NOOB ALERT - Installed OpenSUSE 11.3 and can't boot Ubuntu - Error 15 : File not found

Hi

Decided I’d like to take a look at OpenSUSE and installed onto my desktop. Already successfully dual booting Ubuntu 10.10 and Windows XP (which I keep purely for iTunes).

When I start the PC the Ubuntu grub menu showing Ubuntu and Windows options has been replaced by a Suse-branded screen showing something that looks (to my untrained eye) like a grub menu. Ubuntu and Suse are listed. If I select Ubuntu I am shown a dos screen with “Error 15: file not found”. I am then taken to the old Ubuntu grub screen but trying to boot Ubuntu from that menu returns the same error.

I know all the data is still there - I can mount the drive in Suse and view all my documents.

I found instructions for running Boot Info Script and tried to post the results here but received an error message telling me that the post was too long. I will post the results in the following posts in this thread. I hope that doesn’t violate any rules…

I have searched the forums and tried to follow some of the instructions given in response to similar threads but I’m afraid I didn’t get very far. Please assume that I have NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of Linux! I really know nothing about it and am only just getting to grips with basic terminal commands. Goodness knows why I thought OpenSUSE would be a good idea…

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you! See below for Boot Info Script results.

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Acer 3 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub 0.97 is installed in the boot sector of sda2 and
looks at sector 439464928 of the same hard drive for
the stage2 file. A stage2 file is at this location on
/dev/sda. Stage2 looks on partition #9 for
/boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info: Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info: Operating System: Linux Mint 10 Julia
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda9: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info: Operating System: Welcome to openSUSE 11.3 “Teal”

  • Kernel ().
    Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda10: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info: Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdc1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: MSWIN4.1: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 51,199,999 51,199,937 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 * 51,202,046 488,392,064 437,190,019 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 278,759,943 433,640,944 154,881,002 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 482,383,818 488,392,064 6,008,247 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 51,202,048 269,422,591 218,220,544 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 269,424,640 278,759,423 9,334,784 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda9 433,641,472 453,144,575 19,503,104 83 Linux
/dev/sda10 453,146,624 482,381,823 29,235,200 83 Linux

Drive: sdc ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdc: 164.7 GB, 164696555520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 20023 cylinders, total 321672960 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdc1 * 63 321,669,494 321,669,432 b W95 FAT32

blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda10 06c20eb0-34db-4c7d-87db-f3388be8fdda ext4
/dev/sda1 33061DF03C2DC188 ntfs
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE=“dos”
/dev/sda5 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ext3
/dev/sda6 4e7ce2f6-151c-48e2-9826-7034f6a9d90c swap
/dev/sda7 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f ext4
/dev/sda8 d5fe0d8f-7461-46b6-9ad2-9ea3ac76d578 swap
/dev/sda9 28d996ae-a541-4212-971c-2c47714a900a ext4
/dev/sda: PTTYPE=“dos”
/dev/sdc1 02AA-04A2 vfat IOMEGA160GB
/dev/sdc: PTTYPE=“dos”
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda9 / ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr)
/dev/sda10 /home ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr)
/dev/sda1 /windows/C fuseblk (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,blksize=4096,d efault_permissions)
/dev/sda5 /media/1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ext3 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks)
/dev/sda7 /media/4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks)
/dev/sr0 /media/LXFDVDS23 iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=100,i ocharset=utf8,mode=0400,dmode=0500)
/dev/sdc1 /media/IOMEGA160GB vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=100,s hortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)

================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=“Micro soft Windows XP Professional” /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sda5/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

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 2

timeout sec

Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry

(normally the first entry defined).

timeout 5

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=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro

default grub root device

e.g. groot=(hd0,0)

groot=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75

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=splash vga=769

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=8

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=true

should update-grub add savedefault to the default options

can be true or false

savedefault=false

## End Default Options

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic
uuid 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro splash vga=769
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic
uuid 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro splash vga=769
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic

title Chainload into GRUB 2
root 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
kernel /boot/grub/core.img

title Ubuntu 10.10, memtest86+
uuid 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
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 a non-linux OS

on /dev/sda1

title Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ===============================

/etc/fstab: static file system information.

Use ‘vol_id --uuid’ to print the universally unique identifier for a

device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices

that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).

<file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0

/ was on /dev/sda5 during installation

UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1

swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation

UUID=4e7ce2f6-151c-48e2-9826-7034f6a9d90c none swap sw 0 0
/dev/sr1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sr0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================

182.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
182.4GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
182.4GB: boot/grub/stage2
182.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
182.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
182.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
182.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
182.3GB: initrd.img
182.3GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sda7/boot/grub/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,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
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,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
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/06_mint_theme

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
insmod png
if background_image /boot/grub/linuxmint.png ; then
set color_normal=white/black
set color_highlight=white/light-gray
else
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=white/light-gray
fi

END /etc/grub.d/06_mint_theme

BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux

menuentry ‘Linux Mint 10, 2.6.35-22-generic-pae (/dev/sda7)’ --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic-pae root=UUID=4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic-pae
}
menuentry ‘Linux Mint 10, 2.6.35-22-generic-pae (/dev/sda7) – recovery mode’ --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
echo ‘Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic-pae …’
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic-pae root=UUID=4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f ro single
echo ‘Loading initial ramdisk …’
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic-pae
}

END /etc/grub.d/10_linux

BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin

END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin

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,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry “Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos7)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}

END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+

BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober

menuentry “Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root=’(hd0,msdos1)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 33061df03c2dc188
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry “Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro splash vga=769
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry “Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry “Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro splash vga=769
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry “Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry “Chainload into GRUB 2 (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/grub/core.img
}
menuentry “Ubuntu 10.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda5)” {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’(hd0,msdos5)’
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 1c4f25d2-361a-4809-921f-c4001d18cd75
linux /boot/memtest86+.bin
}

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

=============================== sda7/etc/fstab: ===============================

/etc/fstab: static file system information.

Use ‘blkid -o value -s UUID’ to print the universally unique identifier

for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name

devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).

<file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0

/ was on /dev/sda7 during installation

UUID=4e21dbd0-7860-42fc-89b4-c0d33f31244f / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1

swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation

UUID=d5fe0d8f-7461-46b6-9ad2-9ea3ac76d578 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================

52.1GB: boot/grub/core.img
73.7GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
26.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic-pae
52.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic-pae
26.8GB: initrd.img
52.1GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sda9/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Tue Nov 16 17:32:28 GMT 2010

THIS FILE WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERWRITTEN by perl-Bootloader

Configure custom boot parameters for updated kernels in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader

default 1
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,8)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title GNU GRUB 2 – openSUSE 11.3 - GNU GRUB 2
kernel (hd0,8)/boot/grub2/core.img root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part9 resume=/dev/sda8 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x317

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.3
root (hd0,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-12-default root=/dev/sda9 resume=/dev/sda8 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.34-12-default

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (/dev/sda5)###
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (/dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

###Don’t change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe – openSUSE 11.3
root (hd0,8)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-12-default root=/dev/sda9 showopts apm=off noresume nosmp maxcpus=0 edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 nomodeset x11failsafe vga=0x317
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.34-12-default

=============================== sda9/etc/fstab: ===============================

/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part6 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part8 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part9 / ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part10 /home ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 2
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD2500JS-55NCB1_WD-WCANK1418074-part1 /windows/C ntfs-3g users,gid=users,fmask=133,dmask=022,locale=en_GB.U TF-8 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0

=================== sda9: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================

224.3GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
225.0GB: boot/grub/stage2
225.1GB: boot/initrd
225.1GB: boot/initrd-2.6.34-12-default
224.9GB: boot/vmlinuz
224.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.34-12-default
=======Devices which don’t seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

/dev/sdb: open failed: No medium found
No volume groups found
mdadm: No arrays found in config file or automatically

This is because openSUSE’s setup tends to write a generic boot code in the MBR, which is not bad from a Windows point of vue, but very annoying if you already have another distro’s Grub in MBR.

Of course there are different ways. Bu the easiest in your case would be to boot from Ubuntu live CD and reinstall Grub2 in MBR from there.

  • boot Ubuntu live CD
  • mount your Ubuntu partition:
    sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
  • reinstall Grub2 in MBR
    sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda
  • reboot
  • update Grub2 menu (it should add boot entries for openSUSE)
    sudo update-grub

Alternatively you can manually add Ubuntu boot entries to openSUSE /boot/grub/menu.lst. The following script might help, as it converts Grub2 in Legacy Grub syntax and displays the boot entries in a suitable form for openSUSE’s Grub:
Extracting Ubuntu (Grub2) boot entries.

You don’t need 2 swap partitions. You can use the same one for all your Linux distros.

Thank you so much for your reply. I tried running these commands but the installation failed.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda
error: cannot open /dev/sdb' while attempting to get disk size. error: cannot open /dev/sdb’ while attempting to get disk size.
error: cannot open /dev/sdb' while attempting to get disk size. error: cannot open /dev/sdb’ while attempting to get disk size.
error: cannot open /dev/sdb' while attempting to get disk size. error: cannot open /dev/sdb’ while attempting to get disk size.
Installation finished. No error reported.

What do you suggest? I’m afraid the code you linked to looks a little beyond me and I’m concerned I’ll make a mistake and end up even worse off! :wink:

It doesn’t say that the installation failed.
What do you see at boot now?

Aaargh! Booted again and the grub screen didn’t appear at all. Instead, I am stuck with a dos screen with the following text -

GNU GRUB version 1.98-1ubuntu5

Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completions.

grub>


I pressed tab and got a list of things I don’t understand.

I’m writing this from my netbook in case you were wondering how I managed to get a browser open!

D’oh - have just checked my post and realised that I didn’t tell you that I’d tried to remove OpenSUSE by using the Ubuntu Live CD to clear the partition on which Suse was installed. Sorry, I meant to include it in my original post.

You seem to have Grub stage2 everywhere (?)
Try to do it again, but this time take sda9 instead of sda5

Okay, ran it with 9 instead of 5, rebooted, but still have the same dos screen.

This is not a dos screen. This in a Grub2 shell.

Hmm … It’s kind of confusing. But It looks like sda5 was correct. sda9 is openSUSE. So, do it again with sda5. If you see the Grub shell while rebooting, type the following:

root (hd0,5)
linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5
initrd /initrd.img
boot

If it boots Ubuntu, run sudo update-grub then to create the boot menu.

@please_try_again:

Would it be simpler if I just reinstalled all the OSs on my machine? I already have everything backed up (made sure I did that before I started tampering!) and it wouldn’t be too traumatic. If I do that, is there a specific order in which I should install the OSs to avoid this problem with Grub? I’d like to install Ubuntu, Mint, Open SUSE and will put Windows XP on there for iTunes.

What do you think?

P.S. I think we posted at the same time - have only just seen your last reply :slight_smile: Will try that and report back, but would still be interested to hear what you think about the idea of reinstalling everything from scratch.

Thank you for your patient attention!

It is easier if you you install Windows-OpenSuse-Ubuntu

That way you use the Ubuntu Grub 2.0 and it should pick up OpenSuse. do

sudo update-grub

in Ubuntu if it does not.

Okay, Ubuntu booted (hurrah!) and I ran sudo update-grub successfully. Forgive me, but do I need to do something in particular after this to create the boot menu? I ask because when I rebooted after running update-grub I encountered the Grub2 shell had to run the commands again to boot Ubuntu.
I went into Startup Manager and checked my settings but it all looked the way it did before I installed Open SUSE, with the exception of the new “Chainload into GRUB 2” option. Did you see my earlier added comment a few posts about my attempt to remove SUSE by deleting the contents of that partition?


Your last post -

Okay, think I’ll try reinstalling instead. How best to clear the hard drive? Just format it when it starts to boot by going into the dos settings screens? And will it be okay to install Mint after all the others are on there? I am trying to learn, hence the experimentation with different OSs… Will have a little time on my hands over Christmas, so will start swotting!

Normally no, not under Ubuntu. The purpose of update-grub is to create the boot menu for you. Ubuntu runs it automatically after each kernel update

There must still be something wrong. Try grub-install /dev/sda while in Ubuntu, without arguments. Then update-grub again.

No. But once in Ubunte, please type fdisk -l and mount and post output here.

katie@katie-desktop:~$ mount
/dev/sda5 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
none on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
none on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
none on /dev type devtmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=0620)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
none on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
none on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/katie/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=katie)


katie@katie-desktop:~$ grub-install /dev/sda
rm: cannot remove `/boot/grub/stage1’: Permission denied


Should I just reinstall do you think? If so, how best to clear the hard drive? Just format it when it starts to boot by going into the dos settings screens? And will it be okay to install Mint after all the others are on there?

I am trying to learn more about Linux, hence the experimentation with different OSs… Will have a little time on my hands over Christmas, so will start swotting!

Get PartedMagic and a sheet of paper. Create the partitions you need with PartedMagic. You have to know exactly what you are going to put in which partition, so you should write down something like:

sda5 -> SWAP
sda6 -> Ubuntu /
sda7 -> Ubuntu /home
sda8 -> openSUSE /
sda9 -> openSUSE /home
etc. (This is an example)

To make it easier, create a / and a /home partition for each Linux distro an only one swap partition that you will use for all Linux.

When you’re done, install the different distros … but carefully ! It means NEVER accept setup partitioning proposition, ALWAYS choose ‘Create partition setup’ or ‘customize’ , anyway the option which sounds the most complicated (for experts) but is indeed the safest and the only suitable for setting up a multiboot. This is usually the last option.

Always install Windows first if you have to install Windows (but I don’t think you do)
Installing Ubuntu last would be easier. Make sure it installs Grub in MBR, but Ubuntu does by default (unlike openSUSE).

sudo grub-install /dev/sda
Sorry, you have to use ‘sudo’ before everything under Ubuntu

I don’t think you should … but you could for sure.

Under normal circumstances, you won’t go into “dos settings screens” .

I don’t know Mint. If your goal is to learn Linux concepts, you should rather install Fedora. With openSUSE, Fedora and Ubuntu, you’ll have the three Linux main streams. However, honnestly, if you want to learn, it is better to start with one distro. If you want openSUSE, Mint, Ubuntu, install them in that order.