unable to boot

[sanjiv2]

Hi,

I am unable to boot into ubuntu today. after several attempts I ran the boot repair hoping it would fix the problem and i thought it did. i got a notification that i need to delete files to create more space to be able to boot. i did manage to note down the boot summary (sorry for errors) . this is it - http://paste.ubuntu.com/6484466

Any easy way to fix this issue.

Sanjiv

[oldfred]

Script also reported this, but I do not see it now.
Error: Invalid partition table - recursive partition on /dev/sda.

Your main issue is a small 5.7GB / (root) partition sda9 that is now full. You do have another Linux partition of 15GB as sda7. It would be better to have your install in teh 20GB that the combination of those would make, but may still have to save most data into your NTFS partitions.

Not sure what you can houseclean out, but you will need to make room. You should be able to use live installer in live mode to delete files. But deletion normally does not open space until you empty trash.


RecoverLostDiskSpace
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoverLostDiskSpace
HOWTO: Recover Lost Disk Space - drs305
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1122670
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=898573
HOWTO: Cleaning up all those unnecessary junk files...
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=140920


# empty trash
# remove log files if no issues
cd /var/log
sudo rm -f messages.*
sudo rm -v /var/log/*.gz


How To: Disk Full? - Check Your Trash
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=898573


Trash
Here is where these files normally reside.

• ~/.local/share/Trash User's Trash (hardy and later)
• ~/.Trash User's Trash (pre-hardy)
• /root/.local/share/Trash System Trash (hardy and later)
• /root/.Trash System Trash (pre-hardy):
• /.local/share/.Trash-1000 NTFS/FAT32/etc: Trash deleted in these partitions is placed in a Trash bin named in accordance with the user deleting the file, e.g. -1000, 1002, -0, etc

rm -rf ~/.local/share/Trash/*
rm -ri so that it prompts for each file deletion.

If you get permission problems try to slip a sudo in front of the commands, but be sure that the path is correct.

Sometimes it is necessary to change the ownership of the trash files:
sudo chown -R yourusername /home/yourusername/.local/share/Trash

[sanjiv2]

Thanks for this oldfred. I did research and do trash cleaning earlier and intended to do some more again, but now am unable to log in. am not too good with using gparted or such like and may end up messing up further ! hope I can fix this ..

[sanjiv2]

Hi,

Tried to run gparted from a live cd but the partitions mentioned above are not visible and presumably it is showing as unallocated. So is my only option a fresh install ? could anyone give me a link to the details of how to go about that, so i can merge the 2 linux partitions. thanking in advance.

[Sef]

Tried to run gparted from a live cd but the partitions mentioned above are not visible and presumably it is showing as unallocated. So is my only option a fresh install ? could anyone give me a link to the details of how to go about that, so i can merge the 2 linux partitions. thanking in advance.

Anything one the partitions that you want to merge will be lost. To know what is on the partitions that you want to merge, use a live cd, and hold down crtl + alt + T. That will bring up the terminal, then copy and paste this command

sudo fdisk -l

and then paste the output back here.


Thank you.

[fantab]

parted -l:


                                                                          
Error: Invalid partition table - recursive partition on /dev/sda.

Model: ATA WDC WD1600JS-60N (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 160GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system  Flags
1      32.3kB  31.5GB  31.5GB  primary   ntfs         boot
2      31.5GB  41.9GB  10.5GB  primary   ntfs
3      41.9GB  160GB   118GB   extended               lba
5      41.9GB  83.9GB  41.9GB  logical   ntfs
6      83.9GB  126GB   41.9GB  logical   ntfs
7      126GB   160GB   34.2GB  logical   ntfs

fdisk -l:

Disk /dev/sda: 82.3 GB, 82348277760 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 10011 cylinders, total 160836480 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb263b263

Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *          63    63091573    31545755+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2        63091635   160810643    48859504+   f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3       160811008   160835583       12288    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda5        63091637    92193199    14550781+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda6       145023137   160810643     7893753+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda7       104498432   136709374    16105471+  83  Linux
/dev/sda8       136709376   145022207     4156416   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda9        92194048   104490239     6148096   83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0df30df2

Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *          63    61432559    30716248+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb2        61432560    81920159    10243800    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb3        81920160   312560639   115320240    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5        81920223   163840319    40960048+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb6       163840383   245760479    40960048+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb7       245760543   312560639    33400048+   7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Your partition table on /dev/sda is corrupt. You have to 're-create' the partition table. However, it you change/delete/re-create partition table then all you data on the disk will be lost...

If you have data to save then boot with Ubuntu DVD/USB and save all the important data to an external device.

Option 1. Take it to manufacturer's service center and get it checked and corrected. [Recommended]


Option 2. Open Gparted -> Device -> 'create new partition table'. All your partions and data will be lost for good.


Option 3. With this we'll only repair the MBR. [DATA and partitions will NOT be lost, however a good backup is recommended].

Boot with your Ubuntu DVD/USB. Open Terminal [Ctrl+Alt+T]:

Backup your existing Partition Table

sudo dd if=/dev/sda of=/tmp/sda-mbr.bin bs=512 count=1

Now clean up the MBR

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=446 count=1

Now fix Windows8 boot, you can do this with Windows Repair Disc, or Windows8 Install Disc. If you haven't created a Windows Repair Disc then download Windows8 trial .iso for the same version of Windows8 you have in there.

Check if Windows can boot. If it does, then Boot with Ubuntu DVD/USB and Re-install Grub.

If Windows does NOT boot then, try re-installing Grub and see if it works and boots Ubuntu... it doesn't either then :

Restore the MBR we had backed up with:

sudo dd if= sda-mbr.bin of=/dev/sda bs=1 count=64 skip=446 seek=446

and you are left with Option 2 or Option 1.

Good Luck...

[sanjiv2]

oh ok. just saw this post. meanwhile will this work

[oldfred]

You now show SFS partitions on sdb. SFS is dynamic partitions where you try to create more than the 4 allowed primary partitions with Windows. Instead of using the standard extended & logical partitions it uses a proprietary dynamic partition scheme that does not work with Linux nor some Windows repair tools. Best to undo dynamic.

Microsofts offical policy is a full backup, erase dynamic partitions and create new basic partitions. There is no undo.
Dynamic volume is a Microsoft proprietary format developed together with Veritas (now acquired by Symantec) for logical volumes.
You may be use a third-party tool, such as Partition Wizard MiniTool or EASEUS to convert a convert a dynamic disk to a basic disk without having to delete or format them.
I've never used any of these and so I can't be sure they will work.Be sure to have good backups as any major partition change has risks.
Dynamic also on gpt as LDM
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...asic-disk.html
From Linux view LDM
http://mika.soup.io/post/304505086/l...mic-disks-from

Used EASEUS Partition Master - free version used to include conversion
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1692248
EASEUS Partition Master - The free home edition converted both dynamic partitions into basic partitions in less than 5 minutes!!
http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

Several users have used this, it has a liveCD download to use but you have to use the non-free version:
MiniTool Partition Wizard Professional Edition 5.2 to convert without loss of data the disk from dynamic disk to a basic disk.
also used Partition Wizard to set an existing partition logical instead of primary
Converted from dynamic with MiniTool, & repaired windows
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1779529
http://www.partitionwizard.com/conve...asic-disk.html
Partition wizard repaired NTFS partition table that gparted could not see with disk label error
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2112005

[sanjiv2]

Sorry but - I need to access sda right ? And as fantab says could be a hard drive problem (hardware) i have used third party software quite easily and fixed partitions in Windows but i need to access and work it in linux so i dont have to go through the process of a re-install etc.

[fantab]

Are you able to boot Windows8, without any issues? If you can then post a screen-shot of your partitions from Windows Disk management tools, showing partitions from both Hard disks.
Have fixed the issue of 'Dynamic' Disk on your second HDD, /dev/sdb?
Can you boot with Ubuntu DVD/USB and "Try Ubuntu without installing"? If you can then post the output of:

sudo parted -l
sudo fdisk -l