9.10 - Bad GRUB - can no longer boot XP-Pro

[n4pgw]

I installed Ubuntu 9.10 from a live cd onto a second internal HDD in my Dell desktop computer. I first partitioned the 120 GB with a 5GB swap partition at the far end, next to that an extended NTFS partition and left 60GB unused for Ubuntu. The installation completed and rather than reboot, I used Gparted to remove the swap partition the install created and set Swapon to the partition I created. I shut down the computer and powered it back up. The result is that I get "GRUB _" in the top left corner of the screen and nothing else happens.

I reinstalled to the 120 GB again, and told it to setup GRUB on the 120GB drive. When I tell the computer to boot from the secondary hdd, it goes strait to Ubuntu with no GRUB options.

All my files are there on the windows drive. I have booted from XP CD and run Fdisk /mbr but it doesn't help.

==============
After getting this far in the post, I decided to look at the package manager. I am installing Grub 2 now. I installed Grub2 which installed Grub-pc and I installed grub-rescue-pc but see nothing I can do with it yet. I rebooted the computer and get the same old GRUB. however, when I boot to the secondary, HDD, I get the grub menu this time. It includes an option for XP which is on the primary hdd, but I get GRUB when I choose it.

HELP!!

Thanks
Buck

[darkod]

Download the script in my signature, move it to the desktop for example and run it with:
sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh

It will create results.txt file. Copy the content of that file here and also put CODE tags around it (button # in the toolbar here above) to make it easier for reading. That will give info about your whole boot process.

[n4pgw]

Here it is, but remeber that I booted on the secondary slave and the problem is with the primary master.

Thanks
Buck

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

 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
 => Grub 1.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive 
    in partition #6 for /boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  Dell Utility: Fat16
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Grub 1.97
    Boot sector info:  Grub 1.97 is installed in the boot sector of sda2 and 
                       looks at sector 1110861 on boot drive #1 for core.img, 
                       but core.img can not be found at this location. No 
                       errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/grub.cfg /boot.ini 
                       /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM /boot/grub/core.img

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sdb5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

sdb6: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 9.10
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sdb3: _________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 80.1 GB, 80060424192 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9733 cylinders, total 156368016 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x4b3d4b3d

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1                  63        80,324        80,262  de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2    *         80,325   156,248,189   156,167,865   7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders, total 234441648 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x381e381e

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *             63   224,203,139   224,203,077   5 Extended
/dev/sdb5         102,687,480   224,203,139   121,515,660   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6                 189   102,687,479   102,687,291  83 Linux
/dev/sdb3         224,203,140   234,436,544    10,233,405  82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="DellUtility" UUID="07D5-060F" TYPE="vfat" 
/dev/sda2: UUID="621474FD1474D58F" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sdb3: UUID="b7140e7e-8d28-4aa3-b799-800d6ff1d835" TYPE="swap" 
/dev/sdb5: UUID="6CB5A8F40E094D32" LABEL="NTFS" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sdb6: UUID="f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9" TYPE="ext4" 

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/buck/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=buck)


=========================== sda2/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 saved

## 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=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
##      indomU=true
##      indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title        Chainload into GRUB 2
root        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/grub/core.img

title        Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=========================== sda2/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
  have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,6)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
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/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    set quiet=1
    insmod ext2
    set root=(hd0,6)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro   quiet splash
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    insmod ext2
    set root=(hd0,6)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro single 
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ ${timeout} != -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 ###

================================ sda2/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader] 
timeout=30 
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS 
[operating systems] 
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect 

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


    .0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
    .0GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
    .0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
    .0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
    .0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
    .0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic

=========================== sdb6/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 saved

## 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=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
##      indomU=true
##      indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title        Chainload into GRUB 2
root        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/grub/core.img

title        Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid        f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=========================== sdb6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
  have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
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/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-16-generic" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    set quiet=1
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=/dev/sdb6 ro   quiet splash
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-16-generic (recovery mode)" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic root=/dev/sdb6 ro single 
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    set quiet=1
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=/dev/sdb6 ro   quiet splash
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=/dev/sdb6 ro single 
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda2)" {
    insmod ntfs
    set root=(hd0,2)
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 621474fd1474d58f
    drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
    chainloader +1
}
### 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 ###

=============================== sdb6/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    defaults        0       0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=f78ae0e7-6f8e-490b-b68c-6080ae8896c9 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=c6066569-d7fa-40c1-ad23-ccd784e5eba5 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0       /media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

=================== sdb6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


    .0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
    .0GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
    .0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
    .0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-16-generic
    .0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
    .0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic
    .0GB: initrd.img
    .0GB: initrd.img.old
    .0GB: vmlinuz
    .0GB: vmlinuz.old

[darkod]

One thing immediately. Why is grub2 installed on sda2? First of all, that's a partition and it's always recommended to have it on MBR of a disk. Second, sda2 is your windws partition, what would grub2 do there?

[n4pgw]

I imagine they are two good questions, but I am too ignorant to know the answers.... can they be fixed?


Buck

[darkod]

Not sure. And that's your XP partition so I wouldn't want to send it to hell.
Also this could happen only if you specifically told grub2 to install there, just so you know. You can't blame this on ubuntu.
Even without this problem, the partitions layout is rather chaotic. So I'll start with the main question: How big of a problem would it be to reinstall boh XP or Ubuntu? Ubuntu is working if I understood correctly so you might not need to do that, but reinstalling XP (and all software on it) might be the only solution.
You could use Ubuntu to copy the data from XP you need.

[oldfred]

I would try to repair the XP install. You definitely need to overwrite the grub installed there. And how did you get both windows files and grub files in the windows partition. Is that from Wubi - I do not know Wubi.

Our standard link is a simple fixmbr, fixboot since that is all that is usually required but I have seen other commands.

Make sure you have sda set in BIOS to boot so the install of windows to the MBR is to that drive and then switch sdb back to first after you are sure you can boot into windows. update-grub will then find a working windows.

How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

The extra commands I have seen to rebuild from XP install disk:
FIXMBR C:
FIXBOOT C:
COPY [CDDRIVE]:\I386\NTLDR C:\
COPY [CDDRIVE]:\I386\NTDETECT.COM C:\
BOOTCFG /rebuild

[presence1960]

I agree with oldfred, try to repair windows install. Before you boot from the windows install disk be sure to go into BIOS and put sda disk as first disk in the hard disk boot order. If the other disk (sdb) is first in that order windows will attempt to write it's bootloader onto the sdb disk's MBR.

Then for safe measure I would reinstall GRUB 1.97 from the Live CD. See here for instructions. Make sure you put sdb back as first boot in BIOS and install GRUB to /dev/sdb

[n4pgw]

Darkod,
I probably chose the windows partition because there were two partitions that had stuff on them and only windows booted. OOPS! Oh well, so goes life. I saw a lot when I read the file you had me create. Thank you very much for the help.

OldFred,
I followed the list of commands you showed me. I probably did more than is necessary, but it is working now, so no harm done there. Thank you very much for the info.

Presence1960,
I still need to reinstall the GRUB, but I don't think I need to change the drives. First of all, I can't as the bios doesn't give me that option. I have to press F-12 in the process of booting to select the alternative drive. I would like Grub to work with both windows and Linux and then I would like to learn how to edit it so I can have windows and Linux at the top two positions.

Everyone else:
I am going to leave this as unsolved for the time being until I get GRUB working as it should. While the problem here was annoying, I had no fear that I could not resolve it. I am aware that there are many problems people have had with Grub, Lilo and others but I have never heard of any that were unrepairable. (that's not to say there are none.)

SO, what would happen if I reverse the drives so the 120 GB (Ubuntu) drive is the primary master and the 80GB (XP) is the secondary slave?

Thank you again,
Buck

[oldfred]

BIOS boots first drive. If you still have Pata it will boot the primary master. It used to be you had to reset jumpers on the hard drive but if you have a newer 80 wire cable with two different color connectors you are using cable select and should be just able to reverse them.

With grub2 it seems the easiest way to make windows first is to copy osprober to a lower number or turn off osprober and copy 40_custom to 06_custom, make executable and put entries there.

Lots of links to grub2 info:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...LI%20to%20Boot
The Grub 2 Guide (formerly Grub 2 Basics)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2
http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/p20.html
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3106368.0
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...0from%20LiveCD
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub-2.html
Grub2 info by ranch hand and many links to other grub2 info sites
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...11#post8191211