Grub shows windows entry, but doesn't boot

**prat22** · October 23rd, 2014

Hi,
This is with Elementary OS, Luna and Win 7.

I am having 2 HDDs, sda having no OS, and sdb having Elementary OS (EOs) and Win 7. I have installed EOs after Win 7, but when grub shows, it shows win7 in the boot menu, but doesnt really boot.
I reinstalled win 7 while disconnecting sda (as win 7 wont install with too many partitions), and when I boot with only sdb connected, win 7 boots with ease (no mbr choice is shown)!
Again when I connect the two HDD sda and sdb, grub menu shows up at display, as before, but doesnt boot into windows.

I have tried rescatux 0.29, Super grub disk, but in vain. Also I have booted with live cd ubuntu and done a os-probe, where windows is shown, and then grub-update doesnt solve the issue, it shows the win 7 entry, but doesnt boot.

Help???

**yancek** · October 23rd, 2014

You probably need to go to the site below and download and run the bootinfoscript from Elementary OS and post the output, a results.txt file here. Instructions are in the Description box at the site. You might also try just posting the output you get form running update grub, at least the windows part of it.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/

**grahammechanical** · October 23rd, 2014

I do not support Elementary OS but I know that the Ubuntu installer defaults to installing Grub into the MBR of sda. Now, if you have Windows 7 on sdb, then its boot loader is on sdb and that does not recognise Elementary OS. If Grub is indeed on sda and sda was disconnected when Windows was installed, then the Grub on sda does not know about Windows.

Some times we need not only to update-grub but also to grub-install to get the changes working.

If you want to keep the windows boot loader on sdb but use Grub to load both OS, then run

Code:

sudo grub-install /dev/sda
sudo update-grub

But if you want to over-write the Windows boot loader with Grub then run this

Code:

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb
sudo update-grub

Providing you are correct in saying the Windows is not on sda. I quote

I reinstalled win 7 while disconnecting sda

Regards.

**howefield** · October 23rd, 2014

Thread moved to the "Other Operating Systems" forum.

**prat22** · October 24th, 2014

Thanks grahammechanical for your support, but installing grub in sdb didnt solve the issue..

Yancek: find my bootinfo below:

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 uses an
embedded config file:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
search.fs_uuid 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 root
set prefix=($root)/boot/grub
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----.
=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos2)/boot/grub on this drive.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /grldr /bootmgr /Boot/BCD
/Windows/System32/winload.exe /grldr

sdb2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sdb3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sdb4: __________________________________________________ ________________________

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

sdb5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP: NTFS
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP: NTFS
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sdb7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP: NTFS
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb7 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files:

============================ 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
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 1,953,523,711 1,953,521,664 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 4,096 512,004,095 512,000,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda6 512,006,144 1,024,006,143 512,000,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda7 1,024,008,192 1,536,008,191 512,000,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda8 1,536,010,240 1,953,523,711 417,513,472 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS

Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

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

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 2,048 32,774,143 32,772,096 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb2 32,774,144 65,546,239 32,772,096 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 65,546,240 66,070,527 524,288 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb4 66,075,406 312,576,704 246,501,299 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 66,075,408 143,412,254 77,336,847 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb6 143,412,318 227,994,479 84,582,162 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sdb7 227,994,543 312,576,704 84,582,162 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS

"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda5 132E36BA0B084634 ntfs
/dev/sda6 0B70B8921F6A9B91 ntfs Games
/dev/sda7 26DE24A608D7A794 ntfs Work
/dev/sda8 42193F4731FE9BF6 ntfs MotionPictures
/dev/sdb1 F08E29158E28D5BE ntfs
/dev/sdb2 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 ext4
/dev/sdb3 a621effd-6f54-4962-a986-6ace0639a0d3 swap
/dev/sdb5 5CC8897CC88954E4 ntfs Games/Downloads
/dev/sdb6 FC60918960914B72 ntfs Compatible
/dev/sdb7 403887F73887EA6C ntfs NewVolume

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

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb2 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)

=========================== sdb2/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='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_IN
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${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 0,0,0; 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 'elementary OS, with Linux 3.2.0-68-generic-pae' --class elementary --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-68-generic-pae root=UUID=83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-68-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'elementary OS, with Linux 3.2.0-68-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class elementary --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-68-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-68-generic-pae root=UUID=83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-68-generic-pae
}
submenu "Previous Linux versions" {
menuentry 'elementary OS, with Linux 3.2.0-51-generic-pae' --class elementary --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-51-generic-pae root=UUID=83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-51-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'elementary OS, with Linux 3.2.0-51-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class elementary --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-51-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-51-generic-pae root=UUID=83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-51-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/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sdb1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd1,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root F08E29158E28D5BE
chainloader +1
}
set timeout_style=menu
if [ "${timeout}" = 0 ]; then
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### 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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb2/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/sdb2 during installation
UUID=83ed0c73-1c9a-4e6f-8944-da8afeaae166 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb3 during installation
UUID=a621effd-6f54-4962-a986-6ace0639a0d3 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

= boot/grub/core.img 1
= boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
= boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-51-generic-pae 3
= boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-68-generic-pae 2
= boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-51-generic-pae 1
= boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-68-generic-pae 1
= initrd.img 2
= initrd.img.old 3
= vmlinuz 1
= vmlinuz.old 1

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

xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
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
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in