Some backgound. I have a dual boot system with Win XP and Ubuntu 8.04 and have been using it for some time. I have two hard drives in my machine the larger one is used for storage. I recently did some upgrades where I installed a SATA drive cloned the info from the drive that was removed and then my IDE did not work properly as it was on an IDE Bridge. The IDE drive had the operating systems. To make a long story short I replaced the IDE with another SATA and cloned the IDE on to the SATA. I had to repair install Windows since the SATA didn't recognize it and reinstalled Ubuntu back on the partion that I had for it previously. Everything worked fine meaning the GRUB worked and I amended the order so XP booted first however after I downloaded updates that were available for Ubuntu I could no longer get GRUB to work at all after re-booting. I used the Live CD to get GRUB back on and while it launches and provides the options of booting Windows or tab up to Ubuntu, it can't seem to find Ubuntu and says something about unable to locate the partition. I have spent considerable time searching for a fix without a lot of complexity but most repairs seem to refer to GRUB 2 and I understand my version of Ubuntu uses the previous version of GRUB. Other posts also refer to GRUB not being available at all however mine is it just isn't working properly. This is my first post and I have to admit I am not fluent in a lot of terminal dialogue that is sometimes used but I can follow instructions. I need to fix this boot problem withou shutting down the computer for long as the wife uses it (Windows) often. Thanks for reading this lengthy post.

From a LiveCD, go to

http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/

follow the instructions and post the results ( within [CODE] tags ) with your reply.

Hopefully I did this correctly and the required information is here.


Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #5 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> Lilo is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM /IO.SYS /MSDOS.SYS

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda6: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb2: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb5: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb6: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

hda: _________________________________________________________________________

File system: iso9660
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

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

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6bfcad94

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 218,644,649 218,644,587 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2 218,644,713 625,137,344 406,492,632 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 218,644,776 308,640,779 89,996,004 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 308,640,843 312,576,704 3,935,862 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5d1053ad

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 526,723,154 526,723,092 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sdb2 526,723,155 976,768,064 450,044,910 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 526,723,218 762,573,419 235,850,202 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdb6 762,573,483 976,768,064 214,194,582 b W95 FAT32


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/hda iso9660 Ubuntu 8.04 i386
/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 175F-08EC vfat TOM_BARCLAY
/dev/sda5 1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ext3
/dev/sda6 b516955c-9a65-4902-9333-2fec24a4b00c swap
/dev/sdb1 411F-C703 vfat STORAGE D
/dev/sdb5 0C46-0A1C vfat Extra
/dev/sdb6 0C46-1729 vfat Extra2

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sdb1 /media/STORAGE D vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,shortname=mixed,uid=999,utf8,umask=077,flush)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer


=========================== sda5/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 4

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## 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=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,5)

## 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 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-28-generic
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic root=UUID=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-28-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic root=UUID=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.4 LTS, memtest86+
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda6
UUID=1687e328-8c2d-4886-b672-9665150942ab / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda5
UUID=b516955c-9a65-4902-9333-2fec24a4b00c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hda /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/hdb /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


142.9GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
142.8GB: boot/grub/stage2
142.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
142.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
142.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic
142.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-28-generic.bak
142.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
142.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-28-generic
142.4GB: initrd.img
142.3GB: initrd.img.old
142.3GB: vmlinuz
142.3GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

hdb

Your bootinfoscript shows you are using Grub Legacy in Ubuntu 8.04.
Grub Legacy counts hard drives from zero.
Grub Legacy counts partitions from zero.

Your info shows Grub is looking for boot files on sda5. In Grub Legacy, that would be (hd0,4)
Your entries for Ubuntu menu.lst are incorrect showing (hd0,5) which would have it trying to boot sda6 which is your swap partition.

Newer versions of Ubuntu with Grub2, Grub2 counts hard drives from zero but partitions from one.

I agree with yancek. I might also add that I consider it unlikely to get to this situation via a simple update from Ubuntu. Not impossible, just very unlikely.
You didn't happen to delete a (logical) partition by any chance ?.

Note that your change of the default was invalidated due to the introduction of two more Ubuntu options at the top of the list.

Solution is best done from the liveCD - boot it up and post the output of this issued in a terminal - then we can construct a command to fix things (hopefully ), making sure to hit the correct menu.lst

This is what I got with the command.


ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo df -hT
Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
tmpfs tmpfs 1013M 16M 998M 2% /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/volatile
tmpfs tmpfs 1013M 16M 998M 2% /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/volatile
varrun tmpfs 1013M 100K 1013M 1% /var/run
varlock tmpfs 1013M 0 1013M 0% /var/lock
udev tmpfs 1013M 68K 1013M 1% /dev
devshm tmpfs 1013M 12K 1013M 1% /dev/shm
tmpfs tmpfs 1013M 80K 1013M 1% /tmp
/dev/sdb1 vfat 252G 24G 228G 10% /media/STORAGE D
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

I formatted the unallocated drive after the Linux Swap hoping to use it as another storage drive however when I was having problems with the boot I deleted it putting it back to the way it was. If not able to repair the GRUB what about reinstalling Ubuntu and starting it from scratch?

If you change ubuntu entries in your menu.lst from a liveCD from (hd0,5) to (hd0,4) and then reinstall grub, you should be good.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...talling%20GRUB

Ubuntu 8.04 wilreach end of life (EOL) in April 2011 for the dsktop version: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Co...estions#Stable
You should do a dist-upgrade, or better yet, a clean install of 10.04 if you want stick with LTS versions of Ubuntu. Or do a clean install of 10.10 if you want the newest version.
Using either 10.04 or 10.10 will upgrade your grub legacy to grub2.
Here is the Ubuntu tutorial on grub2 for more info: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

So ...
- to "fix" your current environment, mount your disk partition (I was hoping the liveCD would do that automagically) - from Places I guess in Ubuntu - change the groot to (hd0,4), then run update-grub. As per the link in post #8 (not post #9).
- or do an upgrade, and ignore the current problem altogether.

If I am remembering correctly, update-grub does not work in grub legacy which is used on ubuntu 8.04. Using update-grub only works with grub2.

It wasn't part of grub, but Debian (and derivatives like Ubuntu) ship it. Should be there even that far back.
Ubuntu devs were heavily involved in the (later) grub2 development, so that syle carried over.

Perhaps it was then, but I just don't remember ever seeing anyone using update-grub in grub legacy on versions of Ubuntu that used grub legacy.

Anyway, if the OP edits his menu.lst file as you suggested, it should not even be necessary to run update-grub with grub legacy. It should just boot with the changes made to menu.lst.
I used to edit Ubuntu's menu.lst from my Slackware install, or from whatever other distro I was using at the time. The next time I rebooted the changes made to menu.lst would work just fine.
This was what i liked about grub legacy. Now with grub2, you must boot up Ubuntu and run update-grub after editing any grub2 configuration files in order to update the boot/grub/grub.cfg file to make the changes work.

You can edit the grub.cfg but it probably will go back or break the first time it does an os-prober or update. I have a grub2 and chainload multiple distros. I have it in its own partition and made the grub.cfg file from scratch. I disabled grub-update and os-prober and set the timeouts to '0'.

As with anything new there are going to be changes that we need to adapt to. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing the benefit also.

OK, so I downloaded and burned Ubuntu 10.4 LTS and tried it out live and it seems to work fine. If I want to install this version will it overwrite my existing installed 8.04 or do I have to do anything different? Thanks.