New installation...Problems with GRUB

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crossfire139
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Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:41 pm
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

New installation...Problems with GRUB

Post by crossfire139 »

I initially had Mint on a cruddy old IDE drive until that drive developed problems.
I have re-installed onto a new SATA drive but am having a lot of problems getting GRUB to start. It keeps returning an Error 21 which I believe means that it cannot find the correct drive.

The system setup at present is:

hd0 - IDE drive
hd1 - 300G SATA NTFS storage
hd2 - 120G SATA (20G WIN XP + 100G NTFS storage)
hd3 - 120G SATA (MINT 8G /, 10G /home, 2G swap + 100G NTFS storage)

At present GRUB is on hd3 but I have tried installing it to each of the others with no different result.
Following is 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 change this entry to 'saved' 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 30

## 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=0059a28c-40ac-45fa-8416-27556a8f56d6 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd3,0)

## 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

## 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root (hd3,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=0059a28c-40ac-45fa-8416-27556a8f56d6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd3,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=0059a28c-40ac-45fa-8416-27556a8f56d6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title Linux Mint, memtest86+
root (hd3,0)
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 Professional
root (hd2,0)
savedefault
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader (hd2,0)+1
Any help and advice much appreciated
Thanks
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Husse

Post by Husse »

If you can boot XP but not Mint I think your computer suffers from the UUID decease. See the wiki
http://www.linuxmint.com/wiki/index.php ... _a_problem
User avatar
crossfire139
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Posts: 17
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:41 pm
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Post by crossfire139 »

Thanks.
Edited both fstab and menu.lst but no luck...still get error 21.
Can you see any problem with these.
I'm pretty much a noob so need all the help I can get.

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sdc1
#UUID=dc54300a-edd5-4471-ad15-1c9c9076bd0e
/dev/sdc1 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sdc5
#UUID=b81ac223-3f3e-44f3-b076-57edd39d059d
/dev/sdc5 /home ext3 defaults 0 2
# /dev/sda1
#UUID=26BC2E55BC2E2033
/dev/sda1 /media/sda1 ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdb1
#UUID=78BC4A87BC4A403C
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdb5
#UUID=FC4806B348066CA8
/dev/sdb5 /media/sdb5 ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdc2
#UUID=29DC4B7307BD5AEA
/dev/sdc2 /media/sdc2 ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdc6
#UUID=e0021037-0348-d986-3cf1-69ea119cc5b5
/dev/sdc6 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hda /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
/dev/hdb /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto 0 0
# 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 change this entry to 'saved' 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 30

## 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=dc54300a-edd5-4471-ad15-1c9c9076bd0e ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd3,0)

## 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

## 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root (hd3,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=/dev/sdc1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd3,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=/dev/sdc1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title Linux Mint, memtest86+
root (hd3,0)
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 Professional
root (hd2,0)
savedefault
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader +1
Husse

Post by Husse »

One thing that probably is besides your problem:
You can remove all instances of your ntfs partitions (even as a comment) (back up your fstab first - sudo cp......)
That is if you are in Mint gnome because then mintDisk will automount them as R/W
Then this is odd - you have
sda1 - sdb5 - sdc1, sdc2, sdc5 and sdc6
This makes you wonder where are sdb1 to 4 and sdc4?
And is the kernel in hd3 in "grub speech"?
hd3 in (hd3,0) is hda4 or sda4 and with your setup it would be sdc2 which is a ntfs partition
Try (hd2,0) if you don't have any more partitions.
You don't say it but I guess you've done some change....
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