[SOLVED] ERROR: Invalid Arch Independent ELF Magic

[j0x]

im noob to linux but i got a previous Linux Mint 12 installation along side with Windows 7, and then Linux Mint 13 was released so i tried it out, download it and made a USB version via UNetbootin (i made it on Windows 7) i have read the upgrade instructions here

http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2

particularly this parts
7. Once you're happy and confident that this newer release is good for you, click on "Install" on the desktop and proceed with a normal installation.
8. When asked by the installer, choose "Specify partitions manually (advanced)", select the partition that you used for your current installation of Linux Mint, assign "/" to it, and reformat it to "ext4".

so i restart Windows 7 and boot to the USB containing Linux Mint 13 and click "Install Linux Mint" on the desktop and when im prompted by "Installation Type" i choose "Something Else" and selected the EXT4 filesystem since that is Linux Mint 12 and click the "Change" button and then set "EXT4" and set "/" for it

and after the installation and reboot Linux Mint 13 i cannot boot into Windows 7 or Linux Mint 13 that is not the USB version it gives me this error

ERROR: Invalid Arch Independent ELF Magic
Grub Rescue>

i googled for this error but nothing helps, and most solutions are for SSD storage device and UEFI bios problems which is not my case, hope someone can solve my problem here, i got a lot of files on my Windows 7 and do not want to lose them

[j0x]

bump for more information

currently im accessing my computer via the USB version of Linux Mint 13 that i made on windows 7 UNetbootin
my specs are SATA HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, and i download this Linux Mint 13 version -> Linux Mint 13 "Maya" - MATE (64-bit) http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=104

i open the "Install Linux Mint" again on the desktop and this is what i configured earlier





it seems the GRUB is gone or need some new configuration which i got no clue how to fix it (googled some solutions but they do not work or they are just not too noob friendly for me), and yes i want to Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Linux Mint

[Deemoney]

I have a feeling you've run into a common problem I've seen.

On your partition screenshot, under the section: "Device for bootloader installation", /dev/sdb is selected. /dev/sdb I'd bet is your live USB. You might have a proper install, but you can't access it.

There's a few ways to fix this. My suggestion is this: plug in your live USB and boot from it. If my hunch is correct, you'll get a GRUB prompt for either LM13 or Windows 7. If that's the case, then boot to your hard drive installation for Linux Mint 13, open a terminal and type the following:

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sudo grub-install /dev/sda
sudo update-grub

Then eject your USB and reboot. If that works, then you have to fix your live USB by re-burning it with Unetbootin, for example.

[j0x]

@Deemoney

when i plug-in my USB and boot from it, i do not have the option to choose between Windows 7 and Linux Mint anymore, its just Linux Mint
even so i tried those commands you gave and it give me this error



and yes it looks like its a common problem from what i googled, but that made me think if this is such a common problem why their still no common solution or easier solution for this, im getting scared now that i might lose all my files on Windows 7, but thanks for the response, waiting for more help

[j0x]

bump for update

i can log on to windows now after doing this

You should have fixed your MBR either before or after removing Linux because GRUB is still on the MBR and has no file to look to to boot because you removed linux.
Boot the Ubuntu Live CD/USB and when the desktop loads open a terminal and run

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sudo apt-get install lilo

This will install lilo to the live session only.
Next in terminal run

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sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr

Reboot without the Live CD/USB and you should boot to windows.

source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p= ... stcount=53

now my problem is how to dual-boot Windows 7 and Linux Mint 13 since their is no GRUB2 prompt before the start of the pc boot process unlike before when i still got Linux Mint 12, when i boot my computer it goes straight to Windows 7 now when ive done that LILO and MBR solution

and i think Linux Mint 13 is already installed on my PC, but i got no sure way to check and im lost on what to do next

[crborga]

@Deemoney

when i plug-in my USB and boot from it, i do not have the option to choose between Windows 7 and Linux Mint anymore, its just Linux Mint
even so i tried those commands you gave and it give me this error



and yes it looks like its a common problem from what i googled, but that made me think if this is such a common problem why their still no common solution or easier solution for this, im getting scared now that i might lose all my files on Windows 7, but thanks for the response, waiting for more help

just follow these instructions to restore your Windows 7 boot loader and mbr http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392 then after that is fixed try doing

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sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

to install Grub again which should fix it as i've had this issue in the past but not lately *knocks on wood*

[j0x]

just follow these instructions to restore your Windows 7 boot loader and mbr http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392 then after that is fixed try doing

Code: Select all

sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

to install Grub again which should fix it as i've had this issue in the past but not lately *knocks on wood*

ye i think the MBR is updated or solve now, my last post shows the steps ive done and i can boot on Windows 7 again but the problem now is how can i make that GRUB2 show again for me to dual boot between Windows7 and LinuxMint because at the moment when i start my PC it goes straight to Windows 7 now

those commands you show me do i have to boot from my Linux Mint 13 USB version first? before doing those commands?

thanks crborga

EDIT:

tried it (boot from USB again) and same error on the past reply of mine like this

[crborga]

very strange well you could do this

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sudo grub-install /dev/sda5

and use EasyBCD under windows to add Linux entry to Windows bootloader

Here is some more information I found which you may be able to get Grub2 installed properly with http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub ... ocId835620

[j0x]

i found a solution, i re-installed Linux Mint again to think that the installer will configure GRUB but Windows 7 is still the one booting up and i do not get the GRUB screen at boot up, but this one solved the issue

How to restore the Ubuntu grub bootloader (9.10 and beyond)
First you need to find out what your drives are called. You can do this by going to a terminal and typing:

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sudo fdisk -l

From that you need to find the device name of your Ubuntu drive, something like “/dev/sda5″.
So, still in the terminal, type:

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sudo mkdir /media/sda5
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /media/sda5

And then, to reinstall the grub:

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sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/sda5 /dev/sda

Push enter and you’re done! Of course you need to replace “/dev/sda5″ and “/dev/sda” with what you found in the fdisk output.

source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1014708

wew, well that solves it, now i know that Linux is really hard for noobs since you got to work on the commandline and worse those commandlines are like aliens, you need a lot and a lot of time and patience reading a lot again to somehow use Linux, hope Linux will improve for noobs in the future

but at the moment Linux Mint 13 and Windows 7 are again Dual-Booting for me using GRUB version 1.99 as the screen said and from googling its GRUB2 already, thanks for your help folks!!!

[crborga]

Using linux involves being somewhat comfortable with the command line. I was actually going to suggest that command but some reason when I was researching man pages the --root-directory wasn't showing up so I thought it was taken out or something of the nature. Glad you got it sortred, Linux is great once you get the hang of things.