GRUB/MBR problem (turn off boot flag/ uninstall GRUB)

[kasei]

Hallo guys,
I'm not sure how newbie am I so excuse me if I make some mistakes when I'm describing the problem.
Before an year I have had a PC with one HDD and two partitions on it and I have installed windows and ubuntu on the first partition. Everything was great.
Than I bought second HDD - SATA. I have to reinstall windows and ubuntu, because when I wanted to start windows I had the folowing message - NTLDR is missing. I tried to fix it with boot CD of Win but I couldn't because when the installation started it crashed in the very beginning - " setup is inspecting your ..." and I had to restart the PC. Surprisingly had no problems with installation of Win Vista. I installed Vista first then ubuntu. Finally I didn't find ubuntu, nevertheless I have installed it. I tough that it was a mistake in the installation and I gave up (but before month I understood that bunt was always there). I was working on win XP.
Before about 2 months I decided to install win7, but soon I removed it. Than I installed XP and Kubuntu 9.10. Than I have the same problem - workind Win and no sign of kubuntu. I asked some friends and they told me it was a GRUB problem. I fixed GRUB with the live CD (http://maketecheasier.com/how-to-res...ntu/2008/04/11) and got working kubuntu but when I wanted to start windows i got the msg - " NTLDR is missing". Then I rewrite MBR and I got working windows but again no sign of Kubuntu or GRUB. Than I reinstalled again GRUB and use kubuntu till now.
I think the problem is hardware but ... really don't know. If somebody can tell me what to do I'll be very thankfull.

[Qqmike]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Try this:
Restore Various Bootloaders: XP/Vista/7
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

I don't think you have a hardware problem.

Now, if you are using Wubi, that's a different story altogether:
Wubi: Ubuntu Wubi Guide
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide#Wh...%20bootloader?

[kasei]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Thank's but I tried already the part for kubuntu 9.04 and that's the way it is working. The part for windows I can't follow, because when I start the boot CD it crashes in the begining on stage " Setup is inspecting your computer..." and i can't even see the blue screen.

[stychokiller]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

This is how I got both Kubuntu and Windows XP to work on my PC:
First of all I assume that you have two hard disks, since you mentioned buying a second one --

a. Install your Windows OS on the second hard disk (known to GRUB as (hd1,0), to linux as /dev/sdb or /dev/hdb or scsi 1.0.0). Make sure it's working properly. Also just leave the first hard disk (known to GRUB as (hd0,0), to linux as /dev/sda or /dev/hda or scsi 0.0.0), unconnected at this time so that the Windows OS doesn't even know that it's present in your PC.

b. Reconnect 8) the first hard disk and install Kubuntu on the first hard disk (known to GRUB as (hd0,0), to linux as /dev/sda or /dev/hda or scsi 0.0.0). the Install CD will show you more than one hard disk when it asks you where to install Kubuntu, use the configure manually selection 8) to set up your Kubuntu partitions.
I like to have lots of partitions in Linux since fdsk will take longer to validate the hard disk if you have just one LARGE partition, better to break up the hard disk into lots of smaller partitions.
My Kubuntu layout:
/dev/sda1 /boot -- you have to figure out how large to make each partition, based on the
/dev/sda2 swap -- size of your hard disk. swap size should be around 2 * RAM size.
/dev/sda3 /
/dev/sda5 /tmp
/dev/sda6 /var
/dev/sda7 /usr
/dev/sda8 /usr/local
/dev/sda9 /home
/dev/sda10 /opt

Once Kubuntu is finished installing, GRUB is smart enough to setup the menu.lst (or is it grub.cfg?) file to reflect the fact that you can boot from more than one OS.

The key is make sure that the Windows MBR and Linux MBR are on separate disks. There is a way to place both operating systems on one hard disk, but you'll have to get those directions from someone else.

[verndog]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Thank's but I tried already the part for kubuntu 9.04 and that's the way it is working. The part for windows I can't follow, because when I start the boot CD it crashes in the begining on stage " Setup is inspecting your computer..." and i can't even see the blue screen.

kasei, sorry, I know it must be me, but after reading your first post I'm kind-a lost.

Everything worked for a year on an IDE hard drive, then you bought a SATA drive, then Windows failed. You then mentioned several Windows products, XP, Vista, Windows 7.

Is the SATA installed along side you IDE hard drive?

I'm going to start sounding like a broken record, but it will give us all your booting info in a
single file. Then we can advise. Download boot-info-script. Run it. come back here with output. Make sure you put it between code quotes so not to make a mess.

[kasei]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot drive #2
in partition #7 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.
=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive
in partition #7 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.
sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /ubuntu/winboot/menu.lst /boot.ini /ntldr
/NTDETECT.COM /ubuntu/winboot/wubildr.mbr

sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub is installed in the boot sector of sdb7 and looks
at sector 78269312 of the same hard drive for the
stage2 file, but no stage2 files can be found at this
location.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /grub/menu.lst

sdb8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xab8bab8b

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 208,379,114 208,379,052 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 208,379,115 416,758,229 208,379,115 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 416,758,230 625,137,344 208,379,115 7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders, total 156301488 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8da38da3

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 63 78,140,159 78,140,097 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 78,140,160 156,296,384 78,156,225 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 106,205,778 114,206,084 8,000,307 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 114,206,148 156,296,384 42,090,237 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 78,140,286 78,332,939 192,654 83 Linux
/dev/sdb8 78,333,003 106,205,714 27,872,712 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: UUID="8E40BD6340BD5327" LABEL="Reactor 1" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="5A8C23B58C238A99" LABEL="Reactor 2" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda3: UUID="862C8A052C89F10B" LABEL="Reactor 3" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="AE5034BE50348F59" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="029dddf3-0dac-4bd1-a859-5e885f9d9b81" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdb7: UUID="6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sdb8: UUID="98bb1849-3abe-4707-813f-8102c5c03be5" TYPE="ext3"

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
none on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
/dev/sdb7 on /boot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sdb8 on /home type ext3 (rw,relatime)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)


======================== sdb1/ubuntu/winboot/menu.lst: ========================

debug off
hiddenmenu
default 0
timeout 0
fallback 1

title find /ubuntu/disks/boot/grub/menu.lst
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /ubuntu/disks/boot/grub/menu.lst
configfile /ubuntu/disks/boot/grub/menu.lst

title find /ubuntu/install/boot/grub/menu.lst
fallback 2
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /ubuntu/install/boot/grub/menu.lst
configfile /ubuntu/install/boot/grub/menu.lst

title find /menu.lst
fallback 3
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /menu.lst
configfile /menu.lst

title find /boot/grub/menu.lst
fallback 4
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /boot/grub/menu.lst
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

title find /grub/menu.lst
fallback 5
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /grub/menu.lst
configfile /grub/menu.lst

title commandline
commandline

title reboot
reboot

title halt
halt

================================ sdb1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer

=========================== sdb6/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

=============================== sdb6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /boot was on /dev/sdb7 during installation
UUID=6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /home was on /dev/sdb8 during installation
UUID=98bb1849-3abe-4707-813f-8102c5c03be5 /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=029dddf3-0dac-4bd1-a859-5e885f9d9b81 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sdb6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


58.4GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
58.4GB: boot/grub/stage2
58.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
58.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
58.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
58.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic
58.4GB: initrd.img
58.4GB: initrd.img.old
58.4GB: vmlinuz
58.4GB: vmlinuz.old

============================= sdb7/grub/menu.lst: =============================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

=================== sdb7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


40.0GB: grub/menu.lst
40.0GB: grub/stage2
40.0GB: initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
40.0GB: initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
40.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
40.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic

[Qqmike]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

@verndog ... the boot-info-script is pretty neat, thanks for the tip.
As for kasei, I'll let you handle it, except to say I did notice the Wubi in the path Hard telling what's up, I haven't had time to study it for him. Looks like he didn't know Wubi was there, yet he did run some root-setup-quit commands and so has loose/useless ends floating around.

[verndog]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on boot drive #2
in partition #7 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.
=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive
in partition #7 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.
===
sdb7:__________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub is installed in the boot sector of sdb7 and looks
at sector 78269312 of the same hard drive for the
stage2 file, but no stage2 files can be found at this location.

Your missing stage2 files on the boot partition. It looks like your were able to boot to partition6 somehow.

Those wubi files I'm not sure about. Did you at some point install ubuntu inside Windows?

Since you have grub installed on both drives, it looks like sdb was at some point sda, then you switched them and now have you newer drive as sda.

There is a bug report for having the MBR on a different drive than the one your booting to.

Now I have to wonder how your BOIS plays into all this. For me, I can't have both IDE and SATA. It locks up. I have an older BIOS. Yours apparently works.

Since your new SATA is 320GB, and the old IDE is 80, do you need that one installed? Tha's you choice, I'm just asking.

The problem is you need to get grub installed correctly on partition#7 of sdb.

On your "mount" output you booted to sdb partition#6 "/dev/sdb6 on /"
Are you able to boot to partition#7?

I'll have to study this a little more, after I hear back from you.

Edit: Qqmike, thanks for input. There's a lot going on here.

[Qqmike]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Yes, I noticed that. However, usually, if in fact GRUB is working and it TRIES to access Stage_2 menu.lst, and if it can't find menu.lst, then it issues an Error 15 -- File Not Found error.

I don't know what to make of this wubi reference:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /ubuntu/winboot/menu.lst /boot.ini /ntldr
/NTDETECT.COM /ubuntu/winboot/wubildr.mbr

[Qqmike]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

sorry, I didn't see ALL of your post when I posted mine ...
(gotta run, anyway, back to the "real" world for awhile...)

[kasei]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

verndog, thanks for paying attention to my problem!
I use my IDE to install OS on it. I could hardly change the situation. Eh, I can buy a new HDD but I think that's not the problem.
I can boot only to hd(0,6), it's written when kubuntu starts up - it is /boot. In fact i have little problems with mountinig - I can mount to my SATA HDD and other partion of IDE only if I have first mount it trough file manager (dolphin).

[verndog]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

I use my IDE to install OS on it. I could hardly change the situation. Eh, I can buy a new HDD but I think that's not the problem.
I can boot only to hd(0,6), it's written when kubuntu starts up - it is /boot. In fact i have little problems with mountinig - I can mount to my SATA HDD and other partion of IDE only if I have first mount it trough file manager (dolphin).

I'm not saying to buy a new HD, you already did that. My thinking was since you did buy a new SATA HD why not use that, but in reviewing that stats you have used most of it up with "Reactor", what ever that is, an XP variant perhaps.

Like I said your MBR points to the second HD, partition#7, and that is missing stage2 files.That needs to be fixed somehow.

Right now you can boot to second HD, partition#6.

Question. When you boot up, what does grub menu show? How many OS's are there?

[kasei]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

When I boot in GRUB there are both Kubuntu and Windows but when I choose Win - i get "NTLDR is missing".

[dibl]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Windows is obviously confused about where it is supposed to boot -- actually I'm not sure myself.

You have the "boot" flag set on the first partition of both /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. You only want it set for the one that Windows is installed on. Use Gparted and turn it off on the one that you don't mean Windows to boot from.

Then, if it won't boot Windows, you need to look at the "chainloader" stanza at the bottom of your /boot/grub/menu.lst file. You might need to switch the (hdx) values if they are pointing to the wrong drive. It looks like Grub thinks it is on sdb, but I'm not so sure.

[kasei]

Re: GRUB/MBR problem

Hallo, I'm little bit confused. I tried to turn of the flag but it moves it to the next partition - sda2
That' not all. When Kubuntu starts up it is written - ... boot from hd(0,6) ext... , but in menu.lst is written :
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.31-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

__________________________________________________ ______
in fstab I can find that partition with UUID - 6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f is sdb7 :
# / was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=e04c038c-dedc-473b-a7be-94d7a3d0eeb6 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /boot was on /dev/sdb7 during installation
UUID=6bf6c599-c708-4875-838e-ea91b9844a0f /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /home was on /dev/sdb8 during installation
UUID=98bb1849-3abe-4707-813f-8102c5c03be5 /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=029dddf3-0dac-4bd1-a859-5e885f9d9b81 none swap sw 0
__________________________________________________ _____

am I overacting or it's a real mistake ? Is there a way I can permanently turn of the boot flag from sda?
Is is it correctly written that windows is on hd(0,1)?
that is what I get with fdisk:
Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xab8bab8b

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 12971 104189526 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 12972 25942 104189557+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 25943 38913 104189557+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8da38da3

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 4864 39070048+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 4865 9729 39078112+ 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 6612 7109 4000153+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6 7110 9729 21045118+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdb7 4865 4876 96327 83 Linux
/dev/sdb8 4877 6611 13936356 83 Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order
root@The-Orchid:/home/teodor# sudo gedit /etc/fstab
No protocol specified

(gedit:7246): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display: :0.0