ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Please read this http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

It contains a sections addressing what to do when grub cannot find /boot/grub/stage1

Hope this helps

WWsmith35,

i really appreciate the link, but i've seen it before, and have been trying to get it to work for a couple of days now.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00004686

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 4660 37431418+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 4661 4865 1646662+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 4661 4865 1646631 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40060403712 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4870 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0009780b

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 4870 39118243+ 83 Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/root/dev
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub
sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.
root@ubuntu:/# grub-instal /dev/sda0
bash: grub-instal: command not found
root@ubuntu:/# grub-install /dev/sda0
/dev/sda0: Not found or not a block device.
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub-install /dev/sda0
sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu
root@ubuntu:/#

Everything looks good up to the change root command. Notice how the prefix in the command prompt changes. i´ve included it to demonstrate.

The change root command missing a / should look like this

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root /bin/bash

root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1

It should give you output that says hd(0,0) then type

grub> setup (hd0)

Let us know of this helps

WWSmith,

thanks again for your time.

i got it typed in correctly this time, but grub is still not finding anything. i tried the find from within the grub shell (grub and sudo grub) to no avail. i then tried grub-install and sudo grub-install on the sda, sda0, sda1 etc.

do my partitions look right in the previous email? am i specifying the drives properly?

should i have been using sda0 for all the commands? sda1?

(un)fortunately, i don't have enough experience with root access to a unix/linux box to know what i'm actually doing here (i thought i understood this from the top level, but maybe not).

looks like "ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root" was correct as sda1 is where ubuntu is installed. do i need to go into gparted and create another partition (sda0)?

i'm getting a "sudo: unable to resolve host ubuntu" when i load up grub.via "sudo grub", but not when i load grub via "grub".

both load methods produce the same result though.

is there something i can type "like ls /dev", etc that might help?

I also get the ´unable to resolve host ubuntu¨ before I go into the grub shell, so I think that is normal. Unfortunately my machine correctly finds /boot/grub/stage1. Therefore I am wondering if all the files were properly installed. You can check from the LiveCD. Open a terminal and try

sudo mkdir /mnt/root
sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root
ls /mnt/root/boot/grub

Post the output of the last command.

when i executed the suggested commands, i got:

\device.map

when i did a tail of the file i got:

(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd0) /dev/sda
(hd1) /dev/sdb

seeing as how the device.map file seemed to be there, i tried doing a "grub-install hd0" and it i got

mkdir: cannot creat directory '/boot/grub': Permission denied

when i tried "sudo grub-install hd0" i get

Probing devices to guess....
Could not find device for /boot: Not found or not a block device

once again, thanks for the help. as i continue to work on this project and learn more, i am going to try to get on here to help people out (you guys really inspire me).

should i go through the commands:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/root/dev
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash

etc, and do the "ls" after each command? i use this menthodology with "echo/print/ls" where appropriate to debug a lot of other issues.

OR

is it pretty obvious that the file is disspaearing when i chroot?

Please try

sudo grub-install /dev/hda

instead of

sudo grub-install hd0

Hope this helps

or better

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

It appears grub can´t find stage1 because it may not be there.

I suggest you use the file browser and double check the contents of the folder /boot/grub. If you mount your drive the same way as my last post it should have the path /mnt/root/boot/grub You should have the following files in there.

default installed-version menu.lst~ stage2
device.map jfs_stage1_5 minix_stage1_5 xfs_stage1_5
e2fs_stage1_5 menu (copy).lst reiserfs_stage1_5
fat_stage1_5 menu.lst stage1

If these files are not in you /etc/grub directory, I beleive that there may have been a problem with your installation. I would recommend the following steps for reinstalling Ubuntu.

Download the standard Ubuntu 8.04.1 32 bits iso image, torrent is recommended
http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/8.04.1/ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso
http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/8.04.1/ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso.torrent

Check the md5sum of your downloaded Ubuntu .iso image file https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM
and compare with http://releases.ubuntu.com/8.04.1/MD5SUMS

Burn it on a CD rom with low speed 4X and then check the md5sum of the burnt CD

Try to perform the "Memory test" and the "Check CD for defects" to be sure the CD is read without errors by the destination PC CD rom driver

Then reinstall your Ubuntu

thanks guys!

after the last few days, i'm starting to understand this a little better with regards to what GRUB is looking for (files and hardware and how to reference each properly). i read most of the documentation, but being a relative newwwwbie (noobie), the excercises have finally made sense of the docs.

marcoba, i'm not absolutely positive yet what the diff is between /dev/sda and /dev/hda (is it the type of drive? is it a linux distro diff?), but in my situation, no /dev/hda exists, only /dev/sda and according to the device.map file hd0 points to /dev/sda. if you realized all this and that's why you sent the second post, please disregard.

wwsmith, the CD passes the defect check on the laptop which i burned it on. i'm going to verify that it passes on the installation target (P4 box), as i know that it wouldn't pass the other day, but i think that's when i wasn't getting anything to work (grounding issue because i hadn't yet attached the new power suppply to the chassis).

so, i'm going to try the suggestions and hopefully get this to work or at least be able to give a better description of what's where during each step. will post when i can, and hopefully be able to provide addendum to the original reference for GRUB installation, since there's a lot of us out there who aren't afraid of commandline... we just don't have any idea what the commands are doing.

i'll keep ya posted.

i ran the cd integrity check on the target install machine. cd integrity check finished with no errors found. is this running an MD5SUM check?

does anyone know who to get in touch with to suggest that:

1) if not an MD5SUM check, maybe someone smarter than I could write a script to use MD5SUM. seems like a simple way to eliminate bad ISO burn as an issue.

2) maybe the "integrity check" be moved up in the Ubuntu boot menu so that it's the default or at least make it ALL CAPS to draw attention to it for people like me who are first time installers

3) place a README doc on desktop that can be viewed with

sorry last one was cut off. anyways, i'll address all that on my own. so, i got a fresh boot from the cd and here is what i found:

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls -l /boot
total 10509
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 422607 2008-04-10 16:51 abi-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 79964 2008-04-10 16:51 config-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7349268 2008-04-22 18:00 initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 103204 2007-09-28 10:06 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 899892 2008-04-10 16:51 System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1904248 2008-04-10 16:51 vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls -l /boot/grub
ls: cannot access /boot/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc/grub
ls: cannot access /etc/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc
acpi gre.d papersize
adduser.conf groff passwd
adjtime group passwd-
aliases group- pcmcia
alternatives grub.d perl
anacrontab gshadow pm
apm gshadow- pnm2ppa.conf
apparmor gtk-2.0 PolicyKit
apparmor.d hal popularity-contest.conf
apport hdparm.conf power
apt hesiod.conf ppp
at.deny host.conf profile
avahi hostname profile.d
bash.bashrc hosts protocols
bash_completion hosts.allow pulse
bash_completion.d hosts.deny purple
belocs hp python
bindresvport.blacklist hwtest.d python2.5
bluetooth init.d rc0.d
bogofilter.cf initramfs-tools rc1.d
bonobo-activation inputrc rc2.d
brlapi.key iproute2 rc3.d
brltty issue rc4.d
brltty.conf issue.net rc5.d
ca-certificates.conf kernel-img.conf rc6.d
calendar laptop-mode rc.local
casper.conf ldap rcS.d
chatscripts ld.so.cache readahead
compizconfig ld.so.conf resolvconf
ConsoleKit ld.so.conf.d resolv.conf
console-setup lftp.conf rmt
console-tools libao.conf rpc
cron.d libpaper.d samba
cron.daily locale.alias sane.d
cron.hourly locale.gen scim
cron.monthly localtime screenrc
crontab logcheck scrollkeeper.conf
cron.weekly login.defs securetty
cups logrotate.conf security
dbus-1 logrotate.d services
debconf.conf lsb-base sgml
debian_version lsb-base-logging.sh shadow
default lsb-release shadow-
defoma ltrace.conf shells
deluser.conf magic skel
depmod.d magic.mime sound
devfs mailcap ssh
dhcp3 mailcap.order ssl
dictionaries-common manpath.config sudoers
dm mediaprm sysctl.conf
doc-base menu-methods syslog.conf
dpkg mime.types terminfo
e2fsck.conf mke2fs.conf timezone
emacs modprobe.d ucf.conf
environment modules udev
esound modutils ufw
event.d mono uniconf.conf
fdmount.conf motd updatedb.conf
firefox-3.0 motd.tail update-manager
fonts mtab update-notifier
foomatic nanorc usplash.conf
fstab netscsid.conf vim
fuse.conf network w3m
gai.conf NetworkManager wgetrc
gamin networks wodim.conf
gconf nologin wpa_supplicant
gdm nsswitch.conf wvdial.conf
gimp openalrc X11
gnome openoffice xdg
gnome-app-install opt xml
gnome-system-tools pam.conf xulrunner-1.9
gnome-vfs-2.0 pam.d zsh_command_not_found
gnome-vfs-mime-magic pango
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc/grub
ls: cannot access /etc/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo ls /etc/grub
ls: cannot access /etc/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /mnt/root/boot/grub
device.map
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /dev/sd*
/dev/sda /dev/sda1 /dev/sda2 /dev/sda5 /dev/sdb /dev/sdb1
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc/grub/
ls: cannot access /etc/grub/: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc/grb
ls: cannot access /etc/grb: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /etc/grub
ls: cannot access /etc/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /boot
abi-2.6.24-16-generic memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.24-16-generic System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls /boot/grub
ls: cannot access /boot/grub: No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ pwd
/home/ubuntu
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cd /
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ ls
bin cdrom etc initrd lib mnt proc root srv tmp var
boot dev home initrd.img media opt rofs sbin sys usr vmlinuz
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ cd boot
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ ls
abi-2.6.24-16-generic memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.24-16-generic System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ ls -altr
total 10509
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 103204 2007-09-28 10:06 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1904248 2008-04-10 16:51 vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 899892 2008-04-10 16:51 System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 79964 2008-04-10 16:51 config-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 422607 2008-04-10 16:51 abi-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7349268 2008-04-22 18:00 initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 195 2008-04-22 18:12 .
drwxr-xr-x 30 root root 240 2008-10-02 20:04 ..
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ ls
abi-2.6.24-16-generic memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.24-16-generic System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ cd /etc
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ ls
acpi gre.d papersize
adduser.conf groff passwd
adjtime group passwd-
aliases group- pcmcia
alternatives grub.d perl
anacrontab gshadow pm
apm gshadow- pnm2ppa.conf
apparmor gtk-2.0 PolicyKit
apparmor.d hal popularity-contest.conf
apport hdparm.conf power
apt hesiod.conf ppp
at.deny host.conf profile
avahi hostname profile.d
bash.bashrc hosts protocols
bash_completion hosts.allow pulse
bash_completion.d hosts.deny purple
belocs hp python
bindresvport.blacklist hwtest.d python2.5
bluetooth init.d rc0.d
bogofilter.cf initramfs-tools rc1.d
bonobo-activation inputrc rc2.d
brlapi.key iproute2 rc3.d
brltty issue rc4.d
brltty.conf issue.net rc5.d
ca-certificates.conf kernel-img.conf rc6.d
calendar laptop-mode rc.local
casper.conf ldap rcS.d
chatscripts ld.so.cache readahead
compizconfig ld.so.conf resolvconf
ConsoleKit ld.so.conf.d resolv.conf
console-setup lftp.conf rmt
console-tools libao.conf rpc
cron.d libpaper.d samba
cron.daily locale.alias sane.d
cron.hourly locale.gen scim
cron.monthly localtime screenrc
crontab logcheck scrollkeeper.conf
cron.weekly login.defs securetty
cups logrotate.conf security
dbus-1 logrotate.d services
debconf.conf lsb-base sgml
debian_version lsb-base-logging.sh shadow
default lsb-release shadow-
defoma ltrace.conf shells
deluser.conf magic skel
depmod.d magic.mime sound
devfs mailcap ssh
dhcp3 mailcap.order ssl
dictionaries-common manpath.config sudoers
dm mediaprm sysctl.conf
doc-base menu-methods syslog.conf
dpkg mime.types terminfo
e2fsck.conf mke2fs.conf timezone
emacs modprobe.d ucf.conf
environment modules udev
esound modutils ufw
event.d mono uniconf.conf
fdmount.conf motd updatedb.conf
firefox-3.0 motd.tail update-manager
fonts mtab update-notifier
foomatic nanorc usplash.conf
fstab netscsid.conf vim
fuse.conf network w3m
gai.conf NetworkManager wgetrc
gamin networks wodim.conf
gconf nologin wpa_supplicant
gdm nsswitch.conf wvdial.conf
gimp openalrc X11
gnome openoffice xdg
gnome-app-install opt xml
gnome-system-tools pam.conf xulrunner-1.9
gnome-vfs-2.0 pam.d zsh_command_not_found
gnome-vfs-mime-magic pango
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ ls | grep grub
grub.d
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ cd grub.d
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ ls
20_memtest86+
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ ls -altr
total 1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 219 2007-09-28 10:06 20_memtest86+
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 30 2008-04-22 18:01 .
drwxr-xr-x 137 root root 1900 2008-10-02 20:04 ..
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ cd ..
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ ls | grep ^g\
>
gai.conf
gamin
gconf
gdm
gimp
gnome
gnome-app-install
gnome-system-tools
gnome-vfs-2.0
gnome-vfs-mime-magic
gre.d
groff
group
group-
grub.d
gshadow
gshadow-
gtk-2.0
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ ls | grep ^g
gai.conf
gamin
gconf
gdm
gimp
gnome
gnome-app-install
gnome-system-tools
gnome-vfs-2.0
gnome-vfs-mime-magic
gre.d
groff
group
group-
grub.d
gshadow
gshadow-
gtk-2.0
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ cd
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ pwd
/home/ubuntu
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cd /
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ ls boot
abi-2.6.24-16-generic memtest86+.bin
config-2.6.24-16-generic System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ cd boot
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ ls -l
total 10509
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 422607 2008-04-10 16:51 abi-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 79964 2008-04-10 16:51 config-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7349268 2008-04-22 18:00 initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 103204 2007-09-28 10:06 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 899892 2008-04-10 16:51 System.map-2.6.24-16-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1904248 2008-04-10 16:51 vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:/boot$ cd ..
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ ls -l | grep boot
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 195 2008-04-22 18:12 boot
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 33 2008-04-22 18:00 initrd.img -> boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 30 2008-04-22 18:00 vmlinuz -> boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ pwd
/
ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ cd /etc
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc$ cd grub*
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ ls
20_memtest86+
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ ls -altr
total 1
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 219 2007-09-28 10:06 20_memtest86+
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 30 2008-04-22 18:01 .
drwxr-xr-x 137 root root 1900 2008-10-02 20:04 ..
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ ls /dev/sda*
/dev/sda /dev/sda1 /dev/sda2 /dev/sda5
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo mount -t -o bind /dev/mnt/root/dev
mount: mount point /dev/mnt/root/dev does not exist
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo mount -o bind /dev/mnt/root/dev
mount: can't find /dev/mnt/root/dev in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo mount -o bind /dev mnt/root/dev
mount: mount point mnt/root/dev does not exist
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/root/dev
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo chroot /mnt/root /in/bash
chroot: cannot run command `/in/bash': No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:/etc/grub.d$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot | grep grub
grub
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
device.map
root@ubuntu:/# ls /etc | grep grub
grub.d
root@ubuntu:/# le /etc/grub.d
The program 'le' is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
apt-get install le
You will have to enable the component called 'universe'
bash: le: command not found
root@ubuntu:/# ls /etc/gurb.d
ls: cannot access /etc/gurb.d: No such file or directory
root@ubuntu:/# ls /etc/grub.d
20_memtest86+
root@ubuntu:/#

Sorry but I had a typo in my last post. In one instance I had to referred to grub inside of folder etc. I didn´t realize this until I saw your output. All my other grub references were correct, it is in the /boot folder. I apologize for make it confusing.

After you mount your hard drive from the LiveCD as /mnt/root.
You can check to see if the hard drive is mounted properly by this command
df

If /dev/sda1 is mounted as /mnt/root then

ls /boot #gives contents of /boot directory on the CD rom
ls /mnt/root/boot #gives content of /boot directory on your mounted harddive
ls /mnt/root/boot/grub #gives contents of /boot/grub directory on your mounted harddrive

When you issued ¨ls /mnt/root/boot/grub¨ it only list device.map. Since all the other grub files are missing, I think you should try to reinstall. Since your power supply is properly grounded now, I hope the install goes properly.

I am glad to see that you are not afraid of the command line interface. Fortunately when you have everything installed properly you will find that Ubuntu is very user friendly and won´t have to rely on the CLI very much. Help instructions are typically given by CLI because it is much easier than trying to describe a graphical instructions.

Good Luck

okay, after various attempts over the last couple of days (still to no avail), i'm back to what i think is a good install.

1) cd has passed defect check on multiple machines
2) i reran western digital utilities on hd0
3) i installed ubuntu with root at sda1, extended at sda2, linux swap on sda5
4) created a 4th partition for boot on sda3

this i have 4 partitions on hd0: sda1(root), sda2(extended), sda3(boot), sda5 (swap)

i've been entering the commands at:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CreateBootPartitionAfterInstall?highlight=(CategoryBootAndPartition)

i get to the part where i'm supposed to edit menu.lst, but it's not there. in fact there is no /boot/grub. /boot contains abi,config,system.map,initrd.img,vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic, memtest86+.bin, lotst+found.

this seems to be what i've found on most of the last 10 attempts to install ubuntu / fix grub.

CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS AND/OR TELL ME HOW TO FIND this menu.lst

I am sorry that you are having this problem. Frankly I am quite baffled. The /boot/grub contains menu.lst as well as stage1, which apparently are not being installed.

If this cannot be resolved by re-downloading ISO, I strongly suggest you report this issue as a BUG REPORT including as much detail as possible.

What you have experienced is very strange. I have never seen a good CD fail to install properly. Hopefully this issue can be resolved. Your persistence in trying to resolve issue in greatly appreciated since it may also be affecting a few other people as well.

Thank you

Thanks wwsmith. Going to try re-downloading and re-burning (that was a 2
week process itself back in the day when I was originally trying to install
freespire).

Anyways, I really do appreciate all your help, so please forgive me if I
seem in any way ungrateful, I'm just kindof at my wits end here. As far as
the persistence, imagine 10 years debugging stuff like this, except looking
at 200 columns of hex digits and trying to figure out why one or two of them
were coming out wrong, but only when the chip was powered to 1.3V instead of
1.5, etc.

I love this stuff. People who have seen me really frustrated probably don't
understand why. Guess I'm just a massochist. Will keep you posted.

-b

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
WWSmith36
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 2:30 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Open => Answered

WWSmith36 proposed the following answer:
I am sorry that you are having this problem. Frankly I am quite baffled.
The /boot/grub contains menu.lst as well as stage1, which apparently are not
being installed.

If this cannot be resolved by re-downloading ISO, I strongly suggest you
report this issue as a BUG REPORT including as much detail as possible.

What you have experienced is very strange. I have never seen a good CD fail
to install properly. Hopefully this issue can be resolved. Your
persistence in trying to resolve issue in greatly appreciated since it may
also be affecting a few other people as well.

Thank you

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766/+confirm?a
nswer_id=18

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9:23 AM

Quick question.... Booted from the cd, opened a terminal and looked for
menu.lst in /etc/grub.d and /boot while the live CD was still mounted to no
avail. Am I looking in the right place to try to mannually copy the files?

Seeing as how the CD passes verification, could I be doing something wrong
during the install process? This last go round, I did a full disk
installation and checked install bootloader and selected hd0. while I am
re-downloading / burning the CD, if I can't find the menu.lst file, I'd like
to go back through the install to see what my options are guessing that
maybe I should be installing the bootloader to sdax?

Any help would be awesome.

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
bgotsupe
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 10:07 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Answered => Open

You are still having a problem:
Thanks wwsmith. Going to try re-downloading and re-burning (that was a 2
week process itself back in the day when I was originally trying to install
freespire).

Anyways, I really do appreciate all your help, so please forgive me if I
seem in any way ungrateful, I'm just kindof at my wits end here. As far as
the persistence, imagine 10 years debugging stuff like this, except looking
at 200 columns of hex digits and trying to figure out why one or two of them
were coming out wrong, but only when the chip was powered to 1.3V instead of
1.5, etc.

I love this stuff. People who have seen me really frustrated probably don't
understand why. Guess I'm just a massochist. Will keep you posted.

-b

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
WWSmith36
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 2:30 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Open => Answered

WWSmith36 proposed the following answer:
I am sorry that you are having this problem. Frankly I am quite baffled.
The /boot/grub contains menu.lst as well as stage1, which apparently are not
being installed.

If this cannot be resolved by re-downloading ISO, I strongly suggest you
report this issue as a BUG REPORT including as much detail as possible.

What you have experienced is very strange. I have never seen a good CD fail
to install properly. Hopefully this issue can be resolved. Your
persistence in trying to resolve issue in greatly appreciated since it may
also be affecting a few other people as well.

Thank you

--
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9:23 AM

--
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9:23 AM

You can actually delete and re-create grub (meaning the entire contents of your /boot/grub directory). I just deleted my entire grub directory and successfully re-recreated it so I know this will work.

From the LiveCD mount your hard drive and change root

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/root/dev
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash

Now delete and reinstall grub

root@ubuntu:/# sudo rm /boot/grub/*
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub-install /dev/sda1
root@ubuntu:/# sudo update-grub
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub

This will provide you with a grub folder with all the required files including regenerating menu.lst file.

Hope this helps

So, I did mkdir /mnt/root .. chroot .. bin/bash

Went to /boot and once again, no grub dir. So skipped sudo rm and ls.
Tried sudo grub-install on sda3 (my boot partition) and sda1 (ubuntu
install) to no avail.

THEN!.....

I did the sudo update-grub and somehow it now found /boot/grub (not sure
where, but it did). Of course it couldn't find menu.lst but asked me if I
wanted to create one. OF COURSE I DO!! :)

Did a cd to /boot/grub and an ls and found default, device.map and menu.lst

Finally making some progress!! WOOHOO. I did some of the other commands,
but rebooted just to see (knowing that I can get back to where I was).
Reboot from first HD brought up GRUB menu instead of Error Loading O/S.

Assessment of the issue. Last week I was trying to install GRUB to the
partition my Ubuntu was installed on (not understanding how any of this
worked).

Going to reboot from the CD, run through these commands (with some new
understanding of what they are doing) and post results (should be an in
depth line-by-line guide that will contain more instructions than necessary,
but should provide better insight into what's happenning on the installers
machine (what files are where, etc) during the process.

AND GOD BLESS, I THINK I'M FINALLY GOING TO HAVE THIS THING UP AND RUNNING
TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
WWSmith36
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 12:52 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Open => Answered

WWSmith36 proposed the following answer:
You can actually delete and re-create grub (meaning the entire contents of
your /boot/grub directory). I just deleted my entire grub directory and
successfully re-recreated it so I know this will work.

>From the LiveCD mount your hard drive and change root

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind
/dev /mnt/root/dev ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash

Now delete and reinstall grub

root@ubuntu:/# sudo rm /boot/grub/*
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub-install /dev/sda1 root@ubuntu:/# sudo update-grub
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub

This will provide you with a grub folder with all the required files
including regenerating menu.lst file.

Hope this helps

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766/+confirm?a
nswer_id=21

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the following
page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1710 - Release Date: 10/6/2008
9:23 AM

Got a little distracted, but I'm back on this....

1) tried reboot (since GRUB seemed to be somewhat installed) and got GRUB
stage1.5 error
2) tried brute-force re-install but that just seemed to screw everything up
3) got back to where I was sorta
    -I did full disk install with sda1 - ubuntu partition
    -resized sda1 to ~10G
    -created new partition sda3 w/ ext2 and boot flagged
    -booted from cd and opened terminal
    -did sudo update-grub (this generated device.map and menu.lst). I think
it complained
     about there not being a /boot/grub dir, but creating one fixed this
(maybe an option
     for improving grub)
    -then, I mounted /dev/sda3 (boot partition) as /boot not /mnt/boot
    -grub-install hd0 just did something!!! Will let you know how it turned
out.

-b

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
bgotsupe
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 1:55 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Answered => Open

You are still having a problem:
So, I did mkdir /mnt/root .. chroot .. bin/bash

Went to /boot and once again, no grub dir. So skipped sudo rm and ls.
Tried sudo grub-install on sda3 (my boot partition) and sda1 (ubuntu
install) to no avail.

THEN!.....

I did the sudo update-grub and somehow it now found /boot/grub (not sure
where, but it did). Of course it couldn't find menu.lst but asked me if I
wanted to create one. OF COURSE I DO!! :)

Did a cd to /boot/grub and an ls and found default, device.map and menu.lst

Finally making some progress!! WOOHOO. I did some of the other commands,
but rebooted just to see (knowing that I can get back to where I was).
Reboot from first HD brought up GRUB menu instead of Error Loading O/S.

Assessment of the issue. Last week I was trying to install GRUB to the
partition my Ubuntu was installed on (not understanding how any of this
worked).

Going to reboot from the CD, run through these commands (with some new
understanding of what they are doing) and post results (should be an in
depth line-by-line guide that will contain more instructions than necessary,
but should provide better insight into what's happenning on the installers
machine (what files are where, etc) during the process.

AND GOD BLESS, I THINK I'M FINALLY GOING TO HAVE THIS THING UP AND RUNNING
TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
WWSmith36
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 12:52 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Open => Answered

WWSmith36 proposed the following answer:
You can actually delete and re-create grub (meaning the entire contents of
your /boot/grub directory). I just deleted my entire grub directory and
successfully re-recreated it so I know this will work.

>From the LiveCD mount your hard drive and change root

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind
/dev /mnt/root/dev ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash

Now delete and reinstall grub

root@ubuntu:/# sudo rm /boot/grub/*
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub-install /dev/sda1 root@ubuntu:/# sudo update-grub
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub

This will provide you with a grub folder with all the required files
including regenerating menu.lst file.

Hope this helps

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766/+confirm?a
nswer_id=21

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the following
page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

You received this question notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the question.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1710 - Release Date: 10/6/2008
9:23 AM

--
You received this question notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the question.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1710 - Release Date: 10/6/2008
9:23 AM

Seemed to boot, but.....

Kernel Panic

Which means bgotsupe panic

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
bgotsupe
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 1:55 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Answered => Open

You are still having a problem:
So, I did mkdir /mnt/root .. chroot .. bin/bash

Went to /boot and once again, no grub dir. So skipped sudo rm and ls.
Tried sudo grub-install on sda3 (my boot partition) and sda1 (ubuntu
install) to no avail.

THEN!.....

I did the sudo update-grub and somehow it now found /boot/grub (not sure
where, but it did). Of course it couldn't find menu.lst but asked me if I
wanted to create one. OF COURSE I DO!! :)

Did a cd to /boot/grub and an ls and found default, device.map and menu.lst

Finally making some progress!! WOOHOO. I did some of the other commands,
but rebooted just to see (knowing that I can get back to where I was).
Reboot from first HD brought up GRUB menu instead of Error Loading O/S.

Assessment of the issue. Last week I was trying to install GRUB to the
partition my Ubuntu was installed on (not understanding how any of this
worked).

Going to reboot from the CD, run through these commands (with some new
understanding of what they are doing) and post results (should be an in
depth line-by-line guide that will contain more instructions than necessary,
but should provide better insight into what's happenning on the installers
machine (what files are where, etc) during the process.

AND GOD BLESS, I THINK I'M FINALLY GOING TO HAVE THIS THING UP AND RUNNING
TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
WWSmith36
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 12:52 PM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: RE: [Question #46766]: ubuntu 8.0.4 boot issue

Your question #46766 on grub in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

    Status: Open => Answered

WWSmith36 proposed the following answer:
You can actually delete and re-create grub (meaning the entire contents of
your /boot/grub directory). I just deleted my entire grub directory and
successfully re-recreated it so I know this will work.

>From the LiveCD mount your hard drive and change root

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/root
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda1 /mnt/root ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
sudo mount -t proc none /mnt/root/proc ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount -o bind
/dev /mnt/root/dev ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo chroot /mnt/root bin/bash

Now delete and reinstall grub

root@ubuntu:/# sudo rm /boot/grub/*
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
root@ubuntu:/# sudo grub-install /dev/sda1 root@ubuntu:/# sudo update-grub
root@ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub

This will provide you with a grub folder with all the required files
including regenerating menu.lst file.

Hope this helps

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766/+confirm?a
nswer_id=21

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the following
page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+question/46766

You received this question notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the question.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1710 - Release Date: 10/6/2008
9:23 AM

--
You received this question notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the question.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1710 - Release Date: 10/6/2008
9:23 AM

Please do NOT respond by email. It is much better to go to launchpad website, login and post responses in this manner. Posting my email really muddies things up. Currently this thread is quite long and very difficult to follow. I suggest you start a new question with the following information.

Explain the partitions scheme you used when you reinstalled and the current grub error you get while trying boot.

From the LiveCD also provide the output of
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -lu

then enter grub CLI by
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub

Give the output of these commands
grub > find /boot/grub/stage1
grub > find /grub/stage1

Thank you