Cannot start Ubuntu 9.10 after update from 9.04
 

I have just updated from 9.04 to 9.10 (after reading several good reports) and initially had intermittent crashes so decided to go back to 9.04. Somewhere on the way I have screwed it up and now nothing works.
The Boot list shows only 2 prompts;
kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (which returns a lank screen)
kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode)

If I start the Recovery mode, Drop to root shell prompt and type gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst
I would expect to get the possibility to review/change the list but I get;

(gedit:3102): Gtk-WARNING ** cannot open display+

I have tried dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
but this does nothing and returns me to the shell prompt.

I don't have a backup copy of Grub and I updated from the update manager so do not have an update CD.

Anyone got a fix, a way into the menu.lst "might" help
Thanks Cliff

try

Thanks Repo, that was quick and easy!
It got me into /boot/grub/menu.lst and I find I have 10 options in the file. Only 2 show on the boot list (The number is set to 7)
I think the 2 are on sda2 (although that is not obvious from the menu.lst) and the others may be on sda4, because of partition size.
Before I start trying to move things is there a Grub command to Boot from a different sda? or am I asking the wrong question?
Thanks Cliff

I recommend you do a clean install, not an upgrade. Save all the data in your home directory and any other configuration files you need to keep and then do the installation. I have used Fedora and Mandriva and I learned years ago upgrades seldom work out. I think if others told the truth they'd tell you too -- upgrades are a pain.

Thanks, that's sound advice but I have had good results updating Ubuntu year by year. You only know it's a mistake when it screws you!!
Right now I can't get Ubuntu to Boot at all and since I have Gigabites of data in there somewhere I am reluctant to do a new install and lose it all.
Since I can't open the o/s I can't copy anything out.
Right now I am lost and don't even know what question to ask.
Thanks for your input
Regards Cliff

These seems the kernels from 9.04 to me

Do you have more options in your /boot/grub/menu.lst
eq do you see a more recent kernel?
If yes, try to remove the # and see if they boot.


You can use a live cd (puppy is good for recovering) and copy the data to an external device.
http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php...ad%20Puppy.htm
Next time, create a seperate /home and/or /data partition, to keep your files, so when you need to reinstall, you can reuse them.

Thanks for the input repo.
The Boot Menu shows;
Ubuntu 8.10, Kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda4)
Ubuntu 8.10, Kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda4)recovery mode
Ubuntu 8.10, memtest 86+
Ubuntu 8.10, memtest 86+
Other operating systems
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

.............................

The /boot/grub/menu.lst shows;
Title Ubuntu 8.10, 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda4)
Title Ubuntu 8.10, 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda4)recovery mode
Title Ubuntu 8.10, 2.6.27-7-generic (on sda4)
Title Ubuntu 8.10, 2.6.27-7-generic (on sda4)recovery mode
Ubuntu 8.10, memtest 86+

###END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
#This is a divider, added to seperate the menu items below from the Debian ones

Title Other operating systems

#This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for non linux OS on /dev/sda1

Title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda2)

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (on sda2)recovery mode

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (on sda2)

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (on sda2)recovery mode

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic

#This entry automaticaaly added by the Debian installer for an existing linux
#installation on /dev/sda2

Title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic

Title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest 86+

Each of these headings have several lines of additional data which I have ommitted in this reply.

You will note that none of the items are blocked (ie #)

The advantage of gedit is that it allows me to edit/copy/save files which vi or vim doesn't but gedit doesn't work.

Hope that make sense and perhaps shows what needs to be done. Meanwhile I am trying your idea with a live CD, first I have to make one.
Thanks again repo
Cheers Cliff

Thank you to all for input, problem solved by reinstalling Ubuntu 8.10 and update to 9.04.
It would have been nice to understand what had gone wrong but it is sufficient that it now works.
I will not be updating to 9.10 (again) anytime soon.
Cheers Cliff

Try the following commands

# X -configure
# fsck
# init 6

After the reboot, one will get GUI login