HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Hi Be gentle, i'm a complete beginner. Ive installed Ubuntu Server 11.4 on a newly built computer. The installation has gone OK however, the computer hangs on boot at "Loading Operating System" (It has worked on a previous install, but will not work now after 3 attempts). I have burnt Supergrub to a CD, booted from it and successfully booted the Ubuntu install. I then installed ununtu-desktop, all the updates and rebooted. Computer still hangs on "Loading Operating System" so again, booted from Supergrub CD. How do I get this to boot without having to use the Supergrub CD? Cheers Paul
cpjitservices Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Hmmm not sure about that one, I'd stick the Ubuntu disk in and see if there's a repair option - or re-install it.
siuko Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 When you use the Supergrub cd what option are you using that boots the server correctly? What hardware setup do you have? (Has it written the grub loader to somewhere silly so that it is unbootable? - Scsi drives without drivers installed etc?)
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 @cpjitservices: I've installed 3 times now and changed hard drive. @siuko: Supergrub options: 1. Select any OS Then the choices are: Linux 2.6.35-22-generic pae Linux 2.6.35-22-generic pae (Single-user mode) Linux 2.6.35-24-generic pae Linux 2.6.35-24-generic pae (Single-user mode) First boot only Linux 2.6.35-22 option available, I booted from this, installed ubuntu-desktop & all available updates & rebooted. Now choice of Linux 2.6.35-22/24 boots fine from either. Drives comprise of 1 x DVD, 1 x 40gb IDE for OS & 6 x 2tb SATA for storage. Cheers Paul
danbuntu Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 try adding 'apci=off' to your grub when it boots. when grub loads you press 'e' i bleieve to go into edit mode and then add to the end of the line and follow the onscreen instructions to boot it
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Did you install from USB by any chance? I found that Ubuntu could be a bit daft with USB installs and write grub to the USB rather than your master HDD. Booting from the Ubuntu disk in to command line repair mode will allow you to re-install grub to the correct HDD. This guide is meant for reinstalling grub after windows removes it, but the same steps apply (first section only): Reinstall Ubuntu Grub Bootloader After Windows Wipes it Out - How-To Geek
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 @danbuntu So, I boot from Supergrub CD, and then press "e"? If so, I get: GRU GRUB version 1.90 Then a box which contains: configfile $script_prefix/osdetect.lua Underneath the box is: Minimum Emacs-like screen editing is supported. TAB lists completions. Press Ctrl-x to boot. Ctrl-c for a command-line or ESC to return menu. Do I make configfile $script_prefix/osdetect.lua configfile $script_prefix/osdetect.lua apci=off Cheers Paul
danbuntu Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 no sorry by bad - you need to add the line to grub when booting from the server. If you can't get to grub on the server then best bet is to do as Los0jos suggests and reinstall grub
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 @LosOjos It was a fresh install from a downloaded .iso. I have tried 2 hard disks and 2 freshly burnt CD's up to now with the same results. As I'm not running a dual boot system, is there any point in following the link you provided? Thanks Paul
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 no sorry by bad - you need to add the line to grub when booting from the server. Ahh. Grub wont load, just: Loading Operating System ... _ Cheers Paul
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 @LosOjos It was a fresh install from a downloaded .iso. I have tried 2 hard disks and 2 freshly burnt CD's up to now with the same results. As I'm not running a dual boot system, is there any point in following the link you provided? Thanks Paul It's worth a try as grub by default handles the initial loading of the operating system, if it's setup has somehow become corrupted that could be causing your problem. You have nothing to lose (so long as you have backups, ALWAYS have backups!)
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 Hi Following Los0jos's link. I'm probably being slightly dumb here.............. I've booted from the Ubuntu Server CD, couldn't find an option for terminal, so................... I booted from the Supergrub CD into Ubuntu Server, opened a terminal and typed "sudo grub" Returned sudo: grub: Command not found............Bug**er Further help required, can I edit GRUB directly now i'm in the OS? Cheers Paul
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 If you're in the OS then you should be able to run the necessary commands from that article in a terminal window
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 @LosOjos When typing "sudo grub" in terminal (as per the link you sent me) I receive: sudo: grub: command not found Help! Cheers Paul
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 That suggests to me then that grub isn't installed on your machine; did you specifically choose to use an alternative boot loader when you installed the OS?
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 @Los0jos No, on install the last task was to install the grub bootloader which I answered yes to. If it is of any help, I have a /boot/grub folder. Cheers
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 type "grub-install -v" in a terminal (without quotes) and tell me what output you get back please (it should tell you which version of grub is installed, if any)
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 grub-install (GRUB) 1.98+20100804-5ubuntu3
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Ok well that's a good sign, you at least have grub installed (Grub2 actually) so we can work from there. First thing to do is check that the boot partition is marked as bootable. Go in to "System > Administration > Partition Editor". The first partition (mount point "/") is your boot partition, and should have "boot" as a flag. If not, right click it, select "Choose Flags" and tick boot, then restart the machine and see if it boots now. If it's already marked as bootable, the next step will be to try reinstalling grub2.
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 Go in to "System > Administration > Partition Editor". I dont seem to have Partition Editor.
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Do you have anything that suggests you could edit partition with it? if not, run the following commands (one by one) from a terminal to install GParted: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install gparted PS: sorry if some of the things I'm saying come across as condescending, I don't mean to I just don't know what level of knowledge you have with Linux
stickyfoot Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 Ive installed Ubuntu Server 11.4 I've probably missed something obvious but is there any particular reason why you're using 11.4? Maybe you'd have more success with 10.10 or 10.04?
LosOjos Posted January 7, 2011 Posted January 7, 2011 I've probably missed something obvious but is there any particular reason why you're using 11.4? Maybe you'd have more success with 10.10 or 10.04? Good point, I missed that! If this server is going to be used in any professional capacity I'd highly recommend using the latest LTS build (10.04), Ubuntu is buggy at the best of times and 11.04 is months away from being a 'stable' release
HallX Posted January 7, 2011 Author Posted January 7, 2011 Guys I've just got home after massive town power outage so early bath!!! Left school with all UPS's singing loudly. If its OK I'll resume this thread Monday morning, so off now for snifter Paul
HallX Posted January 10, 2011 Author Posted January 10, 2011 Hi Chaps Installed 10.04 as suggested, still wont boot!!!! Anyway, FreeNAS will suffice for what we need to do so at this stage I'm binning the Ubuntu idea. Many thanks for all your help. Regards Paul
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