chance to clean up wine and other packages.