grub2 error: you need to load the kernel first

**joshmuffin** · June 24th, 2010

Hello all and thanks in advanced for your help

First of all heres a backgroud:
I wiped about a week ago and set out to install 3 different flavours/versions of linux and it worked. Mostly.
sda1 ubuntu10.04
sda2 ubuntu10.10
sda3 mint9
sda5 /data - for all my games, music, videos and whatnot
sda6 swap space

I quickly managed to break mint9 and didn't like it that much anyway so I decided to install backtrack 4 onto sda3 after spending all day configuring it, it is now working albeit without the the graphics driver.

After a restart I decided okay time to go back on Ubuntu and sync my ipod however I got an error 15: missing file or something.

I logged back onto backtrack and ran update-grub and in the terminal output I noticed menu.lst I realised I had grub1 installed so ran:
sudo apt-get install grub2 which removed grub1 aswell. I ran update-grub, everything looked to be working and rebooted.

Upon trying to boot Ubuntu10.01 on sda1 I got error: you need to load the kernel first. And now I couldn't start backtrack either. I started up my backtrack CD and joined the #ubuntu room on irc someone there told me to boot grub and edit the backtrack entry and replace "root" with "uuid" and I did and it worked.

Now I'm in backtrack (sda3) and I'm trying to get my ubuntu partitions to boot.

Grub.cfg

Code:

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
set default=0
set timeout=5
set root=(hd0,3)
if font (hd0,3)/usr/share/grub/unicode.pff ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  terminal gfxterm
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, linux 2.6.30.9" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro quiet splash 
	initrd	(hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, linux 2.6.30.9 (single-user mode)" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro single
	initrd	(hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro splash vga=799 quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single splash vga=799
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro splash vga=799 quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single splash vga=799
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

blkid output:

Code:

root@bt:~# blkid
/dev/sda1: UUID="cca6a963-52a4-442d-b5ce-6d263d52e827" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sda5: UUID="d05c5422-569d-481e-8c61-7648a2985f07" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sdb5: UUID="532464e8-0659-436e-8b50-0fb0290abbb2" TYPE="swap" 
/dev/sda2: UUID="c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sda3: UUID="9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190" TYPE="ext3" 
/dev/sda6: TYPE="swap" UUID="3bed8905-e18a-464b-bf2b-a42846ad39ec" 
/dev/sdc1: UUID="7CC8-E5E6" TYPE="vfat" 
/dev/sdd1: UUID="7CC8-E5E6" TYPE="vfat"

Any help and or links are greatly appreciated thanks in advanced, josh

**joshmuffin** · June 25th, 2010

Please help - bump

**oldfred** · June 25th, 2010

With multiple installs we need to know what is in the MBR and the grub.cfg, menu.lst etc. This lists everything:

Boot Info Script courtesy of forum member meierfra
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Paste results.txt, then highlight entire file and click on # in edit panel(code tags) to make it easier to read.

**joshmuffin** · June 25th, 2010

Code:

                Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

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

 => Grub 1.96 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive 
    in partition #3 for /boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /etc/fstab

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu maverick (development 
                       branch)
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda3: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext3
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  BackTrack 4 PwnSauce
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab 
                       /boot/grub/core.img

sda4: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

    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
Disk identifier: 0x0006f4ce

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1               2,048   195,311,615   195,309,568  83 Linux
/dev/sda2    *    195,311,616   390,623,231   195,311,616  83 Linux
/dev/sda3         390,623,232   585,934,847   195,311,616  83 Linux
/dev/sda4         585,936,895 1,953,523,711 1,367,586,817   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         585,936,896 1,875,400,703 1,289,463,808  83 Linux
/dev/sda6       1,875,402,752 1,953,523,711    78,120,960  82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/sda1        cca6a963-52a4-442d-b5ce-6d263d52e827   ext4                                     
/dev/sda2        c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5   ext4                                     
/dev/sda3        9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190   ext3                                     
/dev/sda5        d05c5422-569d-481e-8c61-7648a2985f07   ext4                                     
/dev/sda6        3bed8905-e18a-464b-bf2b-a42846ad39ec   swap                                     

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda3        /                        ext3       (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)


=============================== sda1/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/sda1 during installation
UUID=cca6a963-52a4-442d-b5ce-6d263d52e827 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /Data was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=d05c5422-569d-481e-8c61-7648a2985f07 /Data           ext4    defaults        0       2
# /boot was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=da21b596-c3e6-4056-bd59-5c4ef2fa3db3 /boot           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=3bed8905-e18a-464b-bf2b-a42846ad39ec none            swap    sw              0       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
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
fi
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
  # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
  # understand terminal_output
  terminal gfxterm
fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro  splash vga=799  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.35-4-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single  splash vga=799
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro  splash vga=799  quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single  splash vga=799
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### 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 c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	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 c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Linux Mint 9, 2.6.32-21-generic (/dev/sda3) (on /dev/sda3)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23fbe45e-08a2-489c-a9fe-463df9802a49
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=23fbe45e-08a2-489c-a9fe-463df9802a49 ro quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry "Linux Mint 9, 2.6.32-21-generic (/dev/sda3) -- recovery mode (on /dev/sda3)" {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23fbe45e-08a2-489c-a9fe-463df9802a49
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=23fbe45e-08a2-489c-a9fe-463df9802a49 ro single
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### 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 -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/sda2 during installation
UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /Data was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=d05c5422-569d-481e-8c61-7648a2985f07 /Data           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=3bed8905-e18a-464b-bf2b-a42846ad39ec none            swap    sw              0       0

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


 156.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
 102.5GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 156.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
 156.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
 100.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
 156.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic
 156.9GB: initrd.img
 156.7GB: initrd.img.old
 156.8GB: vmlinuz
 100.1GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sda3/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		3

## 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=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190

## 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=0x317 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=vga=0x317

## 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 ##

splashimage=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.30.9
uuid		9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro vga=0x317 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.30.9 (recovery mode)
uuid		9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9

title		Chainload into GRUB 2
root		9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190
kernel		/boot/grub/core.img

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid		9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=========================== sda3/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
set default=0
set timeout=5
set root=(hd0,3)
if font (hd0,3)/usr/share/grub/unicode.pff ; then
set gfxmode=1600x1200
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  terminal gfxterm
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_hurd ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, linux 2.6.30.9" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro vga=799 splash quiet 
	initrd	(hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, linux 2.6.30.9 (single-user mode)" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9 root=UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 ro single
	initrd	(hd0,3)/boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	linux	(hd0,3)/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro splash vga=799 quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-4-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-4-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single splash vga=799
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-4-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro splash vga=799 quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry "'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os { (on /dev/sda2)" {
	set root=(hd0,2)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=c3bba5a0-12f0-4e8f-8630-adc373ad15f5 ro single splash vga=799
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

=============================== sda3/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    defaults        0       0
# /dev/sda3
UUID=9781e99b-67d3-45f9-b564-4ef62cbba190 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sda6
UUID=3bed8905-e18a-464b-bf2b-a42846ad39ec none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0       /media/cdrom1   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

=================== sda3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 273.7GB: boot/grub/core.img
 273.7GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 273.6GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
 273.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.9
 273.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.9
 273.8GB: initrd.img
 273.7GB: vmlinuz
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb

Thanks again for the help

**joshmuffin** · June 25th, 2010

Please anyone any help, Ive been trying to fix this issue for 2 days and it is very necessary that I fix it before the end of today, thankyou.

**varunendra** · June 25th, 2010

First of all, with all the stuff that you've already tried so far, you seem much-much more experienced than me.
Still, if you care for my opinion, here's what I would do in such a condition:

take backup images of sda1, sda2 & sda3 (to make sure I can return to present status in case of a disaster)
boot from Lucid LiveCD and using gparted, make sda1 the active partition.
reinstall Grub2
update grub2.

Besides, have you checked that /boot/grub/grub.cfg & /boot/grub/core.img files do exist on sda1? (they're missing in boot_info_script's output, only /etc/fstab is listed).

I have VMware installed & Lucid & bt4 available. Including another distro, I'll try to simulate your setup & see what happens. But that won't happen by today evening I'm afraid.