Grub 17 Error??

linuxshadow · 01-17-2009, 02:29 AM

I have never been successful in getting out of this issue ever.
Ubuntu 7.04 was running on my Machine with Win Xp.
Suddenly yesterday I see GRUB 17 Error.

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ sudo fdisk -l
omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x31a431a3

Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        2642    21221833+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2            2643        5284    21217280    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda3            5285       13058    62444655    5  Extended
/dev/sda4           13059       15608    20482875    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda5            5285        7158    15052842   83  Linux
/dev/sda6            7159        7290     1060258+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7            7291        9900    20964793+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8            9901       12450    20482843+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda9           12451       13058     4883728+  83  Linux

The Linux Partition is /dev/sda5.But I dont know how can I bring grub back.

Now The issue is I have Live/Install CD of Ubuntu.I dont see recovery mode of Ubuntu.So I logged through Live CD.And Enter the grub prompt.
But I din't understand how can I run these commands which says:

Code:

root (hd0,1)
setup (hd0)

I know the above ntry is incorrect but what Will be the right entry seeing my fdisk -l?

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ grub
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.

       [Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.   For
       the   first   word,  TAB  lists  possible  command
       completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
       completions of a device/filename. ]
grub> root(sd1,0)                 
root(sd1,0)

Error 27: Unrecognized command
grub> root (sd1,0)
root (sd1,0)

Error 23: Error while parsing number
grub> root (hd0,0)
root (hd0,0)

Error 21: Selected disk does not exist
grub> root (sd0,0)
root (sd0,0)

Error 23: Error while parsing number
grub> root (sd0,1)
root (sd0,1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# grub --device.map=device.map
bash: grub: command not found
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# grub       
bash: grub: command not found
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# whereis grub
bash: whereis: command not found
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# cd ..
root@ubuntu:/boot# ls
System.map-2.6.27-7-generic  initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
abi-2.6.27-7-generic         memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.27-7-generic      vmcoreinfo-2.6.27-7-generic
grub                 vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic
root@ubuntu:/boot# grub
bash: grub: command not found
root@ubuntu:/boot# cd grub
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# ls
default        fat_stage1_5      menu.lst         stage1
device.map     installed-version  minix_stage1_5     stage2
e2fs_stage1_5  jfs_stage1_5      reiserfs_stage1_5  xfs_stage1_5
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub# grub
bash: grub: command not found
root@ubuntu:/boot/grub#

pls help

syg00 · 01-17-2009, 03:06 AM

In Ubuntu you have to run grub undo sudo to do anything meaningful. Otherwise the messages are meaningless. Blame the Ubuntu developers. From a terminal session, try

Code:

sudo grub    <<< Enter your password when asked.
root (hd0,4)
setup (hd0)
quit

linuxshadow · 01-17-2009, 10:38 AM

Should I try:

Code:

grub (sd0,4)  or (hd0,4)

And one thing to ask you that how will I get grub prompt?Can you explain once again

yancek · 01-17-2009, 11:35 AM

Your fdisk -l output shows Linux on sda5 and sda9. You don't indicate what sda9 is. You said sda5 has your Ubuntu so do what syg00 suggests. You should be able to open a terminal and type: sudo grub, and get to a grub prompt (grub>) and here you enter the commands syg00 suggested. If your Ubuntu root partition is on sda5 that will work.

syg00 · 01-17-2009, 03:32 PM

Sorry about that - have amended the post above. After the "sudo grub" you will be in grub command mode.

Thanks yancek.

linuxshadow · 01-18-2009, 08:04 AM

You mean sd0,4 is the right one...Agreed !!
But Just one Doubt...
You said

Code:

 setup (hd0)

What does that indicate?
Which is the Best way to know on which partition my linux stand at?

yancek · 01-18-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

You mean sd0,4 is the right one...Agreed !!

NO! When you run the fdisk -l command, the partition shows as sda5. In Grub, count begins at zero (0) not one (1) so that (hd0,4) in Grub is the same as sda5 from fdisk.

Quote:

setup (hd0)

root (hd0,4) shows that partition as the root partition where the majority of Grub boot loader files are. The 'setup (hd0)' copies the stage1 file to the master boot record of that drive and has it pointing to the (hd0,4) partition to access the remaining bootloader files of Grub.

your_shadow03 · 01-18-2009, 10:14 PM

Have You watched a youtube video for "Fixing GRUB Error"
Thats really great Stuff.
All it hints at:

Go to grub prompt:

Code:

grub> cat (hd0, < Followed by tab>
Opens up list of the partitions and try finding the one in  which vmlinuz and initrd stays.
Say hd0,4 in your case
grub > setup (hd0)  < will install your grub >
grub > reboot

Just search at youtube and you will really appreciate the attempt..
BOL

CJS · 01-19-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxshadow

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ sudo fdisk -l
omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x31a431a3

Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        2642    21221833+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2            2643        5284    21217280    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda3            5285       13058    62444655    5  Extended
/dev/sda4           13059       15608    20482875    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda5            5285        7158    15052842   83  Linux
/dev/sda6            7159        7290     1060258+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7            7291        9900    20964793+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda8            9901       12450    20482843+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda9           12451       13058     4883728+  83  Linux

Any time fdisk reports an "omitting empty partition(X)" warning, unfortunately that means your partition table is corrupt; that is most likely why you are having problems with Grub. How about posting the output of the following commands:

Code:

sudo fdisk -lu
sudo sfdisk -d

Most likely we can fix your partition table without too much effort, but I need to see the the actual sector boundaries of all your partitions to get a better idea of what might be the cause of your "omitting extra partition(5)" error. We can work from there if you want.

fbianconi · 01-19-2009, 02:45 PM

My suggestion in order to fix corrupt partition table is using TestDisk