DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Ubuntu Grub Problem

35 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/ubuntu-grub-problem.97330/

Ecko
Ecko Original post #1
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Title says it all guyz but let me explain u a bit more
Tried Installing Ubuntu on Ext 3 partition on my SATA HDD*
The installation turns well but I neve see GRUB @ boot so I'm unable to boot into Ubuntu
Also i've tried the same thing in VirtualBox with single PATA HDD which works pretty fine
Since I dont know what to do please help :(
I've 2 HDD (320 SATA & 80 PATA) connected with partitions going to 12 (including the SWAP)
I've installed the Ubuntu in 11th partition (Ext3) of HDD(0) i.e SATA*
Rahim
Rahim #2
Sep 8, 2008 at 10:49 AM
You have to install Grub on the MBR of your 1st Hard Drive. Use GParted Live CD and open a Terminal and enter
Code:
sudo grub
Code:
find /boot/grub/stage1
It will give you somethig like (hd0,6).
Enter
Code:
root (hd0,6)
Code:
setup (hd0)
Change (hd0,6) with the results of find /boot/grub/stage1.
I hope i understood your problem correctly.:|
Ecko
Ecko #3
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:17 PM
find /boot/grub/stage1 command gives me result as hd(1,10) which I think should be hd(0,10) rather than it
But I'm still unable to complete it as I dont have Gpart CD but I only have Ubuntu CD
If that can do the needful or is there any other way around
Rahim
Rahim #4
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Yah ubuntu cd will do. The numbering depends on which drive is recognised first in BIOS.
Ecko
Ecko #5
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Yaar its not performing the rest of commands u've mentioned
I'm able to perform just 1st command
Rahim
Rahim #6
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Have you entered it correctly? root (hd1,10) and setup (hd0)
You kkindamessed with the brackets. What errors are you getting?
Ecko
Ecko #7
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:38 PM
K let u know in few minutes :)
NucleusKore
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:54 PM
My suggestion
Boot with GParted live cd and confirm on which drive is your linux ext3 Ubuntu partition

Then refer this tutorial
*thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96132

and in that:
*Boot with Ubuntu and install grub to your root partition as outlined in the above tutorial.
*Then install the GAG boot loader as outlined in the above tutorial

You should be fine
Ecko
Ecko #9
Sep 9, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Guyz Unable to load grub even after trying the method by rahim
Will try the Gparted CD
Also not to remind that I'm able to do so exactly same in VirtualBox
Rahim
Rahim #10
Sep 9, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Ecko try the above method but this time enter setup (hd1) instead of (setup (hd0)
ManishSinha
Sep 11, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Have you entered it correctly? root (hd1,10) and setup (hd0)
You kkindamessed with the brackets. What errors are you getting?
There should be space between root and ( and bracket and (
Rahim
Rahim #12
Sep 11, 2008 at 8:26 PM
^The space is there,isnt it?
NucleusKore
Sep 11, 2008 at 8:42 PM
I think he might as well put the boot loader in his root and install GAG. It's a lot easier.
Ecko
Ecko #14
Sep 11, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Ok another problem here guyz
ya i'm intelligent enough to type commands
:D
Tried this
Ecko try the above method but this time enter setup (hd1) instead of (setup (hd0)
It worked fyn rather excellent but Im now unable to boot into XP :(
Plz guyz help me out
NucleusKore
Sep 11, 2008 at 11:33 PM
This is what you called digging your own grave and burying yourself in it. Manual editing is not for the faint hearted.

Download SUPERGRUB from here
*www.supergrubdisk.org/
and burn it to a cd

Boot with it and select the automatic option to restore your windows boot record :(((((((((((((

Then boot with the Ubuntu cd (live mode), open a shell and install grub to the Root partition as outlined in my tutorial.

Install GAG as outlined in my tutorial
Ecko
Ecko #16
Sep 11, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Yaar its in Root partition
I've done exactly the same as said in ur tut
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 7:23 AM
Boot with GParted and a pendrive in place
Take snapshots of both your hard disks and save them to the pendrive
post them here, let us see
Ecko
Ecko #18
Sep 12, 2008 at 7:47 AM
i'll post them from ubuntu 's Gparted
Ext3 is sda11

*i37.tinypic.com/2i7vgvr.png
*i38.tinypic.com/2d937yo.png

The (sdb1) is Windows XP

Ok here is an update
I edited the grub lst file to change from hd(1,10) to hd(0,10) because this was the only setting for which Ubuntu was booting

Still windows xp isn't booting so using SuperGrub CD :D to boot in XP
How abt changing the grub to same setting as Supergrub ??
damked
damked #19
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:13 AM
I have not used Ubuntu but there may be a way to this if right utilities are there.
Boot into your Ubuntu and in system utilities search for some utility which will let you to change boot loader settings in graphic interface. From there you will be able to add a menu which will let you to boot into windows. I
Rahim
Rahim #20
Sep 12, 2008 at 5:08 PM
Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and make an entry for XP:
# on /dev/sdb1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1
See if this helps :) Not sure though as i dont know much about SATA.
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Ok now one step at a time. Use the supergrub boot disk to restore your boot record to windows xp only. This means that you will be able to boot into xp without the help of supergrub. Ten come back here I will tell you what to do next.
Ecko
Ecko #22
Sep 12, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Done Guyz*
Next Step Plz

Edited the MBR so that now I can just use Windows
No Ubuntu 4 now
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Is you root partition the roughly 16 GB sdb11?

Boot using the Ubuntu live cd and select the first option to run ubuntu from it without installing.
After the desktop loads press Alt and F2

Type
gnome-terminal
and press ENTER

Install GRUB to your root partition. In a terminal type

grub-install /dev/sdb11

and press ENTER.
Close terminal

Now install GAG as outlined in *thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=925088#23
Ecko
Ecko #24
Sep 12, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Is you root partition the roughly 16 GB sdb11?
Ya

Doing now
Will post in 5 minutes

Unable to create directory using abover command
It says ubale to create GRUB Directory (probably due to root nature of installation in that folder)
What to dow now ??
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Type the commands as above in a terminal and post the screenshot. I'll see tomorrow, Goodnight
Ecko
Ecko #26
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:07 PM
I'm unable to create directory dats it
Nothing else
I'm booting using Ubuntu CD so atleast what I guess it that due to security reasons it woesn't allow any creation of folder in root drive
Atleast I know how to use terminal & few other things
I'm not a new noob but Im a Old Noob

Will post the screen shot too
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I just realised something

What's this!!

*img380.imageshack.us/img380/2753/2i7vgvrzc1.png

Those warning signs and key like things??

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silly me
I got it

When you boot with a live cd the partitions are NOT automatically mounted. No wonder you cannot make a directory

In gnome terminal

sudo mkdir /mnt/share

and press ENTER

Then type

sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sdb11 /mnt/share

and press ENTER

Then type

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb11

and press ENTER.
Close terminal

Now install GAG as outlined in *thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=925088#23
Ecko
Ecko #28
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:28 PM
It says
Could not find device for /boot: Not found or not a block device.
Any problem with that ??
NucleusKore
Sep 12, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Looks like i am all mixed up
see this post
*ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

So modify the above as follows

In gnome terminal

sudo mkdir /mnt/share

and press ENTER

Then type

sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sdb11 /mnt/share

and press ENTER

Then type

chroot /mnt/share /bin/bash

and press ENTER

Then type

sudo grub-install /dev/sdb11

and press ENTER.
Close terminal
Ecko
Ecko #30
Sep 13, 2008 at 6:26 AM
Got error while executing chroot command(unable to change directory....) so went to link u mentioned
Followed every command mentioned there( I think you didn't wrote 1 or 2 of them)

Followed all instructions with sdb11 in place of everything else & it worked fyn

But still GRUB isn't @ boot
Will it be shown @ boot only after I install GAG ??
NucleusKore
Sep 13, 2008 at 7:27 AM
Yes, you have to install GAG as I have mentioned in the tutorial, only then will you see GRUB

But I think that tutorial as it is makes you install GRUB to the first sector of the hard disk???

Why don't you try SUPER GRUB to restore your GRUB bootloader automatically? See what it comes up with.
Ecko
Ecko #32
Sep 13, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Ok will post soon what happens :)
But just dont wanna messup :D

Failed
It either boots up Windows or Ubuntu
I'm fed up now
I hate Ubuntu grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.........!!!
Suse Rocks ...!!!
Faun
Faun #33
Sep 13, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Are GRUB toh same he hota hai na...lolz
Rahim
Rahim #34
Sep 13, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Dont you think the problem is related to Windows being installed in the 2nd Hard Drive, rather than in the 1st??
Ecko
Ecko #35
Sep 15, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Both r on same HDD buddy
@T159
Are baat to har cell se hoti hai to communicator aur iPhone kyon y not 1100 :D