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Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 05:54 PM
Hi

I did I installed ubuntu on my machine, all went well! I currently have XP installed and was hoping for a dual boot.

When I pop the CD out and try to reboot i get a black screen and the following

Error loading operating system_

I have had a look at the rest of the forums and run the sudo fdisk thingy. here are my results. Does this help.... please help


Disk /dev/sda: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x99ca99ca

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 14948 120069778+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 14949 24415 76043677+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 24416 24792 3028252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 24416 24792 3028221 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd466

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdc: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd463

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdd: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd464

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdd1 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:08 PM
Where is XP installed,on the 1st,2nd,3rd or 4th HDD?

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:12 PM
I think on the first, which I partioned to run ubuntu as well (probably did not need to do this in hinsight!)

J

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:14 PM
Is there any Error <number> given?

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:15 PM
nope

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:20 PM
Does it wait for some time before putting out that message?If it does,try pressing Esc in that time.That should give you the boot menu,from where you can select the OS to run.I believe the error is for Ubuntu and not XP,coz the default OS after install is Ubuntu in the Grub bootloader configuration.Are you sure you didn't format the C: during installation of Ubuntu?

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:22 PM
I will give it a try, I am pretty sure that I have not formatted C: as when I boot from disk I can still see the content from the Places>Computer menu

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:25 PM
Well,that pretty much means XP is there on your PC.Please try and be back.

lswest
June 16th, 2008, 06:30 PM
Also, I noticed that Linux is the partition that's designated for boot, not the XP partition, not sure if that matters though. Also can you post the output of
cat /boot/grub/menu.lst please, so we can see what the entry is for your XP?

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:38 PM
The Esc key did not work

Have i done the next bit right?
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
cat: /boot/grub/menu.lst: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cat/boot/grub/menu.lst
bash: cat/boot/grub/menu.lst: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

I tried it with and without a space after cat

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:43 PM
nopes,you got to get into the partition of your installed system and then do it.The command you ran tried to get the menu.lst of the Live CD,which does not exist.You can run the following series of commands:


sudo mkdir /mnt/Linux


sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/Linux


cd /mnt/Linux


cat ./boot/grub/menu.lst

imneo
June 16th, 2008, 06:51 PM
here is what you should do:
put your xp cd , boot your pc

when asked press R to Repair windows
you will enter a terminal window

select your oparating system
enter your Administrator password

now write

fixmbr
yes
exit


now your xp will boot

if you still want to install ubuntu do this:

install a partition manager software (Acronis Disk Director Suite for example)

delete the linux partition and the swap partition
now install ubuntu

select the right HD and when asked select "Largest continues space" at the partitioner section this will install ubuntu on your extended space

that's it you will have dual boot.

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:51 PM
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/Linux
mkdir: cannot create directory `/mnt/Linux': File exists
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cd /mnt/Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:/mnt/Linux$ cat ./boot/grub/menu.lst
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=ee04dd04-2a55-4171-ab85-e647e23d1f2b ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd3,1)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd3,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=ee04dd04-2a55-4171-ab85-e647e23d1f2b ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd3,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=ee04dd04-2a55-4171-ab85-e647e23d1f2b ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
root (hd3,1)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd3,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd3)
map (hd3) (hd0)
chainloader +1

ubuntu@ubuntu:/mnt/Linux$

Gallienus
June 16th, 2008, 06:54 PM
You might try changing (in the BIOS) the hard disk that your system boots up from. One time I found that the Ubuntu install had put the GRUB boot sector on a hard disk that I incorrectly assumed would have been left untouched, and I think I got exactly the same error message that you reported.

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 06:56 PM
I tried this (with my limited knowledge) however it will not let me select the hard drive, it will only let me select Auto, CD, etc

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 06:58 PM
Do this:

sudo gedit ./boot/grub/menu.lst
Then edit the default 0 line to
default 4,save and exit.Reboot.

Jon Williams
June 16th, 2008, 07:19 PM
Hi tried this, rebooted nothing happened

checked that i had saved it and yes it is still there, is it in the right place?

default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 4


P.S. thanks for all the help so far

meindian523
June 16th, 2008, 08:06 PM
Ok,I lost my connection,and this is the last idea I have.And yes,the edit is in the right place.If this doesn't work,I'm afraid I can't help further.Repeat the series of commands I gave earlier about sudo mkdir...mount...etc then do
sudo gedit ./boot/grub/menu.lstthen place a
# sign in front of the line
map (hd3) (hd0)Save and exit.Reboot.

meierfra.
June 18th, 2008, 09:12 AM
Try this:


Step 1) Reinstall Grub

Boot from the Ubuntu Live CD. Open a terminal and type


sudo grub

and at the grub prompt


find /boot/grub/stage2

The output will be of the form "(hd3,1)", but the first number might be different.

Still at the grub prompt:


root (hd3,1) (use the output from "find /boot/grub/stage2)
setup (hd3) (use the first number from the output)
quit

Step 2 Edit menu.lst


sudo mkdir /mnt/Linux
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/Linux
gksudo gedit /mnt/Linux/boot/grub/menu.lst

Change

"# groot=(hd3,1)" to "# groot=(hd0,1)"

(so change the first number to 0, do not change anything else)

change "root (hd3,1)" to "root (hd0,1)" in the Ubuntu, Ubuntu recovery and memtest items"

change the Windows Item to

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

(do not use the map lines)

Save the file and reboot.

This will only work if the computer is booting from then Windows/Ubuntu drive.
If this is not the case, let me know which drive the computer is booting from, and I'll give you modified instruction.

Jon Williams
June 19th, 2008, 07:33 AM
WOW!!!

Thanks I get the dual boot menu!

I have tried ubuntu and it works (no more CD)

Ahh

Windows xp reports an error

NTLDR is missing
Press ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

any ideas?

Thanks for saving my bacon thus far!!

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 07:54 AM
Could be a numbers of things. Let's try this first:

Put all of this on menu.lst

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd2,0)
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd3,0)
map (hd0) (hd3)
map (hd3) (hd0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


Save the file. Reboot and see which one works. Of course remove the wrong ones afterwards.

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:00 AM
Hi

I did I installed ubuntu on my machine, all went well! I currently have XP installed and was hoping for a dual boot.

When I pop the CD out and try to reboot i get a black screen and the following

Error loading operating system_

I have had a look at the rest of the forums and run the sudo fdisk thingy. here are my results. Does this help.... please help


Disk /dev/sda: 203.9 GB, 203928109056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24792 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x99ca99ca

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 14948 120069778+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 14949 24415 76043677+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 24416 24792 3028252+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 24416 24792 3028221 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/hdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd466

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdb1 * 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdc: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd463

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdc1 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/hdd: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xdacfd464

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hdd1 1 9729 78148161 7 HPFS/NTFS
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$


your boot flag is set for the /dev/sda2 * 14949 24415 76043677+ 83 Linux where it should be set for /dev/sda1 1 14948 120069778+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 08:03 AM
Just to make sure. You used exactly

title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


So you changed the 3 to a 0 and removed the two map lines?

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 08:07 AM
your boot flag is set for the /dev/sda2 * 14949 24415 76043677+ 83 Linux where it should be set for /dev/sda1 1 14948 120069778+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

1) The "makeactive" in menu.lst already put the boot flag on "/dev/sda1"

2) There is no reason for the boot flag to be on /dev/sda1, since Grub does not use boot flags.

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:11 AM
1) The "makeactive" in menu.lst already put the boot flag on "/dev/sda1"

2) There is no reason for the boot flag to be on /dev/sda1, since Grub does not use boot flags.


I thought windows did when you run gparted windows always has boot flag

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 08:25 AM
Windows needs the boot flag if Windows is in charge of the MBR (In this case the MBR looks for the partition with the boot flag, and then boots it)

So then Windows is installed, the boot flag is always put on the Windows partition and it just stays there.
In addition "menu.lst" usually has the "makeactive" statement, which also puts the boot flag on the Windows Partition.

For these two reasons, the boot flag almost always is on the Windows partition. But as far as I know it isn't necessary for Windows to boot.

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:30 AM
so to fix windows he needs to try the repair console with chkdsk & chkdsk /p /r

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 08:44 AM
so to fix windows he/she needs to try the repair console with chkdsk & chkdsk /p /r

That will be one of the next moves.. So lets plan ahead:

If my posts 21 and 23 didn't solve the problem:

Boot from the Windows CD, press "r" to enter the repair console and

then (I edited this according to bigken suggestions)



chkdsk

chkdsk /p /r (only if chkdsk returned an error)

fixmbr

fixboot


After reboot you should boot directly into Windows.
So you will have to reinstall Grub. See Step 1 in post #19

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:48 AM
personally I would go this way

chkdsk

chkdsk /p /r

fixmbr

fixboot

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 08:52 AM
Fine with me (although fixmbr doesn't really accomplish anything, and then one has to reinstall grub)


Why the extra "chkdsk"?

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:53 AM
1) The "makeactive" in menu.lst already put the boot flag on "/dev/sda1"

2) There is no reason for the boot flag to be on /dev/sda1, since Grub does not use boot flags.


you were right about the boot flag just unchecked mine and was still able to boot in vista

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 08:54 AM
if chkdsk finds errors no need to run the other commands


thats if it fixes them

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 09:01 AM
But if your run "chkdsk /p /r" and there are no errors, isn't that the same as running "chkdsk" ?

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 09:08 AM
But if your run "chkdsk /p /r" and there are no errors, isn't that the same as running "chkdsk" ?



chkdsk is very fast so I run it 1st and might not find any errors were as chkdsk /p /r can take hours and might find errors

personally I can see a repair install needed

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 09:13 AM
chkdsk is very fast so I run it 1st and might not find any errors were as chkdsk /p /r can take hours and might find errors


O.k so one would run "chkdsk" as a routine check. But when one is worried that something is wrong, wouldn't one run "chdsk /p/r" even if "chkdsk" did not return any errors?

Edit: I don't really think anything is wrong with the file system. So you are right, no reason to run "chdsk /p /r" if "chkdsk" doesn't return an error.

bigken
June 19th, 2008, 09:58 AM
ok run chkdsk /p /r dont forget the spaces

Jon Williams
June 19th, 2008, 05:08 PM
Wow!

just got home from work and read the latest, sorry to have caused problems, but thanks for getting involved.

I think i need to re-read this in order to work out what to do and maybe have a cup of tea first!
but thankyou!

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 05:13 PM
I edited my post 28 according to my discussion with bigken.

So all you really need to read is in post 21, 23, and 28. But do them in this order:

23 21 28


sorry to have caused problem

You didn't cause any problems. Bigken and me just had a friendly discussion on what to do next, we both learned something and then came up with a strategy we both agree on.

meindian523
June 19th, 2008, 05:22 PM
Thanks to meierfra for jumping in.

@Jon
I directed meierfra to this thread in a PM,coz I felt I was going wrong somewhere.Learnt something too.

Jon Williams
June 19th, 2008, 06:51 PM
Thanks to you all for the help and support, I am now writing this through windows and everything works ok.

It was my fault as last night i did not delete the maps ssection properly.

Thanks again for all the support you have saved my bacon big time!!!!!!!

very grateful

Jon Williams

meierfra.
June 19th, 2008, 06:54 PM
I am now writing this through windows and everything works ok.

Good.


Thanks again for all the support you have saved my bacon big time!!!!!!!

You are welcome. Glad to be of help.

Could you mark the thread as solved (Go to thread tools).