grub problem - suse and ubuntu 8

[wiccanhart1]

I had Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope on my sda1. I created a new partition with 265GB and installed opensuse to it, so I thought. Now suse is on 20GB on sda2 and the GRUB is messed up because I cannot boot into Ubuntu at all. How do I fix the GRUB so I can boot back into Ubuntu? It boots into suse fine. Also, I want the Suse to use all the free area, not just 20GB. Thanks!

[wiccanhart1]

I see now what happened with the 20GB thing, I dont need help with that now. I just need helping with GRUB.

[Confuseling]

Load SUSE, and get to a root console, then run;

fdisk -l
cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

Paste the results here.

[wiccanhart1]

linux-p7di:/home/marjerOS # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000168d7

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 27167 218218896 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 * 27168 29778 20972857+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 60641 60801 1293232+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 29779 60640 247899015 83 Linux
/dev/sda5 60641 60801 1293201 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000499e3

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 2611 20972826 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 2612 14593 96245415 83 Linux
linux-p7di:/home/marjerOS # cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Fri Oct 30 16:52:50 CDT 2009
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3500320AS_9QMA7E3D-part2 resume=/dev/sda5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x31a
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1
kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3500320AS_9QMA7E3D-part2 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off x11failsafe vga=0x31a
initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (/dev/sda1)###
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (/dev/sda1)
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.20-0.5 (/dev/sdb1)###
title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.20-0.5 (/dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

[Confuseling]

Originally Posted by wiccanhart1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (/dev/sda1)###
title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (/dev/sda1)
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

Try using your preferred text editor to change the last two lines of this bit to

    rootnoverify (hd0,0)
    chainloader +1

You might be advised to make a backup of the file first, just in case...

[wiccanhart1]

Thanks! I made a backup first. When I edited those lines, I got this message on choosing Ubuntu from GRUB:

Error 13: invalid or unsupported executable format

[Confuseling]

Hmm...

Is Ubuntu using EXT4?

Do you by any chance have the Ubuntu live CD you installed it from? Ubuntu have patched their grub to deal with EXT4. That might well not be the problem, but nevertheless it might be easier to fix the Ubuntu boot using that, then chainload SUSE from there.

[wiccanhart1]

No the Ubuntu is ext3. I do have live CDs of ubuntu 7 and 8. I have 8 on my computer & last night did dist-upgrade to the new Ubuntu 9. It's still ext 3 when I look on partition manager GParted on live CD for ubuntu. I could try repair system on the Suse live DVD which I have for 11.0, but don't know how to proceed with that.

[conram]

Can you post your ubuntu /boot/grub/menu.lst
Also ubuntu /boot/grub/vmlinuz.bla.blah
And if it has the initrd

[wiccanhart1]

# 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 use 'savedefault' 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 10

## 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=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde

## 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

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## 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

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-14-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-16-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-16-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-16-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.10, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic

title Ubuntu 9.10, memtest86+
uuid 1a07834f-f84d-454c-a75c-c87e411b4fde
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 an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb1.
title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (on /dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=e345e5fc-717e-4305-a909-cd7b4f0f4c18 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb1.
title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=e345e5fc-717e-4305-a909-cd7b4f0f4c18 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb1.
title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.22-16-generic (on /dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-16-generic root=UUID=e345e5fc-717e-4305-a909-cd7b4f0f4c18 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-16-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb1.
title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.22-16-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-16-generic root=UUID=e345e5fc-717e-4305-a909-cd7b4f0f4c18 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-16-generic
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb1.
title Ubuntu 8.04.2, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb1)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb9.
title linux (on /dev/sdb9)
root (hd1,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux root=/dev/sda9 acpi=on resume=/dev/sda8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,8)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb9.
title linux-nonfb (on /dev/sdb9)
root (hd1,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=/dev/sda9 acpi=on resume=/dev/sda8
initrd (hd0,8)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb9.
title failsafe (on /dev/sdb9)
root (hd1,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=/dev/sda9 failsafe acpi=on resume=/dev/sda8
initrd (hd0,8)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb9.
title memtest-2.01 (on /dev/sdb9)
root (hd1,8)
kernel /boot/memtest-2.01.bin BOOT_IMAGE=memtest-2.01
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sdb9.
title 2.6.26.8.tex3 (on /dev/sdb9)
root (hd1,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.26.8.tex3 BOOT_IMAGE=2.6.26.8.tex3 root=/dev/sda9 acpi=on resume=/dev/sda8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,8)/boot/initrd-2.6.26.8.tex3.img
savedefault
boot

title Windows Vista
root (hd0,1)
makeactive
chainloader +1


----------END OF /boot/grub/menu.lst on UBUNTU---------


I don't have a vmlinuz or initrd file in the /boot/grub folder.