HOWTO : easily create a Boot-Info summary

[YannBuntu]

Help on this topic has been moved to the following Ubuntu Community document:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info

The following thread was created for discussion of the contents of the community document:

Discussion - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info


If you need help, support threads/questions should be posted in normal forums.

---

I made a little GUI to do it very easily:

1) Boot on Ubuntu live-CD or live-USB. (or Boot-Repair-Disk which will lead you automatically to step 4)
2) Connect internet
3) Open a terminal and type :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair

4) Click on "Create a BootInfo summary":

5) Done !



Now just indicate your URL (http:......) to people who help you on this forum.

[oldfred]

@YannBuntu
I tried you script but my system is a bit complex with 3 drives and several Ubuntus & XP.
It did not just run boot script but did its full analysis of system and I found it running this:

About 8000 entries like this in boot-repair.log.tee file before I killed it.
SET@_progressbar1.pulse()

****************DEBUG LOG OF boot-repair 2011-08-09__22:53****************
boot-repair version : 2.7-0ppa27~maverick
clean-ubiquity-common version : 2.7-0ppa6~maverick
boot-repair-common version : 2.7-0ppa26~maverick

I am not sure what it was checking but if I just want script it should run fairly quick if you want to use it.

[YannBuntu]

I tried you script but my system is a bit complex with 3 drives and several Ubuntus & XP.

No problem, it worked with much more complex systems

Please can you send me by email your boot-repair.log.tee file ? ( yannubuntu ATT gmail DOTcom)

[YannBuntu]

@all : if you have the same problem as oldfred, just install the "pastebinit" package before running Boot-Repair.

[mikitz]

Hi there YannBuntu and others,

I have a new Asus 1215b that came with Win7, I used the 11.04 livecd to create a dual boot. There is a separate boot partition for grub on sda5 and the Ubuntu o/s is on sda7.

Upon boot, the win7 mbr comes up with ubuntu and windows options, windows loads fine... but ubuntu hangs at the grub command line! I investigated and could not find a device.map file for grub anywhere and grub doesn't seem to generate one for me.

Here is my boot-repair output http://paste.ubuntu.com/669390/
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[oldfred]

YannBuntu,

Just so everyone knows it runs just fine on my system. I even tried uninstalling pastebinit and it still runs. It looks like you reinstall if it is missing with your latest version of your script. Good program

@mikitz

You have syslinux installed to the MBR, not grub. And it looks like your windows partition needs chkdsk or other repairs. After resize it wants to run chkdsk to fix issues from the resize and Linux will not mount a NTFS partition with the chkdsk flag set to prevent damage that chkdsk may then not be able to fix.

#If separate /boot
$ sudo mount /dev/sda7 /mnt
$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/boot
$ sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda


Be sure to include the mount of your /boot as that is often just a footnote as most desktops do not have a separate /boot.
Reinstall grub2 - Short version & full chroot version
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...alling%20GRUB2
Grub2 info & full chroot version - see METHOD 3 - CHROOT:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2#Recove...20via%20LiveCD
How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader (Updated for Ubuntu 9.10 and later with grub2) by talsemgeest
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

[Hakunka-Matata]

@YannBuntu

It worked on this 11.04 - 64 bit Desktop OS for me. RESULTS.txt included - Thanks

                  Boot Info Script 0.60    from 17 May 2011


============================= 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 (,msdos6)/boot/grub on this drive.

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:   No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files:        /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________________________________

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

sda6: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 11.04
    Boot files:        /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda3: __________________________________________________________________________

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

============================ 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    *             63    40,962,047    40,961,985   7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2         122,886,142   156,301,311    33,415,170   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         152,207,360   156,301,311     4,093,952  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6         122,886,144   152,205,311    29,319,168  83 Linux
/dev/sda3          40,962,048   122,882,047    81,920,000  83 Linux


"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL

/dev/sda1        3E70A89B70A85B81                       ntfs       
/dev/sda3        44d39709-6b44-4f74-b18d-59cdb61e5ef9   ext4       HOMEDATA
/dev/sda5        29fdb798-7952-4ebd-84bf-868f8f6a5a32   swap       
/dev/sda6        05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b   ext4       

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

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda3        /home                    ext4       (rw,nosuid,nodev,commit=0)
/dev/sda6        /                        ext4       (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader] 
timeout=30 
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS 
[operating systems] 
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /usepmtimer 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=========================== sda6/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='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${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
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 2.6.38-10-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b ro   quiet splash vt.handoff=7
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-10-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.38-10-generic ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic root=UUID=05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b ro   quiet splash vt.handoff=7
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    echo    'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b ro single 
    echo    'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-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='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    linux16    /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ext2
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b
    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/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
    insmod part_msdos
    insmod ntfs
    set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 3E70A89B70A85B81
    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 ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda6/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/sda6 during installation
UUID=05ba506d-cf31-431c-956c-1b6fea39208b /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=29fdb798-7952-4ebd-84bf-868f8f6a5a32 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/fd0        /media/floppy0  auto    rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0
# (identifier)  (location, eg sda5)   (format, eg ext3 or ext4)      (some settings) 
UUID=44d39709-6b44-4f74-b18d-59cdb61e5ef9   /home    ext4          nodev,nosuid       0       2 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)

  68.937110901 = 74.020659200   boot/grub/core.img                             1
  63.099514008 = 67.752587264   boot/grub/grub.cfg                             1
  71.370597839 = 76.633595904   boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-10-generic              2
  61.476100922 = 66.009460736   boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic               1
  61.585273743 = 66.126684160   boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-10-generic                 2
  68.935382843 = 74.018803712   boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic                  1
  71.370597839 = 76.633595904   initrd.img                                     2
  61.476100922 = 66.009460736   initrd.img.old                                 1
  61.585273743 = 66.126684160   vmlinuz                                        2
  68.935382843 = 74.018803712   vmlinuz.old                                    1

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

unlzma: Decoder error

[YannBuntu]

@oldfred : Boot-Repair now manages separate /boot partitions, no need for command lines any more



(where do you see the chkdsk flag? is it something you guess from the "Mounting failed" ?)


@Hakunka-Matata : thanks for the feedback.

[oldfred]

It is just a guess when ever a partition does not mount. If it is NTFS or FAT then chkdsk is probably the fix, if it is in the ext family then e2fsck should be run. Generally partition/file repair will not cause further problems, but files that have issues may be moved to separate folders.

[YannBuntu]

ok thanks. For information, the "Repair filesystems" option in Boot-Repair uses ntfsfix on NTFS partitions (and fsck on others) , so it won't do the Windows chkdsk job but will help by forcing chkdsk on next Windows boot. If you know a better ntfs repair tool that I could include don't hesitate to tell me