[SOLVED] Ubuntu disc instal beside Mandriva produced error 18

widda · 12-21-2009, 07:33 AM

I tried to instal Ubuntu beside mandriva, got error 18; since then my only OS is the ubuntu-from-diskdrive.
I've used the ubuntu partitioning tool to delete the couple of ubuntus I put on, and blundered about in it some more. If I take the instal route now from ubuntu disk, it shows that the 7.8 bit is the Mandriva 2009.1 and the 3.9 is swap, so my files I assume are still there, but inaccessible because of mangled partition structure - pretty sure lack of little boot bit at the beginning is crucial, but looking at the whole thing, I am obviously unqualified to do the surgery without help.
Can anyone help me back to being able to boot the installed Mandriva?

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Agrouf · 12-21-2009, 09:57 AM

try that:

Code:

sudo grub
grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup

then reboot

widda · 12-21-2009, 06:30 PM

Merci Agrouf,

I got this far.

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partnew?,parttype?

Agrouf · 12-22-2009, 04:50 AM

Sorry about that, here is the right code:

Code:

sudo grub
grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup (hd0)

widda · 12-23-2009, 02:18 AM

Agrouf, thanks! fixed. How do you know that fix? How can I learn these things? I want to talk to my computer like that some more, and even find out what it was I was saying! It's great!
Seriously thanks. Big relief to have OS back.

Agrouf · 12-23-2009, 04:45 AM

All that the commands do is tell grub where are the files and install it on the mbr. I suppose your Ubuntu install fucked the grub install from Mandriva trying to install its own buggy one. If that was the last version of Ubuntu, it's probably grub2, which should not be used (it's still beta software).
If you want to know more about grub, you should read the manual:
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html
(grub2 coming soon to obsolete all that)
This is a long read. In short, you can access the grub interface with the grub command. At grub prompt, type 'help' to see a list of grub commands. The root command tells grub where to find the files and the setup command tells it to write itself to the hard drive.
If you have a lot of time and want to know a lot about how GNU/linux boots and works, you can install LFS on a spare partition:
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/
It takes about 1 week if you take the time to understand everything. When you've done that, a lot of things appear very clear.

widda · 12-23-2009, 01:10 PM

Thanks, IMO you are a good explainer.
I'll look at LFS online but will google "install LFS on a spare partition" before I resume any stomping about in partitioning LOL.
Yes it was latest Ubuntu disk.