As the subject states, trying to boot to Ubuntu 6.10 using GRUB on a floppy. The floppy works just fine...i can see a menu and select different OSes to load (Ubuntu/Slack/Win).

However, when I select the Ubuntu selection to boot, I receive an error 17. After RTFMing the GRUB manual, I found this:

"17 : Cannot mount selected partition
This error is returned if the partition requested exists, but the filesystem type cannot be recognized by GRUB. "

I installed ubuntu on a partition configured as an ext3 filesystem. First question:

Does ubuntu install to an ext3 partition, or do I need to reconfigure the partition for ext2, reiserfs, etc.? (<-- This is a dumb question since ext3 is a common filesystem, but wdik?)

Second question: What filesystems does GRUB recognize? (<-- This information was NOT found after RTFMing the manual, hence the post).

This task seems trivial to me since ext3 filesystem has been around for a while. GRUB should recognize it. However, there are some pieces of information that may be important to finding a solution to this 'feature':

1. I created the GRUB floppy after booting into ubuntu live CD. Some history:
a. Booted to live CD
b. Installed ubuntu to HD partition (hde2)
c. GRUB didn't work after the above installation was completed (Changed GRUB install location from (hd0) to (/dev/fd0)
d. Booted back into live CD
e. Mounted HD installation
f. Installed GRUB on floppy

As I mentioned above the floppy installation worked (seemed to at least)

2. I learned that an installation on hde2 translates to a command of 'root (hd4,1)'...5th HDD, second partition, which is correct for my current configuration. I tried guessing other combinations (root (hd1,1), ...(hd0,1), etc.) without any success.

My biggest concern is the second question above. This information I believe should be in the manual, but again wdik?

Anyway, if anyone can help, thank you. I apologize if this is trivial...I've always used LILO, but Ubuntu has some features I like.

Thanks in advance

TMK, ext3 is the default file system for Ubuntu. You can boot to the Ubuntu's live CD and use GParted (I believe the command, which may not be in the menus, is gparted) to find out what filesystem is actually used. You can use fdisk to find out what type the partition is set to, but there could be a mismatch between this and the filesystem actually installed. I believe GParted tells you the actual filesystem.

I believe ext3 is recognized "out of the box", so to speak. Some filesystems require (as I understand it) a stage1.5 file to be present. My knowledge is a little shaky in this area.