[kde-linux] Re: Grub problems after system update

[Thomas Taylor]

On Wed, 6 Apr 2011 14:26:37 -0700 (PDT)
Bruce Miller <subscribe at brmiller.ca> wrote:

> An update to a newly-installed instance of Kubuntu maverick i386 appeared to 
> finish normally but went wrong. It has left the system with a grub.cfg with
> only two "menuentry" listings, both for memtest86+ (see below). Because this
> is the only operating system on the computer, the original installation had
> set the timeout to zero.
>  
> I have two questions:
> 1. I believe this merits a bug report. Which package should I file a bug 
> against?
> 2. I would appreciate some advice for recovering the system. I might not have 
> framed my Google search very well.
>  
> The most readily available resuce CD is the original maverick desktop LiveCD.
> I have brought it up and attempted both an update-grub and grub-install, both 
> directly from the command line and after mounting /dev/sda1 and issuing a 
> chroot. Both efforts failed with an error message "cannot find a device for 
> </boot/grub>|</> (is /dev mounted?)
>  
> Current state of grub.cfg:
> #
> # DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
> #
> # It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
> # from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
> #
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
> if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
> set have_grubenv=true
> load_env
> fi
> set default="0"
> if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
> set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
> save_env saved_entry
> set prev_saved_entry=
> save_env prev_saved_entry
> set boot_once=true
> fi
> function savedefault {
> if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
> saved_entry="${chosen}"
> save_env saved_entry
> fi
> }
> function recordfail {
> set recordfail=1
> if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env 
> recordfail; fi; fi
> }
> function load_video {
> insmod vbe
> insmod vga
> }
> insmod part_msdos
> insmod ext2
> set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
> search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 58ce6d18-460b-41b8-ad64-8c2f7dec3c2e
> if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
> set gfxmode=640x480
> load_video
> insmod gfxterm
> fi
> terminal_output gfxterm
> insmod part_msdos
> insmod ext2
> set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
> search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 58ce6d18-460b-41b8-ad64-8c2f7dec3c2e
> set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
> set lang=en
> insmod gettext
> if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
> set timeout=-1
> else
> set timeout=10
> fi
> ### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
> set menu_color_normal=white/black
> set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
> ### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
> ### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
> ### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
> menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
> insmod part_msdos
> insmod ext2
> set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
> search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 58ce6d18-460b-41b8-ad64-8c2f7dec3c2e
> linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
> }
> menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
> insmod part_msdos
> insmod ext2
> set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
> search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 58ce6d18-460b-41b8-ad64-8c2f7dec3c2e
> linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
> }
> ### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
> if [ "x${timeout}" != "x-1" ]; then
> if keystatus; then
> if keystatus --shift; then
> set timeout=-1
> else
> set timeout=0
> fi
> else
> if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
> set timeout=0
> fi
> fi
> fi
> ### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
> # This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
> # menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
> # the 'exec tail' line above.
> ### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
> ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
> if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
> source $prefix/custom.cfg;
> fi
> ### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
>  --
> Bruce Miller, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> bruce at brmiller.ca; (613) 745-1151 
> 
> 
> In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.
> attributed to Thomas Pickering, retired US diplomat, born 1931 
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Hi Bruce;
This is not really a KDE problem and should be moved to a kubuntu mail list.

That said, can you, from the liveCD, see the installed system?  If so, in 
/boot is the kernel shown?  Was the install to a newly reformatted drive?  One
thing to try is to obtain a PartedMagic CD and using it, try to re-install
grub.  Grab it from http://www.partedmagic.com/.

Tom

-- 
Tom Taylor - retired penguin
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