Error 21 from GRUB bootloader, can't get past BIOS Load
 

I have an old Dell that I decided to install Linux on. It is XP built in '01 with a P4 Intel. I installed BootIt and then uninstalled after finding it had no way to create partitions. I decided to use LILO/GRUB on the Linux Mandriva Free 2007. After successfully installing Mandriva, i rebooted my pc. The computer started to load GRUB, but instantly failed with nothing but the "Error 21" displaying. I put in the first CD and went to the recovery section and the system kept saying failure for every option (i.e. recover Windows Boot Loader, Re-install Boot Loader, etc). So I decided to reformat the drive and reinstall Mandriva. Instead of the message after rebooting though, nothing but 07 07 07 07 07 for half the screen is displayed. A few notes, I installed the OS onto a secondary HDD set to slave and maybe this is the main reason for the issue. I'm going to attempt to reinstall BootIt by bootable floppy and lastly, disconnect the Secondary HDD all together. If anyone has any ideas or a wayto disable GRUB, I would apreciate it.

Christian

Did you use Mandrivas partition utility during install?If you didnt try it.Its always worked good for me or download the newest flavour of gparted live cd.

Why did you install Mandy on the second hd and not the first?

I use 1 grub to multi boot 3 windows and lots of linuxs over 6 hds without a problem.It should however be overwritten by whatever bootloader the next operating system you install uses if you have its installer write the MBR.

Hope this helps.

Reformat
 

Thanks for the comment. I did use the partion util with mandriva (sounds worse than Mandrake), this fixed the problem and when I get of work soon I'm going to reinstall Mandriva. Hopefully it will work better because the system isn't so defragged (I was in bad need of a defragment).

I'll check out gParted, your the second person to say to use it. Thanks.

snowake

If you get this message before you reinstall, error 21 means the device specified in /boot/grub/menu.lst for the /boot, or / file system does not exist in the bios. Here is how this works:

In /boot/grub/menu.lst there are sections:

title Fedora Core (2.6.17PPS)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17PPS ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.17PPS.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.15)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.15-prep)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-prep ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15-prep.img
title Fedora Core (2.6.15-1.2054_FC5smp)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-1.2054_FC5smp ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.15-1.2054_FC5smp.img

Yours will look different than this, but the important things are:

Device root (hd0,0) means hard drive zero, partition 0. That is the first hard drive, first partition. (hd1,0) would be the second hard drive, first partition. The kernel line specifies what the actual file name and path to the kernel, and the root partition, with usually a few kernel parameters. The initrd line is the filename and path to initrd, or the ramdisk. So, boot with a live CD, such as http://www.efense.com/Helix .

Edit /etc/fstab so everything says rw instead of ro. Look in /etc/fstaB FOR THE MOUNT POINT OF YOUR PARTITIONS, TOO. I think you'll need to use THE vi EDITOR:

vi /etc/fstab
INSERT
make changes
ESC
x:
to exit the vi editor

Mount the partition with linux on it. i.e.

mount /media/sdb1
cd /media/sdb1
vi /boot/grub/menu.lst
use vi same as before, but put correct devices in the 'root' line.

That is a heap of information. I really appreicate the help. I've started using gParted, it works perfectly. I think I need to read a couple of books on Linux. Any recommendations there? Also on C++ and Java. I used to be able to do a little C, but it was several years ago. Thanks again.
- snowake

You asked if you could disable Grub, the answer is NO. Not unless you write a new Master Boot Record. If you have a dual boot WindowsXP box, you can remove Grub by booting from the WindowsXP install CD and typing the following commands in the XP reovery console:

fixboot
fixmbr

This will reinstall the Windows NTLDR, but will only boot windows. Although you could alter NTLDR (Microsoft's boot loader) to boot Linux, Linux works best with Lilo or Grub.

I would wager the issue you had installing Mandriva was that you had improperly partitioned your drive or you had a bad install disc.

Are you wanting a dual boot system or do you just want Linux?

I think I altered the MBR and EMBR incorrectly with the original BootIt program and this is what caused the LILO to be corrupted possibly. Either way, I've already reformatted and installed all the necessary programs. Now the disk is defragged completely and I am able to make partitions on it.
I'm wanting to dual boot with both my computers. I've partitioned a new laptop I purchased last week with gParted, creating three primary partitions. One being NTFS for Windows, One for shared files in Fat 32, and the other I'm going to auto allocate with Mandriva. I'm just using the Linux format for general home use. Possibly WINE with Windows Low graphics games. My main curiosity is if the shared file folder is fat 32, can I make a home dir on it and also a windows program file folder with it? thanks again in advance

I do not believe that FAT32 will allow linux to maintain permissions. I know that permissions will not work in windows concerning FAT32, that is why they use NTFS. You are better using a linux file format for home. Journaling filesystems such as ext2&3 as well as reiserfs will improve the odds of recovery incase of file corruption (improper read/write operations, power failures, etc). NTFS read/write from Linux is still experimental, but possible. NTFS read is reliable though.

Wine is very, very, very flaky. Simple executables will run, but they are hit and miss. Upgrading from one version of wine to the next commonly breaks previous installs. If you want to run simple games, and even more complex ones, look to TransGaming or VMware. What ever you do, don't download them from www.torrent-finder.com (the money goes to a good cause; making wine better).

FYI- Linux defrags on the fly to some degree, so you wont have a fragmentation problem like you do with FAT32 drives.