Stuck in a reboot loop

[CydeSwype]

So this is a new one... I just installed Precise Pangolin and the install went smoothly, but now I'm stuck in a reboot loop where after the BIOS clears, the computer restarts.

I was running Mint and things were working okay after installing a new graphics card (EVGA brand GeForce 210). I couldn't get the full graphics working, just the ugly fallback gnome, so I decided to do a fresh install of the latest Ubuntu.

However, after installing smoothly and accepting all the defaults, I rebooted the computer and after getting through the BIOS loading, it just gets stuck in an endless loop of rebooting (showing the BIOS each time and then restarting). I reset my BIOS to the factory defaults as well, so everything should be pretty vanilla.

I booted with the Live CD and that's where I am now. So I should be able to mount the filesystem and do a little digging, but I'm not sure where to start.

[Rubi1200]

Since you are on the LiveCD I suggest you post the results of the boot info script so we can see what is where on the system.

Link at the bottom of my post with instructions.

Thanks.

[CydeSwype]

first. i love you guys. it's so great to have some help on this.

second. here's the output of that script:

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:  Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
    Boot files:        /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 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   147,914,751   147,912,704  83 Linux
/dev/sda2         147,916,798   156,301,311     8,384,514   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         147,916,800   156,301,311     8,384,512  82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs   
/dev/sda1        31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915   ext4       
/dev/sda5        51f90637-57db-4719-bc1c-3aa14850f99a   swap       
/dev/sr0                                                iso9660    Ubuntu 12.04 LTS i386

================================ 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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
  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 ###
function gfxmode {
    set gfxpayload="$1"
    if [ "$1" = "keep" ]; then
        set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
    else
        set vt_handoff=
    fi
}
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 3.2.0-24-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic-pae root=UUID=31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915 ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-24-generic-pae (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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    echo    'Loading Linux 3.2.0-24-generic-pae ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic-pae root=UUID=31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915 ro recovery nomodeset 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic-pae
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic-pae root=UUID=31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915 ro   quiet splash $vt_handoff
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic-pae (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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    echo    'Loading Linux 3.2.0-23-generic-pae ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic-pae root=UUID=31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915 ro recovery nomodeset 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic-pae
}
}
### 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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    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 31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915
    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/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/sda1 during installation
UUID=31ccde90-5f36-4e0e-9238-92b9105be915 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=51f90637-57db-4719-bc1c-3aa14850f99a none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/fd0        /media/floppy0  auto    rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== 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-3.2.0-23-generic-pae           2
               =                boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-24-generic-pae           2
               =                boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic-pae              1
               =                boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic-pae              1
               =                initrd.img                                     2
               =                vmlinuz                                        1

======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ========================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000  07 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000010  00 00 00 00 40 10 5b b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |....@.[.........|
00000020  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
00000040  04 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000050  10 6d 51 b7 e0 f2 5a b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |.mQ...Z.........|
00000060  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
00000080  06 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000090  00 00 00 00 c0 10 5b b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |......[.........|
000000a0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
000000c0  04 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
000000d0  00 6d 51 b7 20 f3 5a b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |.mQ. .Z.........|
000000e0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
00000100  06 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000110  00 00 00 00 40 11 5b b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |....@.[.........|
00000120  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
00000140  04 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000150  f0 6c 51 b7 60 f3 5a b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |.lQ.`.Z.........|
00000160  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
00000180  04 00 00 00 04 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
00000190  a0 6c 51 b7 c0 11 5b b7  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |.lQ...[.........|
000001a0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
000001b0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 fe  |................|
000001c0  ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00  00 00 00 f0 7f 00 00 00  |................|
000001d0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |................|
*
000001f0  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa  |..............U.|
00000200


=============================== 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

[Rubi1200]

Thanks for posting the results of the script.

I do not see anything immediately wrong in the results.

This sounds more like a hardware issue perhaps?

Hopefully, some others have some ideas to add in here too.