Ubuntu 10-4. unable to start up in generic2.6.31-21

Asked by brianm

Since downloading 10-4 start up will not proceed to "sign in". All I get is a coloured screen consisting of many vertical/horizontal lines of differing colours with letters intermixed. I have to shut down.It will open in generic 2.6.31-20 but only after displaying "mount:mounying none on/default/ No such device........38cb8jffee an much more. Hard disc is split 30 - 70 with shared with Microsoft XP. I am not technically minded but know where the "terminal is. Can any one help? Brianm

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Ubuntu grub Edit question
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delance
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Daniel Martí (mvdan-deactivatedaccount) said :
#1

Try booting from a ubuntu live cd or live usb, and from there you can mount both partitions (opening them should already mount them automatically). Once that is done, open a terminal and write "sudo update-grub2".
If that does not solve the problem, then I suppose the problem may be your BIOS, and i can't help you there.

Hope this helps!

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delance (olivier-delance) said :
#2

You can try to reinstall grub as proposed Daniel:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD
If you need help, please post partition table.
But for me issue at 2.6.31-21 looks more like a graphic issue. Which is your graphic card (Nvidia, ATI, Intel chipset) ?

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#3

Hi, My instal disc is 2 years old so I hesitate to use this.
I can start up by using Kernel 2.6.31-20 which allows me full access and
Ubuntu runs OK. I tried entering into a terminal"sudo update-grab2" but
it was not recognised. Am I doing the correct things.
Thank you for a quick response, I must congratulate you all on the vast
improvements to the enquiry service and your willingness to deal with
our ignorance . Regards Brianm

On Sun, 2010-11-21 at 16:54 +0000, Daniel Martí wrote:
> Your question #134921 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/134921
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Daniel Martí proposed the following answer:
> Try booting from a ubuntu live cd or live usb, and from there you can mount both partitions (opening them should already mount them automatically). Once that is done, open a terminal and write "sudo update-grub2".
> If that does not solve the problem, then I suppose the problem may be your BIOS, and i can't help you there.
>
> Hope this helps!
>

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delance (olivier-delance) said :
#4

"sudo update-grab2" -> "sudo update-grub"
replace 'a' by 'u' and remove '2'
When you use Trial Session, you can open Firefox, then the link and do a copy/paste to avoid typos.

Revision history for this message
Daniel Martí (mvdan-deactivatedaccount) said :
#5

Actually, delance, i would use "sudo upgrade-grub2", as from 9.10 grub was replaced by grub2. For my 10.04 grub2 worked, and grub did not (it just didn't exist).

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Daniel Martí (mvdan-deactivatedaccount) said :
#6

Sorry, i ment "sudo update-grub2".

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#7

Sorry for delay replying:-"susdo update -grub2 pasted in does not get recognised. As the graphics are ok in microsoft xp side of hard drive I assume this eliminates graphics card. to repeat problem:- on start up I arrive at choice of operating system. Windows opens normally. Ubuntu has Kernal10-4 2.6.31-21 highlighted which loads, screen colours flash on screen with a normal thud sound and the screen goes black. after long wait if the mouse is polled or shaken bands of clours and leters/numbers cover the screen which can be moved around, bunched up by moving the mouse. I have to forced shut down .If reloaded and 2.6.31-21 is selected 10-4 loads normally. I do not understand what request to "post a partition table" means. Can you still help.?

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#8

Sorry correction: Unable to open in generic 21. brianm

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Daniel Martí (mvdan-deactivatedaccount) said :
#9

Instead of writing:

susdo update -grub2

write this:

sudo upgrade-grub2

There is no separation between update and grub2, and sudo is spelled with one s.

Try again and tell us if it worked.

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#10

brian@brian-desktop:~$ sudo upgrade-grub2
[sudo] password for brian:
sudo: upgrade-grub2: command not found
brian@brian-desktop:~$

For sudo when requestedI enter my password
Hope this is helpful brianm

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said :
#11

sudo update-grub

Revision history for this message
brianm (briandpat) said :
#12

Than k you delance for your patience. "update grub produced the following, but has not cured the problem. I must correct a confusionI may have caused on my part:- The kernal entry that first appears and is highlighted has the end number of 20 which presents the problem. By paging up to kernal ending in 21 allows me to open. Sorry for any confusion due to my old age!
Good that you have patience. brianm

brian@brian-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
[sudo] password for brian:
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
Found kernel: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

brian@brian-desktop:~$

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delance (olivier-delance) said :
#13

Could you post result of command:
    ls -l /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Revision history for this message
brianm (briandpat) said :
#14

Attached response to entry ls -l /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

if any help ,if I page up to 21 recovery it states that 9 updates outstanding none security.Aafter a while an much info script at brian desktop etc> I enter brian it asks for password but doesnot recognise it so I have to force a close down. Unfortuneatelty I do not understand how to navigate "recovery" regards again brianm

brian@brian-desktop:~$ ls -l /boot/grub/grub.cfg
ls: cannot access /boot/grub/grub.cfg: No such file or directory
brian@brian-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said :
#15

Could you post result of command:
    sudo update-grub --version
If you don't get something like this (1.98):
   grub-mkconfig (GRUB) 1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3
You are using Grub Legacy

Revision history for this message
brianm (briandpat) said :
#16

brian@brian-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub --version
[sudo] password for brian:
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub
Searching for default file ... found: /boot/grub/default
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.lst file ... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst
Searching for splash image ... none found, skipping ...
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-21-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-19-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-16-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
Found kernel: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic
Found kernel: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

brian@brian-desktop:~$

What is grub legacy? brianm

Revision history for this message
delance (olivier-delance) said :
#17

Grub Legacy was the version of Grub before version Grub2.
Grub2 was introduced, if I remember, with 9.10, but if you have installed before 9.10, it is possible that you keep the old Grub Legacy instead of Grub2. As you have /boot/grub/menu.lst and not /boot/grub/grub.cfg, and that update-grub doesn't know "--version" option, it seems you still have this old version. And as you have a two years old CD, it's possible.

To use new version, you will have to install it:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling%20from%20LiveCD
from a new CD of Ubuntu.

Revision history for this message
brianm (briandpat) said :
#18

Thank you delance. What you say makes sense and may explain why some parts of updates "cannot be installed. Original cd was for8-10, installed Dec. 2008.Present version is I think my third and the result of being offered to download a later version which took say 2 hours. I have read web link for cd updating and it looks too complicated for me. It looks as if I will have to abandon Linux - Even the reboot option on start up means nothing to me. How then do I uninstal then or can I reinstal a full operating system from a new cd? Or is this another thread?. Many thanks Community, I can understand now why many do not make the moveto this brilliant system. Regards again brianm.

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Best delance (olivier-delance) said :
#19

Yes, you can reinstall from a new CD. The process depends of your data and having an external backup.

If you have no data or configuration to save, install new version, choose manual partitioning and mount "/" folder on ext4 partition with reformat.
If you have data and configuration to save and no external disk to make a backup, install new version, choose manual partitioning and mount "/" folder on ext4 partition WITHOUT reformat. The installation will be a little less clean than with a partition formating, but you will keep your data.
If you have data or configuration to save and an external disk for backup, do a backup of home folder, install new version, choose manual partitioning and mount "/" folder on ext4 partition with reformat.

Don't hesitate to post again.
If you want to get more advices from many people, it will be more efficient to open a new question.

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#20

I am extremely grateful for the help I have been given given with the "black screen" problem especially delaine. I will close the subject and I hope to reinstall from a new CD in the near future. I really like Ubuntu but wish these sort of problems could be prevented by simply advising the novice that they may have some confogerating to do if they instal the latest upgrades. brianm

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brianm (briandpat) said :
#21

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! Having just notified you that I am closing the SUBJECT ", a download contained a package of a new kernal 21. That has now solved the problem fullstop. No disc or complications now necessary and I HAVE MY BELOVED UBUNTU BACK> THANKS SO VERY MUCH.brianm