only grub in prompt mode? why?

tajo01 · 04-05-2006, 05:45 PM

Hi guys Just today I installed debian sarge, I installed it from the network using a image in a USB memory stick. I installed debian on my laptop Dell Inspiron 510m. My laptop start with a special partition that make a general check, I suppose. I preferred keep this partition, and so I installed /boot partition just after this, whit fedora core 3 and 4 this strategy was work perfectly, but now with debian when start grub I get a prompt instead a nice menu. I am able to boot linux inserting the command by hand, but I don't have idea how to boot Windows partition.

So, please some of you can help to get again the grub menu? And more important, some of you know how boot Windows portion by command line?

Thank you really much, and sorry for my English

Penguin of Wonder · 04-05-2006, 06:09 PM

Your not getting a gub menu? Like you can't pick which kernenl to use when you boot up?
When you boot up what does the prompt say? Does it look like this:

Code:

grub>

or is it something else. I've mis-written my grub.conf before and have had to enter my /root parition by hand, so the computer asked for the root everytime I booted. Post your grub.conf, menu.lst, and your fstab, that will help alot.

With that we easily show you how to chain-load windows.

tajo01 · 04-05-2006, 06:27 PM

You got it! I have this prompt! But now I got another problem, I don't have fstab! Probable I have to make by myself, but I don't have any idea. Do you know about it ?

anyway my menu.lst is:

Code:

 
# 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'.
default         2

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout         10

# 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 specifiv 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=root=/dev/hda7 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,4)

## 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

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery mode) 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.16.1
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.6.16.1 root=/dev/hda7 ro
savedefault
boot

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.16.1 (recovery mode)
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.6.16.1 root=/dev/hda7 ro single
savedefault
boot

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8-3-686-smp
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.6.8-3-686-smp root=/dev/hda7 ro
initrd          /initrd.img-2.6.8-3-686-smp
savedefault
boot

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8-3-686-smp (recovery mode)
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.6.8-3-686-smp root=/dev/hda7 ro single
initrd          /initrd.img-2.6.8-3-686-smp
savedefault
boot

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-2-386
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.4.27-2-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro
initrd          /initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386
savedefault
boot

title           Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-2-386 (recovery mode)
root            (hd0,4)
kernel          /vmlinuz-2.4.27-2-386 root=/dev/hda7 ro single
initrd          /initrd.img-2.4.27-2-386
savedefault
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

Really thanks, Antonello

Penguin of Wonder · 04-05-2006, 06:36 PM

Are you sure you don't have an fstab? It should be in /etc/fstab if I remeber correctly. I also need your grub.conf and probably your device.map to help you.

Here's a sample fstab, if you really don't have one. This will a good model to base yours off of.

Code:

#
# /etc/fstab
#
# <device>      <mountpoint>    <filesystemtype><options>  <dump> <fsckorder>

/dev/hdb5	/            	ext2     	defaults       	1 	1
/dev/hdb2	/home        	ext2     	defaults       	1 	2
/dev/hdc	/mnt/cdrom   	iso9660  	noauto,ro,user 	0 	0
/dev/hda1	/mnt/dos/c   	msdos    	defaults       	0 	0
/dev/hdb1	/mnt/dos/d   	msdos    	defaults       	0 	0
/dev/fd0	/mnt/floppy  	ext2     	noauto,user    	0 	0
/dev/hdb4	none         	ignore   	defaults       	0 	0

none     	/proc        	proc     	defaults
/dev/hdb3	none         	swap     	sw

tajo01 · 04-05-2006, 06:55 PM

Well I can swear that fstab wasn't there, but now it's there(I did something, but I don't know what exactly?)! Sorry may be it's too late, and I am almost dreaming! Anyway my fstad is this one:

Code:

 
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    defaults        0       0
/dev/hda7       /               ext3    defaults,errors=remount-ro 0       1
/dev/hda5       /boot           ext3    defaults        0       2
/dev/hda6       none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/hdc        /media/cdrom0   iso9660 ro,user,noauto  0       0
/dev/sda        /media/usb0     auto    rw,user,noauto  0       0

For the grub.conf, I don't have(well, belive in me

), but if I am not wrong again, in fedora core 3 menu.lst was a simbolic link to grub.conf.

My devide.map is:

Code:

(hd0)   /dev/hda

Really Thanks to help

cs-cam · 04-05-2006, 06:57 PM

Err some distros have grub.conf and other have menu.lst but last I checked both weren't necessary...

Those 2.6.16 kernels don't have an initrd that should go along with them?

tajo01 · 04-05-2006, 07:09 PM

I got it!!! I just make a symbolic link called grub.conf to menu.lst and now work perfectly! Strange thing!

For cs-cam: I compiled this new kernel with out initrd, for this way there isn't in the configuration

.

One last question Penguin of Wonder, I saw you have a dell, you screen has a 1400x1050 resolution? if yes, could please send me your Xfree conf?

Thank you really much, you are a really kind person

!

Penguin of Wonder · 04-05-2006, 07:58 PM

I do have a DELL laptop, but it runs WinXP only. It dosen't have a Xorg.conf file, sorry!
If you need a help with your xorg.conf file though you can start a new thread and we'll see what we can do.

farslayer · 04-06-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tajo01

One last question Penguin of Wonder, I saw you have a dell, you screen has a 1400x1050 resolution? if yes, could please send me your Xfree conf?

Thank you really much, you are a really kind person

!

Just add "1400x1050" as the first entry in the modes line for 24 bit. then restart X using CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE provided your monitor refresh rates are correct it should fire right up..

easy !!

Code:

        SubSection "Display"
                Depth           24
                Modes           "1400x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        EndSubSection

tajo01 · 04-06-2006, 09:08 AM

Thank farslayer, I tryed to add this resolution but it didn't work since I change the value of horizontal and vertical refresh. Now it's all ok.