Recovering Ubuntu Installation after Deleting (non-essential?) partition

spsaucier · 02-20-2009, 02:09 AM

I've been experimenting with Ubuntu 8.10 for a couple of months now, and I had repartitioned the hard drive so that I could try dual-booting with OS X or Windows XP. This worked fine until I decided it would be a bright idea to delete the two partitions of the hd that took up little space and were apparently "linux-swap" and something else. I merged them with my new ntfs. I still had my sda1 mount for ubuntu, but I am now getting the "Error loading operating system" error (I deleted my dual-boot OS's.

Is there a way to boot up to my sda1 partition? I've messed with SystemRescueCD and a bunch of other ideas I've read about online, but I haven't found anything like my case.

Thanks in advance! I think the solution to this problem lies in my lack of understanding of how ubuntu boots and what the other two small partitions were actually used for.

By the way, I don't have any absolutely vital information on the remaining partition, but I don't want to have to reconfigure and reinstall everything I do have.

syg00 · 02-20-2009, 02:38 AM

Stick a liveCD in, go get this, and post the RESULTS.txt here so we can see what your setup really is.

spsaucier · 02-20-2009, 08:26 AM

Code:

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext3
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 8.10
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows XP
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive sda: _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x41ab2316

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63    72,437,084    72,437,022  83 Linux
/dev/sda2          72,437,085   156,296,384    83,859,300   7 HPFS/NTFS


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

/dev/sda1: UUID="9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96" TYPE="ext3" 
/dev/sda2: UUID="B600974400970B0F" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs" 

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
/dev/scd0 on /cdrom type iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 on /rofs type squashfs (ro,noatime)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ubuntu/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ubuntu)
/dev/sda1 on /media/disk type ext3 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# 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'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		3

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu

# 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 specific 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_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96

## 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

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

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

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title		Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 ro  single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title		Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid		9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    defaults        0       0
# /dev/sda1
UUID=9f87063f-97b0-48fd-9a89-2361d0155b96 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=81481b9c-b0da-4c33-b7a1-695f8ae0d043 none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0       /media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


   3.8GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
   3.7GB: boot/grub/stage2
   3.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
   3.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
   3.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
   3.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
   3.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic
   3.7GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic
   3.8GB: initrd.img
   3.8GB: initrd.img.old
   3.8GB: vmlinuz
   3.7GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda2/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

yancek · 02-20-2009, 08:51 AM

Your last post indicates windows on mbr of sda and your boot.ini file for xp has no entry for Linux. You can add an entry for Linux/Ubuntu in the boot.ini file by following the instructions at this site:

http://www.linux.com/articles/113945

If you want to use Grub to boot, you can use your Ubuntu CD and run the following commands:

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

This will install Grub to the mbr and it will point to the Ubuntu bootloader files on sda1. You will need an entry in the /boot/grub/menu.lst file for xp:

rootnoverify (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1

vibinlakshman · 02-20-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yancek

Your last post indicates windows on mbr of sda and your boot.ini file for xp has no entry for Linux. You can add an entry for Linux/Ubuntu in the boot.ini file by following the instructions at this site:

http://www.linux.com/articles/113945

If you want to use Grub to boot, you can use your Ubuntu CD and run the following commands:

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

This will install Grub to the mbr and it will point to the Ubuntu bootloader files on sda1. You will need an entry in the /boot/grub/menu.lst file for xp:

rootnoverify (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Why the last 3 lines r used ? Will this perform any special task? Without this wont xp work fine ?
Thanks in advance dude

spsaucier · 02-20-2009, 04:41 PM

Thanks so much! I don't know if I'd ever have figured that out.