Ubuntu upgrade ruined my netbook-Help

fwor

Once you get it to boot from Ubuntu on the USB stick, try to avoid doing anything too drastic to start with. It looks as though the upgrade to the new version of GRUB may have mixed up the UUIDs (the very long Hex number that you see in the error message) in its config file.

I'm fairly sure that you can simply replace the UUIDs in the config with the much simpler path name (e.g. /dev/sda1) and it will still boot Ok. The first step would be to boot it from the USB stick, start GPARTED and see if the UUID in your error message matches any of the partitions on your hard drive (right-click on each partition in turn and choose Information). You can of course get the same information at the command line if you are comfortable doing that.

Once you know which partition has which UUID you can then go ahead and change the GRUB config accordingly, but beware, if you have the latest version of GRUB, the way you do that is significantly different than the previous one...

debitcardmayhem

You should to be able to edit the grub config without going through the re-install bit.
when the grub loader screen comes up
type e alongside the line for Ubuntu

this puts you into the editor and it should contain a box like
this

recordfail
insmodext2
set root='(hd0,6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set a0c6fc38-13ae-4af3-8fde-0a7e16bb6637
linux /.......... root=UUID=a0c6fc38-13ae-4af3-8fde-0a7e16bb6637 ro quiet nosplash
initrd .................

NOW
press ctrl-c
enter set root (hd0, now press tab twice
comes up with a list of partitions and their UUIDs write down the one for your ubuntu (it will be type ext2/3/4 )

now press escape

bring back the box above again use cursor keys to get to the start of the invalid UUID on the search and linux lines
use delete key to get rid of the invalid one (keep the \ backslash if there is one it's for the new line )

escape again and back to the loader screen and go to the line you edited and press enter.

Boots up then the do a grub-install from your updated live system voila

I have to go out for now but that should sort you If you don't do a grub install you will have do repeat the above for ever and a day. Will check back later

fwor

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

You should to be able to edit the grub config without going through the re-install bit.
when the grub loader screen comes up

That would work if the grub loader screen appears, but in this case it doesn't seem to. However, as an alternative, there is some very good guidance on what commands are available at the Grub Rescue> prompt here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

in the section titled "Rescue Mode" about halfway down.

Bettingmad

Thank you all for your relies, I will be in work until 9pm and will have a go this evening.
I think I will go with Debits suggestion in the first instance, one question though debit, how do you get to the grub loader screen? As mentioned in the first post I only get the error message. Is this what you call the grub loader screen? Sorry if I sound a bit of a dimwit. Thanks

Bettingmad

I can't seem to get the thanks button to work via my blackberry, I will do this when I get home.Thanks again all for your assistance

S0litaire

Bettingmad wrote: »

Thank you all for your relies, I will be in work until 9pm and will have a go this evening.
I think I will go with Debits suggestion in the first instance, one question though debit, how do you get to the grub loader screen? As mentioned in the first post I only get the error message. Is this what you call the grub loader screen? Sorry if I sound a bit of a dimwit. Thanks

The "grub-rescue" prompt is a part of the boot-program. it's gives you access to a few commands that should let you repair the boot process. if GRUB can't find things to boot it will not show a menu but the grub-recovery screen instead.

If you read through this page as suggested:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2

it will help you in fixing this problem.

DVardysShadow

Bettingmad wrote: »

Thank you all for your relies, I will be in work until 9pm and will have a go this evening.
I think I will go with Debits suggestion in the first instance, one question though debit, how do you get to the grub loader screen? As mentioned in the first post I only get the error message. Is this what you call the grub loader screen? Sorry if I sound a bit of a dimwit. Thanks

What Debits is suggesting is actually to go from the GRUB boot screen to the GRUB command line You have a GRUB command line already. I think there is something missing here to edit the particular section of the GRUB config file? GRUB itself is working fine, the problem is with your config file - go with the suggestion

Bettingmad wrote: »

Hi all, total newbie to ububtu which I have been using with dual boot on my netbook. All has been well until I went through the upgrade process from 9.10 to 10.04.
After going through the process the netbook restarted went past the splash screen and displayed the message
error: no such device:a0c6fc38-13ae-4af3-8fde-0a7e16bb6637
grub rescue>

I cant even go through the recovery options on the splash screen it just reverts to the above message.Can anyone help please?

This is the GRUB command line. Bear in mind when you sedit here, it is good for 1 boot only. You then have to edit the GRUB config file /boot/grub/menu.lst [on openSuSE] for a permanent fix.

Sorry not able to reboot and take a look at GRUB at the moment.

S0litaire

GRUB2 is slighty different than GRUB in OpenSuSE.

look in "/boot/grub/grub.cfg"
at around line 62 look for

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

The lines after that will be the menu items.
example:

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
    recordfail
    insmod ext2
    set root='(hd0,2)'
    search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set [U][B]dc6c382c-39a1-4198-9d9d-163b1dba345e[/B][/U]
    linux    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=[U][B]dc6c382c-39a1-4198-9d9d-163b1dba345e[/B][/U] ro  vga=771 quiet  quiet splash
    initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic

You need to change the UUID (the string of numbers,letters and dashes that I've highlighted in bold and underlined above) to the correct one for your Ubuntu install.
use gparted on the live CD to find the correct UUID and change it in the grub.cfg file then reboot.

That should get you running enough to boot into ubuntu.

debitcardmayhem

Sorry still in the pub [STRIKE]but follow the bit about set root tab tab then enter set root (hd0,x) where x is your ubuntu
Press enter then Linux /boot/linux tab tab and complete the line with .0.24 kernel or which is the latest
Then press enter next type initrd /boot/initrd tab tab complete again enter then enter b and press enter.
Sorry if a bit vague but as said in pub using desire to reply. Will come back on with keyboard[/STRIKE]
Ok Am back and have keyboard screen and netbook.
Right at the prompt
enter
root (hd0, Tab Tab then complete with 6) or whatever your ubuntu is
enter
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32- tab tab (and complete with latest kernel 24-generic and) root=/dev/sdaX ro NB (X = partition for root, quiet can be added but it stops diagnostics eg linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=/dev/sda6 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32- tab tab and complete with 24-generic
boot
Don't forget to update your grub before shutting down

debitcardmayhem

Also to get your Windows back in this scenario you could spot the root for Windows on with the NTFS type and in mine it's Label is System (opposed to recovery/Data etc)
then.....
set root (hd0,X)
chainloader +1
boot