LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Ubuntu
User Name
Password
Ubuntu This forum is for the discussion of Ubuntu Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 01-12-2009, 03:42 AM   #1
svt11
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2008
Posts: 15

Rep: Reputation: 0
Problem with GRUB


Hi, I have the following problem. I have 2 HDD - 1st (250GB) with with two NTFS partitions - C - Windows Vista and D - NTFS again; 2nd (500GB) - with 4 partitions - 25GB ext3 with Ubuntu, 2GB swap, 25GB with Windows 7 beta, and the last is NTFS. Before I installed Windows 7 the first disk have its own Vista loader, I have installed Ubuntu in /dev/sdb1 with GRUB bootloader being on /dev/sdb1 - 2nd HDD. I decided then to install Fedora 10 on the /dev/sdb3 - 25GB and it overwrited my GRUB loader, so any fix to GRUB I must have do through Fedora's /boot directory where the new GRUB bootloader was located. Yesterday I have installed Windows 7 in the Fedora's partition and the GRUB loader was gone. And not only this but when I boot from 1st HDD I see Windows menu loader and Windows 7 in it. Is it possible that Windows 7 have overwrited my MBR in the 1st HDD and the bootloader is located in the 2nd HDD weher is Windows 7 located and how can I restore GRUB bootloader to recover Ubuntu without breking the Linux bootloader?
Thank you
 
Old 01-12-2009, 06:56 AM   #2
pixellany
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Distribution: Mint
Posts: 17,809

Rep: Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743
I'm afraid I cannot follow this.

Please summarize the partitions and what is installed in each one (preferably use Linux nomenclature)
e.g.:
sda1 Vista
sdb1 Ubuntu
sdb2 Fedora
etc.

Can you boot into any Linux?

Can you boot into both Vista and Windows 7?

If you can get into Linux, post the output of "fdisk -l" (run as root, using sudo if in Ubuntu)

If necessary, you can boot from a Linux "Live CD" to re-install GRUB.
 
Old 01-12-2009, 08:22 AM   #3
svt11
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2008
Posts: 15

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
/dev/sda
250GB SATA
/dev/sda1 35GB Windows Vista
/dev/sda5 200+GB NTFS
/dev/sdb
500GB SATA
/dev/sdb1 25GB Ubuntu
/dev/sdb2 2GB swap
/dev/sdb3 25GB Windows 7
/dev/sdb4 400+GB NTFS

I had GRUB in /dev/sdb3 where was Fedora 10, I removed it and installed Windows 7 on here place. And GRUB is now gone because of deleting Fedora.
I have tried with livecd Ubuntu, I had Internet in Ubntu livecd,mounted /dev/sdb1 and chrooted in mount dir and removed grub with sudo aptget remove grub. When I tried to download it again it says it can't find such package, can't resolve se.archive.ubuntu.com... I don't know what was the address...
huh, there is GUI way to recover it...
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCdRecovery
 
Old 01-12-2009, 03:17 PM   #4
pixellany
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Distribution: Mint
Posts: 17,809

Rep: Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743
Several comments:

1. Removing the grub package with apt-get will not remove grub from the MBR or partition boot record---it will (if anything) just remove the GRUB package, including the various utilities.

2. You say that GRUB was in sda3. You can only have GRUB in a partition if there is something the MBR to point to it. If you did not consciously set up such a thing, then Fedora would not have booted from grub in sda3.

3. Installing Windows typically takes the MBR for the Windows loader.

4. When you installed Windows, Did you have the 500GB drive set as #1 (in the BIOS)

Regardless of the above, you can re-install GRUB using the Ubuntu Live CD (The instructions are in the link you supplied.)
 
Old 02-11-2009, 06:12 AM   #5
cloud9repo
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2008
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 134

Rep: Reputation: 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by svt11 View Post
Hi, I have the following problem. I have 2 HDD - 1st (250GB) with with two NTFS partitions - C - Windows Vista and D - NTFS again; 2nd (500GB) - with 4 partitions - 25GB ext3 with Ubuntu, 2GB swap, 25GB with Windows 7 beta, and the last is NTFS. Before I installed Windows 7 the first disk have its own Vista loader,
...
Download a repair disk. There are many, and I think the Ultimate Boot Disk will handle this, as it includes Windows Utils.

With that many concurrent OS's you might want to consider a different scheme. Perhaps one drive MS based, and the other linux.

GRUB is a very complex device loader, and can be easily over-managed. With especially the Microsoft folks wanting to dominate the market. They are corrupt, enough said...
 
Old 02-11-2009, 09:41 AM   #6
CJS
Member
 
Registered: May 2008
Location: California, USA
Distribution: Ubuntu 8.10
Posts: 247

Rep: Reputation: 49
In order for us to get a clearer picture of your booting setup, how about booting your Ubuntu Live CD (the Ubuntu install CD), download the Boot Info Script to the Live CD desktop, open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and do:
Code:
sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh
That will create a "RESULTS.txt" file in the same directory from where the script is run, namely your desktop; please copy/paste the contents of the RESULTS.txt file to your next post, highlight the copied text, and click the pound/hash sign # graphic in the forum message box so that the text will get "code" tags put around it. The results of that script will help clarify your setup and hopefully what the solution to your booting problem might be.
 
  


Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Changing GRUB-GRUB, GRUB-LILO and vice versa andreas_skw Linux - Newbie 1 06-05-2008 06:40 AM
installing GRUB 2, grub-install problem r00tb33r Linux - Software 1 02-26-2007 09:42 PM
Booting my new ubuntu install = "GRUB GRUB GRUB GRUB GRUB" etc. dissolved soul Ubuntu 2 01-13-2007 12:55 PM
GRUB dual boot problem: Boot "other" (windows) just restarts GRUB! stevod333 Linux - Software 13 04-06-2006 05:26 AM
Grub setup problem (/boot/grub/stage1 not found) davidas Debian 2 04-28-2004 08:13 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Ubuntu

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:04 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration