How to overwrite Mint 7 with Mint 8 ? (SOLVED)

[gizmoatwork]

Hello Open-World !

I've just tried to install Linux Mint 8. I have a dual boot, with 2 partitions : one with Windows XP and the other one with Mint 7.
I've installed Mint 8 with the live CD, but there were no option to overwrite my Mint7 partition. So I went on with the regular installation. I now, after the re-boot, I still have my two old OS, but no new Mint 8.

Is there an easy way (GUI oriented) to make a clean installation of Mint 8 by reformatting my Mint7 partition and replace it with mint 8 ?


Thank you all,

Gizmo

[lagagnon]

There was an option in the installer to use the Mint 7 partition and essentially overwrite it. You missed it.

[kansasnoob]

Hello Open-World !

I've just tried to install Linux Mint 8. I have a dual boot, with 2 partitions : one with Windows XP and the other one with Mint 7.
I've installed Mint 8 with the live CD, but there were no option to overwrite my Mint7 partition. So I went on with the regular installation. I now, after the re-boot, I still have my two old OS, but no new Mint 8.

Is there an easy way (GUI oriented) to make a clean installation of Mint 8 by reformatting my Mint7 partition and replace it with mint 8 ?


Thank you all,

Gizmo

Run the Boot Info Script as described in the following thread from the Mint you can boot and we'll see what's going on:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1291280

[gizmoatwork]

Thank you for your answers.

Here is what I have :

Code: Select all

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

 => Grub 1.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks for 
    (UUID=bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401)/boot/grub.
 => Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks on the same drive 
    in partition #2 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/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:   /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

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:   /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM /NTBOOTDD.SYS

sdb2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Linux Mint 7 Gloria - Main 
                       Edition
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sdb3: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sdb5: _________________________________________________________________________

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

sdb6: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Linux Mint 8 Helena - Main 
                       Edition
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sdb7: _________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disque /dev/sda: 250.0 Go, 250059350016 octets
255 têtes, 63 secteurs/piste, 30401 cylindres, total 488397168 secteurs
Unités = secteurs de 1 * 512 = 512 octets
Identifiant de disque : 0xbdb93b6a

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63   488,392,064   488,392,002   7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disque /dev/sdb: 200.0 Go, 200049647616 octets
255 têtes, 63 secteurs/piste, 24321 cylindres, total 390721968 secteurs
Unités = secteurs de 1 * 512 = 512 octets
Identifiant de disque : 0x2f2e7aa9

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *             63   268,414,019   268,413,957   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2         268,414,020   347,341,364    78,927,345  83 Linux
/dev/sdb3         347,341,365   390,716,864    43,375,500   5 Extended
/dev/sdb5         387,552,123   390,716,864     3,164,742  82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb6         347,341,491   385,784,909    38,443,419  83 Linux
/dev/sdb7         385,784,973   387,552,059     1,767,087  82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

/dev/sda1: UUID="8CA857EDA857D474" LABEL="DurDur_II" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sdb1: UUID="2E201AB0201A7ED1" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sdb2: UUID="4d34d737-f101-4580-b594-935e9ac42ae4" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sdb5: UUID="48e88c3a-2872-4656-b924-fb4cfea7e0ad" TYPE="swap" 
/dev/sdb6: UUID="bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401" TYPE="ext4" 
/dev/sdb7: UUID="ca4b10ab-a999-47ea-860f-a98936c8226c" TYPE="swap" 

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

/dev/sdb2 on / type ext4 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
/dev/sdb1 on /media/sdb1 type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
/dev/sda1 on /media/DurDur_II type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/gizmo/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=gizmo)
/dev/sr0 on /media/cdrom0 type iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev,utf8,user=gizmo)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=1

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


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

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer


=========================== sdb2/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-legacy-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 change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

## Graphical boot menu location
gfxmenu=/boot/gfxmenu/linuxmint.message

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

# 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=/dev/sdb2 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd1,1)

## 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=(single-user) 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		Linux Mint 7 Gloria, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
root		(hd0,1)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=/dev/sdb2 ro quiet splash 
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title		Windows XP
root		(hd0,0)
savedefault 
makeactive
chainloader	+1

#title		Linux Mint 7 Gloria, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
#root		(hd1,1)
#kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=/dev/sdb2 ro single
#initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

#title		Linux Mint 7 Gloria, memtest86+
#root		(hd1,1)
#kernel		/boot/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 Professionnel
# rootnoverify	(hd1,0)
# savedefault
# makeactive
# map		(hd0) (hd1)
# map		(hd1) (hd0)
# chainloader	+1


=============================== sdb2/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
#  -- This file has been automaticly generated by ntfs-config -- 
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sdb2 :
UUID=4d34d737-f101-4580-b594-935e9ac42ae4 / ext4 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# Entry for /dev/sdb5 :
UUID=48e88c3a-2872-4656-b924-fb4cfea7e0ad none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=fr_CA.UTF-8 0 0
/dev/sda1 /media/DurDur_II ntfs-3g defaults,locale=fr_CA.UTF-8 0 0

=================== sdb2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 147.3GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
 137.7GB: boot/grub/stage2
 138.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
 139.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
 138.6GB: initrd.img
 139.3GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sdb6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then
  have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
fi
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,6)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/white
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###
insmod ext2
set root=(hd1,6)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png ; then
  set color_normal=white/black
  set color_highlight=white/light-gray
else
  set menu_color_normal=white/black
  set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Linux Mint 8 Helena, linux 2.6.31-14-generic (/dev/sdb6)" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
	set quiet=1
	insmod ext2
	set root=(hd1,6)
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401 ro   quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
menuentry "Linux Mint 8 Helena, linux 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)" {
        recordfail=1
        if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi
	insmod ext2
	set root=(hd1,6)
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401 ro single 
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel (on /dev/sda1)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root=(hd0,1)
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 8ca857eda857d474
	drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel (on /dev/sdb1)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root=(hd1,1)
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2e201ab0201a7ed1
	drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Linux Mint 7 Gloria, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (on /dev/sdb2)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root=(hd1,2)
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4d34d737-f101-4580-b594-935e9ac42ae4
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=/dev/sdb2 ro quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

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

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s 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=bdafdea6-45bf-4bb1-b23c-8eb2c0f68401 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sdb7 during installation
UUID=ca4b10ab-a999-47ea-860f-a98936c8226c none            swap    sw              0       0
/dev/scd0       /media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0       0

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


 177.9GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 180.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
 180.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic
 180.4GB: initrd.img
 180.3GB: vmlinuz

It looks that Linux mint 8 was installed next to mint 7. It's not what I wish. I wanted Mint 8 to be installed by replacing Mint 7.
I still don't know how to fix it...

Any ideas ?

[kansasnoob]

Indeed, you now have a triple-boot, not to worry we can straighten that out but I need to clarify a couple of things.

For some reason it's showing that both sda1 and sdb1 have Win XP boot files? In Gloria's menu.lst it looks like sda1 (aka hd0,0 in old grub lingo) is the one you were using whereas sdb1 (aka hd1,0 in old grub lingo) was commented out. I should know what's up there. You need to be aware that Helena's grub 2 recognized both:

menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd0,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 8ca857eda857d474
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professionnel (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root=(hd1,1)
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2e201ab0201a7ed1
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1

Note grub numbering changed in grub2. Drive numbering still begins with 0 (zero) but partition numbering now begins with 1 (one), whereas in legacy grub both began with 0 (zero).

Second I'd like to see the output of the following command:

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sudo parted /dev/sdb print

It just provides a "human readable" description of actual partition size and the true order of partitions on the drive (whereas fdisk -l always says, "Partition table entries are not in disk order").

Now if you can currently boot both Gloria and Windows but not Helena I'd do the following but if this fails you'll need to use the Live CD to restore Gloria's grub so we can look closer! You should also know that I'm going to be out for a while preparing for the upcoming blizzard, but if you're game to proceed boot into Gloria and we'll try to hand boot off to Helena.

Boot into Gloria and we'll mount and chroot Helena and hand boot off to Helena's grub2, from Terminal in Gloria (same can be done from a live CD):

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sudo mount /dev/sdb6 /mnt && sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev && sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc && sudo mount --bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts && sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf && sudo chroot /mnt

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lsb_release -a

(that should show you you're in Helena)

Then:

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grub-install /dev/sdb

If that produces any errors run:

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grub-install --recheck /dev/sdb

Then:

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update-grub

And now we'll exit and unmount:

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exit

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sudo umount /mnt/dev/pts && sudo umount /mnt/dev && sudo umount /mnt/proc && sudo umount /mnt

If all worked well you should be able to boot into Helena, but you probably won't have boot options for either Windows or Gloria. You can fix that after the first boot into Helena by going to Terminal and running:

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sudo update-grub

If you can't boot into Helena for any reason then we'll hand boot back to Gloria. Boot the Live CD and from the Live desktop go to Terminal and run:

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sudo grub

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root (hd1,1)

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setup (hd1)

Should produce an output like:

Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...* 15 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 d (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,1)/boot/grub/stage
2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.

Then:

Code: Select all

quit

I hope all goes well.

[gizmoatwork]

Big thanks for your replies and explanations. I'm not very confident with linux, and I still have a lot of things to learn and understand. Thus I will go slowly.

Below is the output for the command

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sudo parted /dev/sdb print

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Modèle: ATA ST3200822A (scsi)
Disque /dev/sdb : 200GB
Taille des secteurs (logique/physique) : 512o/512o
Table de partitions : msdos

Numéro  Début   Fin    Taille  Type      Système de fichiers  Fanions  
 1      32,3kB  137GB  137GB   primary   ntfs                 démarrage
 2      137GB   178GB  40,4GB  primary   ext4                          
 3      178GB   200GB  22,2GB  extended                                
 6      178GB   198GB  19,7GB  logical   ext4                          
 7      198GB   198GB  905MB   logical   linux-swap                    
 5      198GB   200GB  1620MB  logical   linux-swap

[kansasnoob]

Big thanks for your replies and explanations. I'm not very confident with linux, and I still have a lot of things to learn and understand. Thus I will go slowly.

Below is the output for the command

Code: Select all

sudo parted /dev/sdb print

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Modèle: ATA ST3200822A (scsi)
Disque /dev/sdb : 200GB
Taille des secteurs (logique/physique) : 512o/512o
Table de partitions : msdos

Numéro  Début   Fin    Taille  Type      Système de fichiers  Fanions  
 1      32,3kB  137GB  137GB   primary   ntfs                 démarrage
 2      137GB   178GB  40,4GB  primary   ext4                          
 3      178GB   200GB  22,2GB  extended                                
 6      178GB   198GB  19,7GB  logical   ext4                          
 7      198GB   198GB  905MB   logical   linux-swap                    
 5      198GB   200GB  1620MB  logical   linux-swap

In case you noticed my prior warning I made some minor changes to my chroot script, it's OK now!

Well it'll be easy enough to delete either the Mint 7 or Mint 8 partition(s) and expand whichever we keep to use up that free space, but first we must make Mint 8 bootable so you can see if it's going to work well for you. The commands I posted above should work, just be sure to copy-n-paste them into terminal and, as I said, if it fails we can restore Mint 7's grub easily from a Live CD.

I should be around all day today so I'll check back as often as possible in case you encounter problems. It's too icy and cold to go anywhere, the only thing that might keep me tied up for a while is Ubuntu Lucid iso testing, but it's not even released as of yet.

If Helena works well for you we'll have to see which Windows boot option you wish to keep and make some edits to Helena's grub2 config files.

BTW, albeit by accident, a multi-boot like this is IMHO the smartest and safest way to upgrade. You can easily give Helena a good "test drive" and then decide whether you wish to keep Gloria or Helena.

Also feel free to email me if needed, I just checked and it works.

[gizmoatwork]

Thank you very much for your help. It's deeply appreciated.
My opinion is it may be easier to remove the mint 8's partitions, then restart a fresh install, while taking care of correctly overwrtiting Mint7 with Mint8. (I have to say I don't knw how to do this).

It may sound lazy for you, but as I told you, I'm not as confident with Linux as you may be. So for me, the more straight forward, the better.

What's your opinion ?

[kansasnoob]

Well, there is no totally automated way to do this. No matter what you do it's going to involve a little work from you!

We already know that your attempt at an automated install failed! You could use gparted to delete all Mint partitions and possibly get Helena to install to that empty space but I'd almost bet that it's grub is still going to end up in the wrong place!

Maybe you should just wait for some different advice.

[gizmoatwork]

That's exaclty what I had in mind : using Gparted to remove Helena and Gloria, then re-install Helena.

Should I start from Helena's boot live CD to do that ?

[kansasnoob]

That's exaclty what I had in mind : using Gparted to remove Helena and Gloria, then re-install Helena.

Should I start from Helena's boot live CD to do that ?

What you're asking to do makes no sense to me. Mint Helena is already installed we just need to fix the boot and I've explained how to do that.

We can then easily remove Mint Gloria if all goes well.

Could I explain how to do what you're asking? Yes, but you'd almost certainly end up not being able to boot anything (since your first Mint Helena/grub2 venture failed) and I refuse to lead anyone off the edge of a cliff!

Maybe someone else will help you.

[breaker]

Here's my simple solution, boot the Live CD, before running the installer run Gparted, delete both Mint partitions, create a new partition, so now you have 2 XP, and an empty partiton. Then run the installer and point it to your empty partiton. This should work.

[gizmoatwork]

Indeed, it was what I was thinking about. So I launched Mint8 live-CD, removed (using Gparted) all the linux partitions, and then re-installed Helena.

Now, when I re-boot, I have...
"Grub 1.5 - Grub error 17"
I though Mint8 was coming with grub 2 ?!?

Here is the situation :

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xbdb93b6a

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *          63   488392064   244196001    7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders, total 390721968 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x2f2e7aa9

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *          63   305186804   152593371    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2       305186805   390716864    42765030    5  Extended
/dev/sdb5       305186868   387118304    40965718+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb6       387118368   390716864     1799248+  82  Linux swap / Solaris

How can I fix this booting issue ?

Thanks.

[gizmoatwork]

Yes !
At last, I've found how to fix my grub issue.
It seems the old grub was still the one that was booted on.

I read the instructions on the Ubuntu documentation here.

Here the code which solved the issue :

Code: Select all

sudo mount /dev/sdb5 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sdb

Please note that for me it was sdb5, for i may be a different partition for you, if you have the same trouble.

Big thanks to you who helped me. You rock