Ubuntu

Grub2 fails to recognize 2 of 3 Ubuntu 14.04 partitions

Asked by OldeFoxx

I had older versions of Ubuntu on 3 partitions on my 1Tbyle hard drive. These are no longer supported, so I downloaded Ubuntu 14.04.1 and used Brasero to burn it to a DVD. I began by installing this to each partition in turn.
.
Trouble is, Grub2 just booted to the one on sda1. It geve me no choices and no delay. I tried updating Grub2, Grub Optimizer, and boot-repair, and I did manade to get a partial menu come up, but still only the install on sda1 was listed. The installs on partitions sda5 and sda6 are missing.

I've run out of ideas. Can anyone help?

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OldeFoxx
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

If you hold SHIFT at boot do you see Grub ok?

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#2

What is the output of the terminal command

sudo fdisk -l

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#3

oldefoxx@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~$ sudo -s
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0004a0e3

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 647460863 323729408 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 647462910 1953523711 653030401 5 Extended
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda5 647462912 1294921727 323729408 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1294923776 1942382591 323729408 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1942384640 1953523711 5569536 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000170586112 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121597 cylinders, total 1953458176 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00023f15

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 2048 1953458175 976728064 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~#

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#4

I use SHIFT when booting, and I see the grub menu. But it only shows me this:

Ubuntu
Advanced options for Ubuntu

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#5

What is the output of the command

sudo update-grub

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#6

oldefoxx@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~$ sudo -s
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# update-grub
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
done
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~#

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Why do you always run 'sudo -s' first? Just run 'sudo update-grub' saves breaking it into 2 commands. Sudo also has a grace period of 10 mins or so, so you won't have to enter your password for subsequent commands for a while once you authenticate... bit easier for you.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#8

If you run:

sudo apt-get install memtest86+

Then reboot and hold SHIFT, you should now be able to run a Memtest. If you see RED in the normally blank bottom right of the screen then some or all of the RAm is bad and should be replaced.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#9

What is the output of the terminal commands

uname -a
lsb_release -a
dpkg -l | grub
dpkg -l | os-prober
grep -i prober /etc/default/grub
ls -l /etc/grub.d/*prober*

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#10

I run sudo -s for two reasons:
(1) Habit
(2) So that I don't forget

Here is a copy and paste of my attempts at all thae was requested:

oldefoxx@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~$ sudo -s
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# apt-get install memtest86+
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dkpg --configure -a
No command 'dkpg' found, did you mean:
 Command 'dpkg' from package 'dpkg' (main)
dkpg: command not found
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg --configure -a
Setting up grub-pc (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
done
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# uname -a
Linux oldefoxx-Satellite-L355 3.13.0-43-generic #72-Ubuntu SMP Mon Dec 8 19:35:44 UTC 2014 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS
Release: 14.04
Codename: trusty
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg -l | grub
The program 'grub' is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
apt-get install grub
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# apt-get install grub
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
  grub-legacy-doc mdadm
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-pc grub2-common
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  grub
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 3 to remove and 6 not upgraded.
Need to get 330 kB of archives.
After this operation, 937 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/main grub i386 0.97-29ubuntu66 [330 kB]
Fetched 330 kB in 0s (444 kB/s)
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 204332 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing grub-pc (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Removing grub2-common (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Removing grub-gfxpayload-lists (0.6) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for install-info (5.2.0.dfsg.1-2) ...
Selecting previously unselected package grub.
(Reading database ... 204294 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../grub_0.97-29ubuntu66_i386.deb ...
Unpacking grub (0.97-29ubuntu66) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Setting up grub (0.97-29ubuntu66) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub ...
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg -l | os-prober
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# grep -i prober /etc/default/grub
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# ls -l /etc/grub.d/*prober*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 11692 May 15 2014 /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~#

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#11

It is 2;28 PM on December 18th, and I have just rebooted my Pc and find no change in my Grub Menu options .that is with the SHIFT key held down. It is still just *Ubuntu and Advanced options with Ubuntu. So to this point, no gain at my end, but I hope the info provided is helping at the other end.

My drive structure is 1 Tbytes divided into:

/dev/sda1 Btrfs 308.73 Gbytes
Extended partition (apparently not on a hardware boundary)
/dev/sda5 Btrfs 308.73 Gbytes
/dev/sda6 Btrfs 308.73 Gbytes
/dev/sda7 swap 5+ Gbytes

The presence of /dev/sdb is a My Passport 1.5 Tbyte USB drive

This configuration is the same as previously used for 12.04, 11.04, and 10.04 Ubun

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#12

Sorry, a finger slip caused my message to post before completion. Anyway, I was saying that three previous releases of Ubuntu were able to work with the present drive configuration with no problems, and aside from the release upgrade, the only significant change has been to change the partition formats to Btrfs, as my previous choice is being discontinued.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#13

It seems that two of my previous comments contained typo errors.

I recommend you retry

sudo apt-get install --reinstall grub-common
sudo apt-get install grub-pc
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
dpkg -l | grep grub
dpkg -l | grep os-prober
sudo update-grub

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#14

Okay, here goes:

oldefoxx@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~$ sudo -s
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# apt-get install --reinstall grub-common
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 6 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/1,676 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
(Reading database ... 204343 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../grub-common_2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking grub-common (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) over (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for ureadahead (0.100.0-16) ...
Setting up grub-common (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# apt-get install grub-pc
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  grub-gfxpayload-lists grub2-common
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  grub
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-pc grub2-common
0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 1 to remove and 6 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/690 kB of archives.
After this operation, 937 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 204342 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing grub (0.97-29ubuntu66) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package grub2-common.
(Reading database ... 204298 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../grub2-common_2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking grub2-common (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package grub-pc.
Preparing to unpack .../grub-pc_2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking grub-pc (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package grub-gfxpayload-lists.
Preparing to unpack .../grub-gfxpayload-lists_0.6_i386.deb ...
Unpacking grub-gfxpayload-lists (0.6) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for install-info (5.2.0.dfsg.1-2) ...
Setting up grub2-common (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Setting up grub-gfxpayload-lists (0.6) ...
Setting up grub-pc (2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub ...
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
done
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# apt-get dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  compiz compiz-core compiz-gnome compiz-plugins-default libcompizconfig0
  libdecoration0
6 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,367 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main libcompizconfig0 i386 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [115 kB]
Get:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main compiz-gnome i386 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [156 kB]
Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main compiz-plugins-default i386 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [746 kB]
Get:4 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main libdecoration0 i386 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [49.0 kB]
Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main compiz-core i386 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [297 kB]
Get:6 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main compiz all 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1 [4,048 B]
Fetched 1,367 kB in 3s (429 kB/s)
(Reading database ... 204337 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libcompizconfig0_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking libcompizconfig0 (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../compiz-gnome_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking compiz-gnome (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../compiz-plugins-default_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking compiz-plugins-default (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../libdecoration0_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking libdecoration0 (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../compiz-core_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_i386.deb ...
Unpacking compiz-core (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../compiz_1%3a0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1_all.deb ...
Unpacking compiz (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) over (1:0.9.11.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for gconf2 (3.2.6-0ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for libglib2.0-0:i386 (2.40.2-0ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.10.1-0ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.22-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.1+14.04.20140409-0ubuntu1) ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.54ubuntu1) ...
Setting up compiz-core (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libcompizconfig0 (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libdecoration0 (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up compiz-plugins-default (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up compiz-gnome (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up compiz (1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20141104-0ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.19-0ubuntu6.4) ...
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg -l | grep grub
rc grub 0.97-29ubuntu66 i386 GRand Unified Bootloader (Legacy version)
ii grub-common 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1 i386 GRand Unified Bootloader (common files)
ii grub-customizer 4.0.6-0ubuntu1~ppa1t i386 Grub Customizer - A graphical Grub2/BURG configuration application
ii grub-gfxpayload-lists 0.6 i386 GRUB gfxpayload blacklist
ii grub-pc 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1 i386 GRand Unified Bootloader, version 2 (PC/BIOS version)
ii grub-pc-bin 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1 i386 GRand Unified Bootloader, version 2 (PC/BIOS binaries)
ii grub2-common 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1 i386 GRand Unified Bootloader (common files for version 2)
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg -l | grep os-prober
ii os-prober 1.63ubuntu1 i386 utility to detect other OSes on a set of drives
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# dpkg -l | grep os-prober
ii os-prober 1.63ubuntu1 i386 utility to detect other OSes on a set of drives
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~#

I will now reboot and see what happens.

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#15

Rebooted. Everything appears and behaves as before, meaning no apparent gains made.

So what now?

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#16

Some more ideas:

What is the output of the command "sudo os-prober"?
What is the output of the bootinfo script?
If you temporarily mount the sda5 and sda6 partitions and run update-grub, does it work then?

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#17

oldefoxx@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~$ sudo -s
[sudo] password for oldefoxx:
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# os-prober
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~# bootinfo script
No command 'bootinfo' found, did you mean:
 Command 'bookinfo' from package 'epwutil' (universe)
bootinfo: command not found
root@oldefoxx-Satellite-L355:~#

The fact is, the drives sda5, sda6, and sdb automarically mount on bootup, so they have been there rifht along. However, in checking the contents of the two logical partitions, I only find the following:

/dev/sda5 @ @home var
/dev/sda6 @ @home var

sdb lists properly.

gparted shows the four partitions correctly, and I had no problems changing the Labels on each to sda1 (c), sda5 (d), and sda6 (e) from a trial run of 14.04 off the DVD.

I am going to reinstall 14.04 now but use a different format for sda6 and see what effect that has. I will be back, God permitting.

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#18

Okay, some more data. The Try Ubuntu feature from the DVD showed the same results when checking the listings for sda5 and , but when checking the bootable contents for sda1, I only found @ and @home. When I checked after doing the install to sda6, that partition showed the folders for a typical Ubuntu install6. But again, and this is after a completed install to an ext4 formatted partition, Obviously grub is going to have a serious problem picking up bootable images from partitions where it only finds folders such as @ and @home. So what is wrong with the installer process? And more bewilderingly, why is it that grub left the boot menu method as it was so that sda1 is the only choice on a reboot? I think grub messed up somehow and did not actually update or change the boot record.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#19

For executing the bootinfo script do the following:

either install the package boot-info-script (e.g. with the command sudo apt-get boot-info-script) and execute
sudo boot_info_script

or

see http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/ for instructions how to download the latest version, unpack it and execute the script.

What is the output of the command
mount

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#20

I finally got Ubuntu 14.04.1nstalled on three separate partitions, but to do this I had to wipe the hard drive and start from scratch. I too many hours, and of course I lost my connectivity via email all this time, so I am just getting back to bring you all up to date in.

It took three tools worked in combination to deal with this, and these were Fdisk, GParted, and the installer that 14.04 uses if you decide to install it, but always choosing Something Else rather than having the installer just opt out on hoe to handle each partition.

FDisk - I had sda1 get locked on me at one point. FDisk let clear out the .4 Partition Settings on /dev/sda. I got rid of the Extended Partition, so all three partitions were set up as primary and no more logical partitions. I have a fourth partitiom for linux-swap.

I used GParted to create the partitions and opt to format each of the three as Ext5. That also supports the addition of a label for each partition.

The Installer was then used for the heavy lifting. For each partition, I deleted it, then added it back,and had it format it as Ext4. I only deal with the partitoe GParted sets the lower boundary for /dev/sda1 as 1 MiB, not zero, znd this meansg device /dev/sda has 1 MiB free for boot records and such. This goes along with GP arted's default of starting /dev/sda1 at the 1 MiB point.

Note that in uding GParted from the Try Ubuntu choice. the Edit choice stores command you set up in sequence, then gives you the chance to do them in order. If you don;t tell it to carry out these commands, thrn

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#21

excuse me, then not thrn. what I meant to say is that you quit with the unexecuted commands just gone.

I submitted a bug report to this effect earlier today.

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#22

Some interesting side effects from this long struggle. I n=make note of someof them here.

At some point GParted locked up /dev/sda1, as it would show a key icon along side it. It procided no means to unlock it again, and would allow nothing to be done to it. This is where I had to rely on a terminal and sudo fdisk /dev/sda and the expert mode and the command d, plus the partition dnumber (1 - 4) to delete it.. GParted is also limited by the lack of trying to install GPart, a tool for recoveringf an accidently deleted partition. TestDisk makes up for this lack nicely.

.Trying to install Ubuntu 12.04 to see what it cound tell me at one point is where the installer told me about a disk error that 14.04 ignored. That is where I began suspecting a format problem with 14.04.

My laptop uses a touchpad which is extremely sensative and makes the pointer jump around wildly at times. So I have to try and type woth my hand cleat of the surface and just my first fingers on the keys. That results in a lot of typos. Sorry.

I use Oracle's Virtualbox with Ubuntu so that I can run a Windows 2000 client. Usually works very well and I have sound client vdi files to work with, which I have used under 14.04 before. Right now though, Virtualbox will load none of my clients, which is a firts, so I am going to have to revert one partition to 12.04 and try again, or try Virtualbox on a different partition and see if that helps first. Right now I am not impressed with 14.04 that much.

Revision history for this message
OldeFoxx (oldefoxx) said : 		#23

Before I tried all this, I gave Virtualsbox another shot. Maevel, it now can load and run each od my vdi clients. Some bug got cured overnight, I guess.