I've been searching for hours through this and other topics since my (pre-installed) Windows 7 continues to kill my grub loader whenever I boot windows.
At first I succesfully installed Ubuntustudio on a partition just using the Ubuntustudio Install DVD (install process created the partition). After I restarted in Windows, Grub got stuck mentioning something like:
'sk-read' not found
Never had any trouble with dual boot before, but that was XP. I understand there are quite some issues with Vista and W7. I managed to repair the Grub with the Ubuntustudio install DVD but when I had to reboot after a Windows 7 session, the same problem began all over.
I found one thread that has discribed exactly the same problem with Ubuntu here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1312267 (also on a Dell Studio 15 btw).
Now what ? Should I just start from zero and install windows 7 first, making a partition through Windows and then reinstalling Ubuntu in that partition, as some have suggested in this thread ? Is that partitioning method a garantee that Windows won't rape the MBR again ? Or is there an easier option that avoids reinstalling everything ? [EDIT]: I finally decided it was getting far too technical for me. I followed the steps I described in http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1312267 (#7). It works for me now !
Also, I'd like to have 3 main partitions on one disk: one for Windows 7, one for Ubuntu, one for data. Somehow the number of partitions multiplied after the install-DVD-guided Ubuntu or Windows reparations.
As I read the details are important, my RESULT.txt from the Boot Info Script:
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in partition #7 for /boot/grub.
sda1: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: vfat Boot sector type: Dell Utility: Fat16 Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block. Operating System: Boot files/dirs: /COMMAND.COM
sda2: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7 Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block. Operating System: Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD
sda3: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7 Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block. Operating System: Windows 7 Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe
sda4: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition Boot sector type: - Boot sector info:
sda5: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext4 Boot sector type: - Boot sector info: Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10 Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /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: Ubuntu 9.10 Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /etc/lilo.conf /boot/grub/core.img
sda8: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: swap Boot sector type: - Boot sector info:
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x8a2a92b9
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sda1 63 80,324 80,262 de Dell Utility /dev/sda2 80,325 30,800,324 30,720,000 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda3 * 30,800,325 226,112,824 195,312,500 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda4 226,114,875 976,768,064 750,653,190 5 Extended /dev/sda5 226,114,938 953,457,749 727,342,812 83 Linux /dev/sda6 958,695,003 976,768,064 18,073,062 82 Linux swap / Solaris /dev/sda7 953,457,813 958,341,509 4,883,697 83 Linux /dev/sda8 958,341,573 958,694,939 353,367 82 Linux swap / Solaris
blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/loop0 squashfs /dev/sda1 3030-3030 vfat DellUtility /dev/sda2 5ACAE7A9CAE77F9D ntfs RECOVERY /dev/sda3 0272EB8172EB7835 ntfs OS /dev/sda5 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ext4 /dev/sda6 164e0443-abf2-431f-afc7-55da8569e843 swap /dev/sda7 95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd ext4 /dev/sda8 ab9b83d2-4ca9-4102-9219-3275b2ad75d1 swap
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
aufs / aufs (rw) /dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (rw) /dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (rw) /dev/sda5 /media/60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ext4 (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=devkit)
=========================== sda5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================
#
DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then have_grubenv=true load_env fi set default="0" if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry} save_env saved_entry prev_saved_entry= save_env prev_saved_entry fi insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,5) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then set gfxmode=640x480 insmod gfxterm insmod vbe if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't # understand terminal_output terminal gfxterm fi fi 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/white
END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt" { recordfail=1 if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi set quiet=1 insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,5) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt } menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt (recovery mode)" { recordfail=1 if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,5) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt }
END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" { linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin } menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" { linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8 }
END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" { insmod ntfs set root=(hd0,2) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5acae7a9cae77f9d chainloader +1 }
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 ###
=============================== sda5/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 defaults 0 0
/ was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=164e0443-abf2-431f-afc7-55da8569e843 none swap sw 0 0 /dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
117.1GB: boot/grub/core.img 120.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg 121.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt 118.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt 121.9GB: initrd.img 118.1GB: vmlinuz
=========================== sda7/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================
#
DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s /boot/grub/grubenv ]; then have_grubenv=true load_env fi set default="0" if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry} save_env saved_entry prev_saved_entry= save_env prev_saved_entry fi insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,7) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then set gfxmode=640x480 insmod gfxterm insmod vbe if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't # understand terminal_output terminal gfxterm fi fi 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/white
END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt" { recordfail=1 if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi set quiet=1 insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,7) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt } menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt (recovery mode)" { recordfail=1 if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,7) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt }
END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" { insmod ntfs set root=(hd0,2) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5acae7a9cae77f9d chainloader +1 } menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt (on /dev/sda5)" { insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,5) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt } menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.31-9-rt (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)" { insmod ext2 set root=(hd0,5) search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt root=UUID=60b91566-6589-48f4-af65-9216f2fb6714 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt }
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 ###
=============================== 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 defaults 0 0
/ was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=95d843a1-1005-416a-b12f-a22d2c1afccd / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=ab9b83d2-4ca9-4102-9219-3275b2ad75d1 none swap sw 0 0 /dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
============================= sda7/etc/lilo.conf: =============================
/etc/lilo.conf - See: lilo(8)' and lilo.conf(5)',
--------------- install-mbr(8)', /usr/share/doc/lilo/',
and `/usr/share/doc/mbr/'.
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
| !! Reminder !! |
| |
| Don't forget to run `lilo' after you make changes to this |
| conffile, `/boot/bootmess.txt' (if you have created it), or |
| install a new kernel. The computer will most likely fail to |
| boot if a kernel-image post-install script or you don't |
| remember to run `lilo'. |
| |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Specifies the boot device. This is where Lilo installs its boot
block. It can be either a partition, or the raw device, in which
case it installs in the MBR, and will overwrite the current MBR.
# boot=/dev/sda
Specifies the device that should be mounted as root. (`/')
# #root=/dev/sda7
This option may be needed for some software RAID installs.
#
raid-extra-boot=mbr-only
Enable map compaction:
Tries to merge read requests for adjacent sectors into a single
read request. This drastically reduces load time and keeps the
map smaller. Using `compact' is especially recommended when
booting from a floppy disk. It is disabled here by default
because it doesn't always work.
#
compact
Installs the specified file as the new boot sector
You have the choice between: text, bmp, and menu
Look in lilo.conf(5) manpage for details
# #install=menu
Specifies the location of the map file
# map=/boot/map
You can set a password here, and uncomment the `restricted' lines
in the image definitions below to make it so that a password must
be typed to boot anything but a default configuration. If a
command line is given, other than one specified by an `append'
statement in `lilo.conf', the password will be required, but a
standard default boot will not require one.
#
This will, for instance, prevent anyone with access to the
console from booting with something like `Linux init=/bin/sh',
and thus becoming `root' without proper authorization.
#
Note that if you really need this type of security, you will
likely also want to use `install-mbr' to reconfigure the MBR
program, as well as set up your BIOS to disallow booting from
removable disk or CD-ROM, then put a password on getting into the
BIOS configuration as well. Please RTFM `install-mbr(8)'.
#
password=tatercounter2000
Specifies the number of deciseconds (0.1 seconds) LILO should
wait before booting the first image.
# delay=20
You can put a customized boot message up if you like. If you use
`prompt', and this computer may need to reboot unattended, you
must specify a `timeout', or it will sit there forever waiting
for a keypress. single-key' goes with the alias' lines in the
image' configurations below. eg: You can press 1' to boot
Linux', 2' to boot LinuxOLD', if you uncomment the alias'.
#
message=/boot/bootmess.txt
prompt
delay=100
timeout=100
Specifies the VGA text mode at boot time. (normal, extended, ask, <mode>)
#
vga=ask
vga=9
#
Kernel command line options that apply to all installed images go
here. See: The boot-prompt-HOWTO' and kernel-parameters.txt' in
the Linux kernel `Documentation' directory.
#
append=""
If you used a serial console to install Ubuntu, this option should be
enabled by default.
serial=
#
Boot up Linux by default.
# default=Linux
image=/vmlinuz label=Linux read-only
restricted
alias=1
append="root=/dev/sda7 " initrd=/initrd.img
image=/vmlinuz.old label=LinuxOLD read-only optional
restricted
alias=2
append="root=/dev/sda7 " initrd=/initrd.img.old
If you have another OS on this machine to boot, you can uncomment the
following lines, changing the device name on the `other' line to
where your other OS' partition is.
#
other=/dev/hda4
label=HURD
restricted
alias=3
other=/dev/sda2 label=Windows
restricted
alias=2
=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
488.7GB: boot/grub/core.img 488.7GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg 488.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-9-rt 488.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-9-rt 488.7GB: initrd.img 488.6GB: vmlinuz
--------------------------------END of RESULT.txt-------------------------
Thanks for your suggestions !
Z
