More grub problems

[dw5437]

I get error 15 when trying to boot Mint from 1st hard drive. I tried all of the suggestions in the other posts but I get the same error every time.

Here is my terminal screen. I will follow this with menu.lst screen.
GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,0)

grub> root (hd0,0)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

grub> setup (hd0)
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 (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2
/boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.

grub>

# 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.
default 0

gfxmenu=/etc/grub/message.mint

## 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/sda1 ro

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

## 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

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery mode) 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

## ## End Default Options ##

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet
savedefault


title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet
savedefault


title Linux Mint, kernel memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot


### 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 Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

Everything looks good to me. To start at the first I tried to install Debian Etch on hd0 to dual boot with Mint when it refused to install I lost my Grub.
I am booting just fine with Super Grub disk so far.

[Fred]

dw5437,

How far do you get? Do you have a nice Mint menu to select your boot preference? Does Windows boot ok? Do you get the error 15 when you try to boot Linux?

If the answer to the last question is yes. Boot into Mint with Supergrub and open a terminal. Type:

sudo vol_id -u /dev/sda1

The string of numbers/letters is the UUID for sda1. Then open /etc/fstab and see if the UUID shown in that file for sda1 matches what you just calculated. If not correct it to what you calculated.

Do the same for the partition swap is on and also for /home if you have one mounted. Save your changes and reboot and tell me what you get.

Fred

[dw5437]

They do match for the 1st one but I can't figure out how to do the swap file which is sda5 according to /etc/fstab here is my fstab file

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda1
#UUID=0d35a9a7-0be4-4d5a-a2a9-d268ab94f4d7
/dev/sda1 ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sdb1
#UUID=481840FC1840EB10
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 ntfs defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdb2
#UUID=5b1ef06b-c39d-43fb-9651-4b6c40f0d02d
/dev/sdb2 /media/sdb2 ext3 defaults 0 2
# /dev/sda5
#UUID=bb2bb56e-725e-4beb-9710-14d4fd1ffa6e
none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0

[dw5437]

here is what I have done from the terminal

dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo vol_id -u /dev/sda1
[sudo] password for dw5437:
0d35a9a7-0be4-4d5a-a2a9-d268ab94f4d7
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo gedit /etc/fstab
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo gedit /etc/fstab
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo vol_id -u /dev/swap
/dev/swap: error opening volume
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo gedit /etc/fstab
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo vol_id -u /dev/sda5
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$

[Fred]

dw5437,

Change your boot stanza in /boot/grub/menu.lst from:

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet
savedefault

To this:

title Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
boot

The words in the beginning of each line are:

title
root
kernel
initrd
boot

There are no returns in each of these lines.

Also, when you calculate the UUID for swap use the /dev/sda5 not /dev/swap. After a reboot, try again with sda5.

Fred

[dw5437]

using sda5 I get no uuid. using swap was temporary insanity. That was late last night when I was brain dead.

dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ sudo vol_id -u /dev/sda5
[sudo] password for dw5437:
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$

This is all I get.

[Fred]

dw5437,

In a terminal try:

blkid

That should return a listing of all your UUIDs by partition.

By-the-way, you forgot to tell me a few things didn't you? Like you had tried to redo your fstab and menu.lst.

What else did you do? I am not trying to be rude, but I am not going to spend hours with you trying to help you if you are just playing games with me. We are already looking at redoing both the fstab and the menu.lst. What else am I going to find? Just tell me the truth if you want my help.

Fred

[dw5437]

ok, thanks for the help. I will check block id now and post results. What I did was I followed the advice in the other posts about boot problems and someone suggested in one of the posts to change the menu.lst to the way I have it. Then I read up on Husses wiki about uuids and grub but didnt understand a lot that I read. I do not play in the forums, so I seriously need the help. What caused the problem was I tried to install Debian Lenny to dual boot with Mint and the install failed and grub failed afterward.

dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$ blkid
/dev/sda1: UUID="0d35a9a7-0be4-4d5a-a2a9-d268ab94f4d7" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="481840FC1840EB10" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb2: LABEL="/boot" UUID="5b1ef06b-c39d-43fb-9651-4b6c40f0d02d" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda3: UUID="f8914435-b363-40ee-b99d-01ea80ac9d03" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: TYPE="swap"
dw5437@dw5437-desktop:~$

[dw5437]

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda1
#UUID=0d35a9a7-0be4-4d5a-a2a9-d268ab94f4d7
/dev/sda1 ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sdb1
#UUID=481840FC1840EB10
/dev/sdb1 /media/sdb1 ntfs defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/sdb2
#UUID=5b1ef06b-c39d-43fb-9651-4b6c40f0d02d
/dev/sdb2 /media/sdb2 ext3 defaults 0 2
# /dev/sda5
#UUID=bb2bb56e-725e-4beb-9710-14d4fd1ffa6e
none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0

[dw5437]

Oh yeah I forgot to answer part of your question. All I did was change the menu.lst and in /etc/fstab I commented out the uuids like someone suggested. That is all I have tried so far. I am booting presently with a Super Grub disk. I hope this helps.

[Fred]

dw5437,

I see you are still here let me ask you a couple questions.

1) do you know how to use Gparted?

2) do you have a separate /boot partition

3) do you have a separate /home partition?

It will take me a while to redo the files... other things I need to do first. I'll post them back later.

Fred

[dw5437]

No I think I put everything on /
Don't remember. No I have never used gparted
However I do have a Hirens boot utility disk that I use Partition Magic on

[Fred]

dw5437,

Ok, Make the change in your boot stanza I showed you above. Make sure you don't put extra returns in. The lines will probably wrap in your editor, that is the default setting, but that isn't the same thing as forcing a return. The wrap is ok, but isn't a new line. "Return" or "Enter" starts a new line.

Backup your /etc/fstab file. Then erase the contents of fstab and copy and paste what I have below into fstab and save.

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
#
# /dev/sda1
UUID=0d35a9a7-0be4-4d5a-a2a9-d268ab94f4d7 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
#
# /dev/sda3
UUID=f8914435-b363-40ee-b99d-01ea80ac9d03 /media/sda3 ext3 defaults 0 2
#
# /dev/sdb1
UUID=481840FC1840EB10 /media/sdb1 ntfs defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
#
# /dev/sdb2
UUID=5b1ef06b-c39d-43fb-9651-4b6c40f0d02d /media/sdb2 ext3 defaults 0 2
#
# /dev/sda5
# UUID=bb2bb56e-725e-4beb-9710-14d4fd1ffa6e
/dev/sda5 none swap sw 0 0
#
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec 0 0

Now... unless I made a mistake, which has been know to happen, or you made a mistake. It should now boot into Mint.

If we can get that far then we will start cleaning up loose ends.

Fred

[dw5437]

Ok done it. am going to reboot now.

[dw5437]

No still won't boot. One thing I forgot, and I am really sorry about it, when I was trying to install Debian Lenny it asked me if I wanted to setup logical volume management, and I didn't know what it was so naturally I told it to go ahead. Hope that doesn't screw up the works. I can reinstall Mint if it comes down to it. I am just trying to figure out what happened and prevent it next time.

[Fred]

lol,

Yeah... that could be a problem.

What do you see when you boot? Do you see the Mint menu? Does windows boot from it?

Fred

[dw5437]

I see error 15. That is all. I haven't booted Windows in several months because I don't use it any more but I am sure it will boot from Super Grub.

[Fred]

dw5437,

I am beginning to think that the easiest way out of this is to reinstall. The question is where is your data. You don't want to loose it.

Also, in order to get rid of whatever remnants of LVM that might be left behind you probably need to delete your partitions and recreate them.

How much trouble is that going to cause you. Do we need to continue to look for another way?

If reinstalling is how you see the road ahead, we might want to talk about a different partitioning set up. You need to learn how to use Gparted also. It is a program that is on the mint disk.

I won't be able to spend much more time with you tonight though. I have got to get some other things done before the morning, and it is already late. Let me know what you want to do and I will work with you if you want.

Fred

[dw5437]

Yeah its getting to be my bedtime in another hour or so. Reinstalling is no problem and deleting the partitions should be easy. I have a gparted disk I have never put it in and looked at it. I should be able to figure it out. If I can't I will post back tomorrow. Many thanks for all the help.