Error installing Ubuntu

aadipa · Apr 2, 2008

Hello every one. Just giving a try at Linux.

I downloaded Ubuntu 7.10 ISO and installed it on my HDD. Now GRUB was not installed properly. Here is description of my HDD config.

SATA1 HDD1 -
WinXP is installed on first primary partition on NTFS.
Other partitions are NTFS only

SATA2 HDD2 -
First 2 partitions are primary formatted in NTFS.
Partition 5 in logical, ext3 and mounted as /
Partition 6 is logical, and formatted as SWAP

SATA3 DVD -
It was the source to install linux

IDE Master HDD3 -
First partition NTFS
Second is SWAP which was existing since my last try at linux few years ago.
Third is FAT32

IDE Slave DVD
Nothing special

---

After installing Ubuntu, GRUB was installed on MBR. But after restart I get
GRUB error 17

Now both my WinXP and Ubuntu were not working, so I restored MBR from WinXP bootable CD. As second option I tried 'grubinstall' a GRUB for Windows NT. With it I was able to get GRUB option in boot.ini and it loads in GRUB.
Once in GRUB, I gave following commands in GRUB prompt.

Code:

root (hd2,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sdc3 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

This shows Ubuntu splash screen, but then hung at 'Waiting for root filesystem...'.

Please help me out what I am doing wrong? I don't have much knowledge of GRUB or Linux booting process.

Best possible option for me is to install GRUB on MBR of HDD2 connected at 2nd SATA port. As it also has linux partition, and I can use boot selection of my motherboard to select HDD to boot from. Please tell me steps for the same.

FilledVoid · Apr 2, 2008

I don't know if this can actually called a solution but I had some problems gettign Ubuntu installed with one Sata and an IDE drive so I disconnected one of them and did the install on one disk and then plugged the disk back in after confirming it works. After this I just had to change grub.conf a bit to get it to work. You might want to wait for others to see if they have better solutions though

.

mehulved · Apr 2, 2008

aadipa, If you can start from live cd and show the output of

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

We need to determine the order of the hard disks. Did you change the order after installing ubuntu? Then the naming will also change.
And the best idea is to install grub from ubuntu into MBR of first bootable drive.
OT: - BTW, you shifted from palghar na?

aadipa · Apr 3, 2008

Here is output booting from live CD

Code:

[SIZE=2]ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Disk identifier: 0x234d234c[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda1   *           1        5222    41945683+   7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda2            5223       18276   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda3           18277       31330   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda4           31331       38913    60910447+   f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda5           31331       31617     2305296    7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sda6           31618       38913    58605088+   7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Disk identifier: 0x9032face[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdb1               1       26108   209712478+   7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdb2           26109       52216   209712510    7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdb3           59057       60801    14016712+   5  Extended[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdb5           60553       60801     2000092+  82  Linux swap / Solaris[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdb6           59058       60551    12000523+  83  Linux[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Partition table entries are not in disk order[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Disk /dev/sdc: 17.2 GB, 17245863936 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2096 cylinders[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Disk identifier: 0x8a4f1160[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=2]Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdc1               1        1468    11791678+   7  HPFS/NTFS[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdc2            1469        2096     5044410    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdc5            1469        1599     1052226   82  Linux swap / Solaris[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]/dev/sdc6            1600        2096     3992121    b  W95 FAT32[/SIZE]

OT: - BTW, you shifted from palghar na?

Not actually shifted.. rented a flat here @ Cotton Green, so weekdays @ Mumbai, weekends @ Palghar.

gary4gar · Apr 3, 2008

Simple solution what filled void said, disconnect all drives expect The Source optical drive & Destination Hard drive. After install Plug them back.

Make Sure that you select correct Hard disk in Hard disk Boot priority from BIOS.

OT: Its good to see you after a long time, So you seem to be a torrent freak

mehulved · Apr 3, 2008

aadipa, did you move your drives around? Make these 2 changes.

Code:

root (hd1,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sdb3 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

(hd2,5) has changed to (hd1,5) and /dev/sdc3 has changed to /dev/sdb3
That's why grub was unable to find it's files as well as your OS. Once you make these 2 changes, you can use grub from ubuntu.

aadipa said:
Not actually shifted.. rented a flat here @ Cotton Green, so weekdays @ Mumbai, weekends @ Palghar.

K. Nice

praka123 · Apr 3, 2008

@aadipa:there is no need to re-install,if u have finished ubuntu installation,leave apart grub error.
now the grub line should be fixed.for that u have to post the o/p of "sudo fdisk -l" from a livecd to here.

aadipa · Apr 3, 2008

@praka123: check post #4

@mehul:
It didn't work.. I got error here too. I will post the error message once I reach home.

BTW, how can I install GRUB on MBR of 2nd HDD while installing, or now, booting from live CD?

Nimda · Apr 3, 2008

Not sure about this.. But isn't sdb6 the root partition? So maybe changing root=/dev/sdb3 to root=/dev/sdb6 might fix it.

You can install grub using the grub-install command with the name of the device as the argument. (Don't add the partition number at the end, for eg, DON'T type /dev/sdb1 as this will corrupt the windows partition, the correct form is /dev/sdb).

mehulved · Apr 3, 2008

aadipa are you changing hard disk order?
And yes, error would be useful to determine what went wrong.
Another way is install grub on your root partition and install a boot manager on MBR of first drive.
For reinstalling grub, check the second post here - *ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24113
replace root(hd0,6) with root(hd1,5) and (hd0) with (hd1,5), too.

Also, super grub disk can be helpful *supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/

praka123 · Apr 3, 2008

if partition orders are changed,do use fdisk /dev/drivename and go "x" -->f>w

aadipa · Apr 3, 2008

@mehul: No I didn't change disk order or modified any partition structure after linux installation.

PcEnthu · Apr 3, 2008

@aadiap, Try this solution, relating to the device map maintained by grub

aadipa · Apr 4, 2008

Something strange..
I tried sudo fdisk -l from live cd again.. here is output

Code:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
 
Disk /dev/sda: 17.2 GB, 17245863936 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2096 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8a4f1160
 
   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1        1468    11791678+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2            1469        2096     5044410    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5            1469        1599     1052226   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6            1600        2096     3992121    b  W95 FAT32
 
Disk /dev/sdb: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x234d234c
 
   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1        5222    41945683+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2            5223       18276   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3           18277       31330   104856255    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb4           31331       38913    60910447+   f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5           31331       31617     2305296    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6           31618       38913    58605088+   7  HPFS/NTFS
 
Disk /dev/sdc: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x9032face
 
   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1       26108   209712478+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc2           26109       52216   209712510    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdc3           59057       60801    14016712+   5  Extended
/dev/sdc5           60553       60801     2000092+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdc6           59058       60551    12000523+  83  Linux
 
Partition table entries are not in disk order

So disk order is changed again.. Is it common for LiveCD?

Now I tried root (hd2,5) from live CD but it didn't work.. Some error message that partition not found.

Then I booted to GRUB for Windows from WinXP boot selection, and there gave following commands

Code:

root (hd2,5)
setup (hd2)

This installed GRUB on MBR of my 500GB drive. When I boot from that HDD, I got a GRUB screen with 4 options,
Ubuntu 7.10
Ubuntu 7.10 with recovery mode
Ubuntu 7.10 memtest86
WinXP

I am not sure about names, I typed them as I remember

.

None of these options work.
When I pressed 'e' to edit, it was

Code:

root (hd1,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root={SOME UUID here}
...

It gave me Error 17 (again

)
I tried to change it to 'root (hd2,5)' but it reverts to 'root (hd1,5)' once I go back to menu screen. I couldn't find any option to save the changes, may be they are not saved.

Then I tried Command Line (Press 'c')
There I typed the commands for all, 'root (hd0,5)', 'root (hd1,5)', 'root (hd2,5)'

Once It gave Error 17, Other two times, It gave 'Error 15: Fine does not exists' while I gave kernel command.

Any solutions?

gary4gar · Apr 4, 2008

All You need is Super Grub Disk.
1) Download
2) Burn it onto a Floppy
3) Select: GNU/LINUX > FIX BOOT OF GNU/LINUX (GRUB)
4) Select the Linux or Grub installation you want to restore
5) Reboot, Thats it

*supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/

Do read quick_guide in documentation section of Website
*supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/?section=documentation#quick_guide

aadipa · Apr 4, 2008

@gary4gar:
I don't have floppy drive.. So I used USB drive. Used Linux BootCD and installed SGD's GRUB on USB drive.
Booting from USB, I selected to repair and install GRUB, it showed be 2 options, a SWAP partition and my Linux root. I selected root (/dev/sdc6). It detected my Ubuntu and installed GRUB o MBR of 1st HDD, ie my Windows HDD.

After rebooting, I was welcomed by GRUB menu, with 4 options. 3 for Ubuntu and 1 for WinXP.

Select 1st option, Ubuntu, press enter to boot.
ERROR
Filesystem is fat.
Error 15: File Not Found

Selected Ubuntu option, Press 'e', it shows root(hd1,5)

At this point I was about to bang my head.

Press 'e' again, edited the line for hd2, back, back to main menu.. Again check, its hd1 again.
Again followed same, but on screen where it shows list of command to be executed, pressed 'b', it worked.. and smoothly loaded OS.

Once inside, I just changed /boot/grub/menu.lst and changed all those hd1 to hd2.

Now I can directly use GRUB menu without any more editing.

And I am left with
1. GRUB for Windows in boot.ini. - Deleting that line will remove the option.
2. GRUB on MBR of HDD1 - As this can boot both Ubuntu and Windows, I will keep this.
3. GRUB on MBR of HDD2 -This is the HDD which has my linux root. Now how can I uninstall it, as there is already one @ HDD1
4. SGD's GRUB @ USB Drive - How to remove it?

Also my network is not working in linux. I have a static IP provided by my ISP which I use in Windows, I gave same setup in Ubuntu, it shows packets coming in. But I am unable to use internet. I gave IP, Subnet mask, gateway and DNS. It is not part of any domain so that field is blank.

gary4gar · Apr 4, 2008

Aah Now at least the confusing part is over thanks to me & SGD

You can finally boot into OS
the GRUB numbering is confusing for me also, i will leave that for others to answer.

Regarding you network, can you Tell what type of connection you are on?

How to connect to internet, via some dialer,lan or some router

and lastly.
Applications>Accessories>Terminal

Type ifconfig there & copy the output here

and out of this command also
cat /etc/resolve.conf

Welcome to Linux World

aadipa · Apr 4, 2008

Here is ifconfig output

Code:

[EMAIL="ashish@Ashish-Linux:~$"]ashish@Ashish-Linux:~$[/EMAIL] ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:1B:FC:B3:84:A8  
          inet addr:125.99.92.174  Bcast:125.99.95.255  Mask:255.255.252.0
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:3607 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:15 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 
          RX bytes:168677 (164.7 KB)  TX bytes:2231 (2.1 KB)
          Interrupt:16 
lo        Link encap:Local Loopback  
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 
          RX bytes:0 (0.0 b)  TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)

And I couldn't find file /etc/resolve.conf

Code:

[EMAIL="ashish@Ashish-Linux:~$"]ashish@Ashish-Linux:~$[/EMAIL] cat /etc/resolve.conf
cat: /etc/resolve.conf: No such file or directory

As I already told, I have a static IP given, that I use in Windows config. I am connected using cable modem, no dialing, its always on type connection.

I just put values for IP, Subnet, Gateway and DNS and it works in Windows.
Same I did in Linux but it doesn't work.
Here is output of ipconfig in windows

Code:

C:\Documents and Settings\Ashish>ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 125.99.92.174
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.252.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 125.99.88.1

FilledVoid · Apr 4, 2008

I believe you should run the command

Code:

cat /etc/resolv.conf

mehulved · Apr 4, 2008

What the ip of your DNS server? Do the following

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/resolv.conf

It will open up /etc/resolv.conf file in a text editor.
Add the DNS values in the following format

Code:

nameserver 208.67.222.222
nameserver 208.67.220.220

Error installing Ubuntu

Padawan

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left this forum longback

Padawan

Linux Learner

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Padawan

Who stole my Alpaca!

18 Till I Die............