[Solved] Grub problem: Grub Rescue

[7rozen_7ear_]

Hey all,

I'd like to get some help on a problem, I just can't boot to any OS (Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate and LM Gnome 10). I'm used to installing ubuntu/linux mint (I prefer linux mint for its coolness ) but yesterday i got a huge problem. I tried to boot and my Grub didn't show up. The only screen that showed up was a black screen with: "Couldn't find a boot partition." and a command line input "Grub rescue:".
I'd be very happy to solve this problem. I tried various ways of installing Grub2 (via terminal), I watched loads of tutorials on how to do so but it still doesn't work. I tried to mount my harddrive but that didn't work either, I think. (I suppose that's the problem.) Maybe you can fix it by teamviewer???
Btw, I wrote this message using the Live CD (DVD AMD 64-bit version).

Some specs:

+++HDs+++
*SDA (250.1 Gb)
/Windows boot partition (100 Mb ???)
/free space (the space I use on Windows)
/A small partition (20 Gb) of my old LM 9 installation
/10 Gb of swap area for Linux

*SDB (250.1 Gb)
/LM 10 (ext4) (50 Gb)
/Free space (I'd like to use this space for both Linux and Windows ;p)

+++Processor+++
AMD Turio (64-bit) running at the standard clock (2.20 GHz)

+++Ram+++
4 Gigs DDR2

Wanna have more information? Just ask ;p

[seeley]

Hi!
Please first read my help and post some relevant outputs (e.g. "findGrub").
seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

Hi!
Please first read my help and post some relevant outputs (e.g. "findGrub").
seeley

Hey there, thx that you're even willing to help a n00b like me ;p But actually I forgot to mention the following. When I used LM9, the GRUB worked perfectly.

So, here's the outputs for your findGrub:

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/dev/sda: GRUB 2 v1.97 or higher
/dev/sda1: No GRUB 55aa
/dev/sda2: No GRUB 55aa
/dev/sda3: No GRUB 00
/dev/sda5: No GRUB 00
/dev/sdb: No GRUB 00
/dev/sdb1: No GRUB 00
/dev/sdb2: No GRUB 00
/dev/sdb5: No GRUB 00


Here's the outputs for sudo fdisk -l i forgot to post ;p

mint@mint ~ $ sudo fdisk -l

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Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xd2e701ab

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1          13      102400    7  HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2              13       26578   213380641    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3           26578       27611     8300545    5  Extended
/dev/sda5           26578       27611     8300544   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000eddd9

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *       24308       30402    48949248   83  Linux
/dev/sdb2               1         244     1951745    5  Extended
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb5               1         244     1951744   83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Btw, it's kind of off-topic but if anybody knows something about coding in LUA, some good html tutorials (only know the basics, can't make a site) and stuff, i'd be happy to hear that I'm very motivated to learn how to script. Btw, I'm still learning English, pls correct me if necessary.

[seeley]

Hi!
"findGrub" shows, that Grub"2" is installed into the MBR of /dev/sda (sda=first hd) and that sda1 and sda2 are Windows partitions.
Please post the output of Terminal

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sudo fdisk -l

- lowercase "L" like list -
and

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sudo parted -l print

On live medium:

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sudo su

, then command without "sudo"
seeley

[seeley]

Hi!
Supposing that sdb1 is your root Linux:
Please see my help, chapter G Grub, To repair GRUB"2":
instead of sdaX you must take sdb1 and instead of SDAX -> SDB1.
So, the 3 important steps are the following:(after having booted from your Mint live medium you used for installation!)

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sudo mkdir /media/SDB1

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sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/SDB1

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sudo grub-setup -d /media/SDB1/boot/grub /dev/sda

Afterwars booting from hd and running in a Terminal:

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sudo update-grub

seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

Hey, This is the first output.

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mint@mint ~ $     sudo mkdir /media/SDB1
mint@mint ~ $     sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/SDB1
mint@mint ~ $     sudo grub-setup -d /media/SDB1/boot/grub /dev/sda
grub-setup: error: cannot stat /media/SDB1/boot/grub/boot.img.
mint@mint ~ $


maybe it would be easier to do it on a TeamViewer session, cuz i'm a complete noob ;p

[seeley]

Hi!
Please have a look at my help, reply7 (Feb. 01, 8:34 pm) and try to start Mint as described.
If it is not possible, then maybe important file(s) are corrupt / broken.
seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

Hey, I rebooted, but I still got the Grub rescue prompt.
So I tried to run all the commands again (on the Live CD although the last one isn't supposed to be ran like that):

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 mint@mint ~ $     sudo mkdir /media/SDB1
mint@mint ~ $     sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/SDB1
mint@mint ~ $     sudo grub-setup -d /media/SDB1/boot/grub /dev/sda
grub-setup: error: cannot stat /media/SDB1/boot/grub/boot.img.
mint@mint ~ $     sudo update-grub
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for / (is /dev mounted?).
mint@mint ~ $

,
Btw, the Grub files are remnants of my previous LM 9 (wich was installed on the SDA hd), I think

[seeley]

Hi!
1.

Supposing that sdb1 is your root Linux:

I don't know your root partition.
2.

Please have a look at my help, reply7 (Feb. 01, 8:34 pm) and try to start Mint as described.

seeley

[seeley]

Hi!
I again read all postings, so I repeat: please post:

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sudo parted -l print

- lowercase "L" like list -

and I wrote:

Afterwars booting from hd and running in a Terminal:

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sudo update-grub

not on live CD!
seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

Oh, sorry again. I overlooked that input

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mint@mint ~ $     sudo parted -l print
Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54252 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End    Size    Type      File system     Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB  105MB   primary   ntfs            boot
 2      106MB   219GB  219GB   primary   ntfs
 3      219GB   228GB  9000MB  extended
 5      219GB   228GB  9000MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)


Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54252 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End    Size    Type     File system  Flags
 3      2000MB  198GB  196GB   primary  ntfs
 1      198GB   250GB  52.1GB  primary  ext4         boot


Error: /dev/sr0: unrecognised disk label       

[seeley]

Hi!
Okay, your Linux is on sdb1; maybe your /boot/grub/grub.cfg is not okay, please post the output of

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blkid

as root
and

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cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg

seeley

[DrHu]

mint@mint ~ $ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /media/SDB1
mint@mint ~ $ sudo grub-setup -d /media/SDB1/boot/grub /dev/sda1

First, I don't know why you think that the device name for sdb1 has to be SDB1 to mount, it doesn't, use the the same name as exists in /etc/fstab or change /etc/fstab to match what you decided to type as the command line

• /dev/sdb1
  --as I expect it appears in /etc/fstab
• /dev/SDB1
  --what you used as the name

Grub 2 setups, install etc..
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1195275
Look at your grub entries in /etc/fstab, and use the section
Reinstalling GRUB 2 from LiveCD

Reinstalling GRUB 2 from LiveCD
If you cannot boot from GRUB 2 and need to reinstall it, here is the simple method. For more details or for advanced options, refer to the Ubuntu community documentation here: Grub2 - Reinstalling GRUB 2:
Boot the Ubuntu Live CD (Try without installing).
From the Desktop, open a terminal - Applications, Accessories, Terminal.
Determine your normal system partition - `sudo fdisk -l` (That is a lowercase L)
If you aren't sure, run `df -Th`. Look for the correct disk size and ext3 or ext4 format.
Mount your normal system partition:

Step-by-step, looking at the results and comparing to the document's guide, you should be able to spot the missteps you are making..

/mnt is the normal /etc/fstab mount drives location..

You could use that instead of /media, and it would exactly match any GRUB 2 guides available to you, from the Internet or forums such as Ubuntu..

[seeley]

Hi!
Users exactly following my advices succeeded in any case! 100%!
seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

Hi!
Okay, your Linux is on sdb1; maybe your /boot/grub/grub.cfg is not okay, please post the output of

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blkid

as root
and

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cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg

seeley

First, I don't get a blkid output
Second:

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mint@mint ~ $     blkid
mint@mint ~ $ blkid
mint@mint ~ $ cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg
cat: /boot/grub/grub.cfg: No such file or directory
mint@mint ~ $

Atm, I'm thinking to use my Windows disk to restore the MBR and install linux again ;p I think that's easier to me cuz i'm a complete noob to Linux

Btw DJHu, I already tried that

[seeley]

Hi!
No, please wait!

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 blkid

as root

You must use "sudo" to get administrator rights; (-> my help > Short introduction Terminal!), on a live medium: "sudo su".
To "cat" grub.cfg you probably have to mount (if not mounted) sdb1.
If you have problems with the Terminal:
one possibility is to download and burn an image of PartedMagic (has many useful tools and a graphical mount program),
http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=start
seeley

[seeley]

Hi!
Hoping that you don't give up:

You need administrator rights for most of the following commands, so:

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sudo su

>

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blkid

copy and save.
>

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ls /media

No output (or an USB device) > sdb1 is not mounted, so

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mkdir /media/SDB1

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mount /dev/sdb1 /media/SDB1

Gnome normally now shows an Icon on Desktop
if yes, you can open the partition SDB1 with left double click or right click and open boot, then grub, then double click grub.cfg >> copy and save.
no Icon: >

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cd /media

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ls -l

lowercase "L" like list
You should see > SDB1

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cd SDB1

You should see > boot,...

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cat boot/grub/grub.cfg

copy and save.

BTW: The command
"pwd" shows the working directory
"mount" mounted devices.
seeley

[7rozen_7ear_]

@ Seeley, I won't give up cuz you still want to help me Don't want your efforts to be useless
So:

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/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: LABEL="Door systeem gereserveerd" UUID="62FA8E2FFA8DFF91" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="44C87660C8764FE2" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="76c405b5-5045-4883-9e0f-429670371159" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="48f7fe4d-eb94-4711-a9dc-ee54d409adf4" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="09B1A9E70C88019E" TYPE="ntfs"


and

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mint mint # ls /media
48f7fe4d-eb94-4711-a9dc-ee54d409adf4

and

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mint mint # mkdir /media/SDB1
mint mint # mount /dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1
mount: mount point /media/sdb1 does not exist
mint mint #

Crap ;p It can't mount it

[seeley]

Hi!
Fine.
Your "blkid" and "ls" are showing, that sdb1 - this time - has a mount point; the best would be, if you first would label your sdb1 as rootMint with GParted on your live medium:

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sudo gparted

if not installed, please install it (it's possible, even on a live medium).
Left click on sdb1, Partion > Label.
Then

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ls /media

Please report.
seeley

[seeley]

Hi!
There are some problems, I don't know if it is the Mint server or my connection.
That's why I already have posted a part - that you can start with commands.

mint mint # mkdir /media/SDB1
mint mint # mount /dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1
mount: mount point /media/sdb1 does not exist
mint mint #

That was "wrong", because sdb1 yet had a mount point (the UUID= 48f7...") and
"mount /dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1" was not okay. (SDB1!)
But

mint mint # ls /media
48f7fe4d-eb94-4711-a9dc-ee54d409adf4

is showing that a mount point exists - I don't know why.
To first solve that minor problem - as I said - please label sdb1 as e.g. rootMint with GP.
seeley

Edit:
If the label "48f7..." is displayed, you must change it to (e.g. rootMint).