lost Ubuntu in GRUB after 11.2 install

**wiccanhart1** · 15-Nov-2009, 12:24

Here is the output from my computer below. I get an Error 15 message when I pick Ubuntu from the suse GRUB on booting; thus, I cannot boot into Ubuntu. I can see the files fine via SUSE. My question is: How do I get the suse GRUB to let me boot into ubuntu? Thanks!

miahlon@linux-2mch:~> fdisk -l
Absolute path to 'fdisk' is '/sbin/fdisk', so running it may require superuser privileges (eg. root).
miahlon@linux-2mch:~> su
Password:
linux-2mch:/home/miahlon # 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/sda3 27168 60801 270165105 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 60641 60801 1293201 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 60315 60618 2441817 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 60619 60640 176683+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 27168 60152 264951949+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 60153 60314 1301233+ 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 14099 92277360 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 14100 14593 3968055 82 Linux swap / Solaris
linux-2mch:/home/miahlon # cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Fri Nov 13 19:56:26 CST 2009
# THIS FILE WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERWRITTEN by perl-Bootloader
# Configure custom boot parameters for updated kernels in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader

default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd1,0)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31.5-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3120213AS_5LS82D1J-part1 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3120213AS_5LS82D1J-part3 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.31.5-0.1-default

###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: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.2
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31.5-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3120213AS_5LS82D1J-part1 showopts apm=off noresume nosmp maxcpus=0 edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 x11failsafe vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.31.5-0.1-default
linux-2mch:/home/miahlon #

**caf4926** · 15-Nov-2009, 12:43

One thing is for sure this:-

###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

Will never work because Ub* 9.10 doesn't use Grub Legacy it uses Grub2!

Have a look here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2

I make a guess at the entry is try this

###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/grub.cfg

That assumes SUSE has the partitions correct.

**wiccanhart1** · 15-Nov-2009, 14:01

When I try to change it to grub.cfg via the Boot Loader in suse 11.2, it gives me an error saying I'm using an unallowable character in editing. Don't know why that is. I used ubuntu live CD but that didn't work for me either. I guess I'm wondering what methods there are to allow me to boot into SUSE and the partitions on the other hard drive with Ubuntu on them.

**caf4926** · 15-Nov-2009, 14:10

do this in a terminal:

kdesu kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst

or if you use gnome

gnomesu gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

I make no promises this will work
In Yast. You could follow this guide

go to Yast --> System --> Boot Loader. The Grub configuration screen comes up with the Tab "Section Management" activated. In the lower right is a drop-down selector labelled "Other". Select from "Other" the option "Propose New Configuration" and then wait for Grub to analyse your partitions and display a new configuration. This may take a while. Important: When that finishes, activate the tab labelled "Boot Loader Installation" and select to "Boot from the Master Boot Record". [Yast will often default to booting from the root or boot partition rather than from the MBR but that's for experts only -- always choose the MBR.] Then click Finish to save the changes and install the reconfigured Grub into the hard drive's MBR. If you get a message that "The bootloader boot sector will be written to a floppy disk ......... don't bother with the floppy -- just click OK to proceed and install to the MBR. Reboot and you should be able to boot to Ub

Another option would be to repair Ub* grub and use that to boot suse. I can walk you thru that if you need. Just don't panic.
Remember super grub disk will boot anything.

**swerdna** · 15-Nov-2009, 14:55

This should work:
HowTo Multiboot Ubuntu from openSUSE using the GRUB bootloader

**caf4926** · 15-Nov-2009, 19:47

You mean like this John ?

Code:

#Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: none#
 title  Ubuntu 9.10 booting via symlinks
 root (hd0,0)
 kernel          /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
 initrd          /initrd.img

**wiccanhart1** · 15-Nov-2009, 22:19

Thank you so much caf4926!! That entry that you put in for the last post did indeed work, and I now can boot into Ubuntu and OpenSuse from the opening GRUB menu for suse! Comparing the two operating systems, I really have grown like SUSE quite a bit since installing 11.2. Thanks again!

**swerdna** · 15-Nov-2009, 22:20

Yes Carl, that's right

**caf4926** · 15-Nov-2009, 22:26

Originally Posted by wiccanhart1

Thank you so much caf4926!! That entry that you put in for the last post did indeed work, and I now can boot into Ubuntu and OpenSuse from the opening GRUB menu for suse! Comparing the two operating systems, I really have grown like SUSE quite a bit since installing 11.2. Thanks again!

You are welcome.

Thanks to @swerdna for his wonderful guide too.
(Hey John, Ub* is using Grub 2 now, it's quite different. I'm working on a tutorial for it)