going to get straight to the point here. i split my sata hdd into 4 partitions (including swap). installed opensuse 11.0 on sda1 then fc8 on two and finally ubuntu gutsy on three. i let gutsy’s grub handle all the booting since it doesn’t appear to have any problems recognizing other distro installs.
so when i get to the GRUB menu everything looks fine. i can boot gutsy and fedora, but when i try to boot opensuse i get error 2:bad file or directory type.
reading around i have noticed this could be a bad partition and requires a reinstall. other opinions suggest otherwise (something about wrong file types or along those lines if i recall).
any suggestions or is a fresh install my best option? and if i fresh install would not installing a boot loader allow gutsy GRUB to continue managing?
Grub Error 2 : Bad file or directory type
This error is returned if a file requested is not a regular file, but something like a symbolic link, directory, or FIFO.
Compare the openSUSE entry in Ubuntu’s menu.lst to the openSUSE menu.lst. The Ubuntu menu.lst may be pointing to the wrong file in the openSUSE /boot directory.
I’m running the rescue cd now. if that doesnt work i’ll see what i’m looking at with the menu.lst
here is my menu.lst from ubuntu:
# 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=4fcc47de-3c77-426e-9bb0-807e2ed2b1c1 ro
## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)
## 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
## 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 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=4fcc47de-3c77-426e-9bb0-807e2ed2b1c1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-15-generic root=UUID=4fcc47de-3c77-426e-9bb0-807e2ed2b1c1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-15-generic
title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=4fcc47de-3c77-426e-9bb0-807e2ed2b1c1 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=4fcc47de-3c77-426e-9bb0-807e2ed2b1c1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
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/sda1.
title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1 (on /dev/sda1)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 resume=/dev/sda5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
savedefault
boot
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda1.
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1 (on /dev/sda1)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
savedefault
boot
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda2.
title Fedora (2.6.23.1-42.fc8) (on /dev/sda2)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-42.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.1-42.fc8.img
savedefault
boot
heres menu.lst from opensuse 11.0
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Jun 21 23:39:19 UTC 2008
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/boot/message
##YaST - activate
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 resume=/dev/sda5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
initrd /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
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
there was also a menu.lst.old. i dont know if its significant but here it is as well.
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Jun 21 23:39:06 UTC 2008
default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/boot/message
##YaST - activate
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.0 - 2.6.25.5-1.1
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 resume=/dev/sda5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
initrd /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
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.0
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 resume=/dev/sda5 splash=silent showopts vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.0
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae root=/dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_ST3250823AS_4ND0CZ67-part1 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 edd=off x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
their almost identical. must have been corrupted somehow. looks like im going for a fresh install on sda1
yea problem solved fresh install fixed it. opensuse GRUB is my boot menu now too.