Ubuntu

Question #40176

Asked by Al Mangelsdorf

I asked the following question a number of days ago and have received no answer so am resending in hopes that someone can help me out. after reading the original question do you think the easiest solution would be to reinstall with Ubuntu 8.04.1? Can this be done without uninstalling the original Ubuntu 8.04 and by doing it this way will I retain the various things I have already setup such as e-mail?
Al

Original question # 40176:

ubuntu 8.04 dos'nt always boot

 Boot Problem
I have recently installed Ubuntu 8.04 desktop i 386 on my computer which has Vista Home Premium on the C drive and I installed Ubuntu on the D drive. When I start the computer it gives me a option of starting Vista or Ubuntu. Vista starts with no problem however Ubuntu sometimes boots OK and other times the progress bar stops and a new screen comes up with the following message

BusyBox V1.1.3 (Debian 1.1.3-5 ubuntu12) Built-in Shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) [57.252032] usb 6-1 : device descriptor read/64, error-110
[72.455690] usb 6-1 : device descriptor read/64, error-110
[87.771248] usb 6-1 : device descriptor read/64, error-110
[102.974897] usb 6-1 : device descriptor read/64, error-110
[113.590272] usb 6-1 ; device not accepting address 4, error-110
[124.101732] usb 6.1 ; device not accepting address 5, error-110

At this point if I restart the computer sometimes it will boot Ubuntu OK and other times the progress bar stops and it returns to the screen shown above. Or to this screen
BusyBox V1.1.3 (Debian 1.1.3-5 ubuntu12) Built-in Shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) [56.879945] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.881188] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc]Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.891549] sd 10:0:0:0: [sdf] Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.893422] sd 10:0:0:0: [sdf] Assuming drive cache: write through.

Sometimes if it fails to boot i use the safe mode and it runs through a long list of checks and then gives me a option of normal boot, if I select this it boots OK. Sometimes in safe mode it goes partway through the checks and stops and dosen't boot.

I downloaded Ubuntu and burned it to a CD and installed using the installer on the CD and Ubuntu seemed to install OK. Perhaps I should uninstall and reinstall Ubuntu? or can I reinstall over the existing installation?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Al

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Al Mangelsdorf
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Revision history for this message
Tony Mugan (tmugan) said : 		#1

If you do a full power off (shutdown), does it boot straight into Ubuntu ok?
I'm wondering if it is because Vista leaves the hardware in a certain state that Ubuntu does not like.

Also when you boot up and get the option for Windows and Ubuntu, what *exactly* does that boot menu say?
In other words does it merely say "Ubuntu" (which a Wubi install within Windows would show) or do you have details of the version of the kernel also shown in that menu (which would indicate a grub boot installer to a different partition)?

Also, is there a USB device that is sometimes connected e.g. Printer, MP3 player, USB Flash drive, external hard drive etc?
Is it more likely to fail with this connected?

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#2

Yes, you can install over the existing installation.

Before you do that, it would be wise to do a md5sum check to verify that what you have on your disc equates to what you downloaded. It is merely comparing a section of code between the two (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM).

If there is a mismatch you will have to start over and burn another disc - preferably at slow speed.
If the code matches, you can reinstall.

Before you do that, save all of your Home directory onto a USB stick. Your Home directory contains hidden files which you can make visible by pressing Ctrl+h. Save all of it.

If you want to save your existing emails, both sent and received, these will be in the hidden files in your Home directory in three places: ~/.evolution/, ~/.gconf/apps/evolution/ and ~/.gnome2_private/Evolution and can be restored (see answer to question 36491 - copy email to flash drive).

The configuration for your email you will have to set anew.

Andre

Revision history for this message
Andre Mangan (kyphi) said : 		#3

Another possibility for curing erratic booting is to check that all your connections in your computer are properly seated especially the RAM modules.

Take out your RAM modules and reinsert them in the same slots. Ensure that they are fully seated and that the locking tab is in lock position.

Disconnect your hard drives and reconnect.

If IDE drives are used check that the master and slave settings are correct.

Clean the dust out of the case if needed.

Andre

Revision history for this message
Al Mangelsdorf (almang102) said : 		#4

Tony,
thanks for your answer.
With a full power shutdown it dosen't boot stright into ubuntu.
When power is turned on the first screen is
Windows Boot Manager
Choose an operating system
  Microsoft Windows Vista
  Ubuntu
If I click on Ubuntu I get the following screen:
GRUB4DOS 0.4.3 2008-04-22:
  Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
  Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
  Ubuntu 8.04.1. kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
  Ubuntu 8.04.1. kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
  Ubuntu 8.04.1, memtest86+
Other Operating Systems:
  Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)

If I choose Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic The following screen comes up.
BusyBox V1.1.3 (Debian 1.1.3-5 ubuntu12) Built-in Shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) [56.879945] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.881188] sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc]Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.891549] sd 10:0:0:0: [sdf] Assuming drive cache: write through.
  [56.893422] sd 10:0:0:0: [sdf] Assuming drive cache: write through.

If I choose Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
it stops part way through but after trying this the second or third time it goes through a nd opens a screen asking to start Ubuntu in regular mode and after clicking on this Ubuntu loads up OK.
Also thanks to Andre for his suggestions, I have already run the mdSsum and it checked out OK. I have checked the the RAM Modules and did a reconnect on the hard drives.
Also have tried booting with the USB devices disconnected.
I think that I will try reloading Ubuntu 8.o4.1 or I may just put up with having to do the multi boots to get ubuntu to load.

Thanks again to tony and to Andre for ther help.
Al