Grub 'Read Error' - Only Loads with LiveCD
- by Ryan Sharp
Problem
After installing Ubuntu to complete my Windows 7/Ubuntu 12.04 dual-boot setup, Grub just wouldn't load at all unless I boot from the LiveCD. Afterwards, everything works completely normal. However, this workaround isn't a solution and I'd like to be able to boot without the aid of a disc.
Fdisk -l
Using the fdisk -l command, I am given the following:
Disk /dev/sda: 64.0 GB, 64023257088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7783 cylinders, total 125045424 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x324971d1
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2048 206847 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 208896 48957439 24374272 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 * 48959486 124067839 37554177 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 48959488 124067839 37554176 83 Linux
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc0ee6a69
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1024208894 1953523711 464657409 5 Extended
/dev/sdb3 * 2048 1024206847 512102400 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb5 1024208896 1937897471 456844288 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 1937899520 1953523711 7812096 82 Linux swap / Solaris
Partition table entries are not in disk order
Disk /dev/sdc: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x292eee23
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 2048 625141759 312569856 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
Bootinfoscript
I've used the BootInfoScript, and received the following output:
Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]
============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================
=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos5)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos5)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc.
sda1: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD
sda2: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe
sda3: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
sda5: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img
sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdb5: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:
sdb6: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdb3: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb3 starts
at sector 200744960. But according to the info from
fdisk, sdb3 starts at sector 2048. According to the
info in the boot sector, sdb3 has 823461887 sectors,
but according to the info from fdisk, it has
1024204799 sectors.
Operating System:
Boot files:
sdc1: __________________________________________________________________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:
============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 64.0 GB, 64023257088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7783 cylinders, total 125045424 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sda1 2,048 206,847 204,800 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 208,896 48,957,439 48,748,544 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 * 48,959,486 124,067,839 75,108,354 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 48,959,488 124,067,839 75,108,352 83 Linux
Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sdb1 1,024,208,894 1,953,523,711 929,314,818 5 Extended
/dev/sdb5 1,024,208,896 1,937,897,471 913,688,576 83 Linux
/dev/sdb6 1,937,899,520 1,953,523,711 15,624,192 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb3 * 2,048 1,024,206,847 1,024,204,800 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
Drive: sdc _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sdc: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System
/dev/sdc1 2,048 625,141,759 625,139,712 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/sda1 A48056DF8056B80E ntfs System Reserved
/dev/sda2 A8C6D6A4C6D671D4 ntfs Windows
/dev/sda5 fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd ext4
/dev/sdb3 6373D03D0A3747A8 ntfs Steam
/dev/sdb5 6f5a6eb3-a932-45aa-893e-045b57708270 ext4
/dev/sdb6 469848c8-867a-41b7-b0e1-b813a43c64af swap
/dev/sdc1 725D7B961CF34B1B ntfs backup
================================ Mount points: =================================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/sda5 / ext4 (rw,noatime,nodiratime,discard,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb5 /home ext4 (rw)
=========================== sda5/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 "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_GB
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-29-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-29-generic root=UUID=fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-29-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-29-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-29-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-29-generic root=UUID=fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-29-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### 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,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd
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/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root A48056DF8056B80E
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root A8C6D6A4C6D671D4
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 ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' 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/sda5 during installation
UUID=fd71c537-3715-44e1-b1fe-07537e22b3dd / ext4 noatime,nodiratime,discard,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=6f5a6eb3-a932-45aa-893e-045b57708270 /home ext4 defaults 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=469848c8-867a-41b7-b0e1-b813a43c64af none swap sw 0 0
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================
GiB - GB File Fragment(s)
= boot/grub/core.img 1
= boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
= boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-29-generic 2
= boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-29-generic 1
= initrd.img 2
= vmlinuz 1
======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ========================
Unknown BootLoader on sda3
00000000 63 6f 70 69 61 20 65 20 63 6f 6c 61 41 63 65 64 |copia e colaAced|
00000010 65 72 20 61 20 74 6f 64 6f 20 6f 20 74 65 78 74 |er a todo o text|
00000020 6f 20 66 61 6c 61 64 6f 20 75 74 69 6c 69 7a 61 |o falado utiliza|
00000030 6e 64 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 c3 a3 6f |ndo a convers..o|
00000040 20 64 65 20 74 65 78 74 6f 20 70 61 72 61 20 76 | de texto para v|
00000050 6f 7a 4d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 72 20 61 73 20 64 |ozManipular as d|
00000060 65 66 69 6e 69 c3 a7 c3 b5 65 73 20 71 75 65 20 |efini....es que |
00000070 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 61 6d 20 6f 20 61 63 65 73 |controlam o aces|
00000080 73 6f 20 64 65 20 57 65 62 73 69 74 65 73 20 61 |so de Websites a|
00000090 20 63 6f 6f 6b 69 65 73 2c 20 4a 61 76 61 53 63 | cookies, JavaSc|
000000a0 72 69 70 74 20 65 20 70 6c 75 67 2d 69 6e 73 4d |ript e plug-insM|
000000b0 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 72 20 61 73 20 64 65 66 69 |anipular as defi|
000000c0 6e 69 c3 a7 c3 b5 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 63 69 6f |ni....es relacio|
000000d0 6e 61 64 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 |nadas com privac|
000000e0 69 64 61 64 65 41 63 65 64 65 72 20 61 6f 73 20 |idadeAceder aos |
000000f0 73 65 75 73 20 70 65 72 69 66 c3 a9 72 69 63 6f |seus perif..rico|
00000100 73 20 55 53 42 55 74 69 6c 69 7a 61 72 20 6f 20 |s USBUtilizar o |
00000110 73 65 75 20 6d 69 63 72 6f 66 6f 6e 65 55 74 69 |seu microfoneUti|
00000120 6c 69 7a 61 72 20 61 20 73 75 61 20 63 c3 a2 6d |lizar a sua c..m|
00000130 61 72 61 55 74 69 6c 69 7a 61 72 20 6f 20 73 65 |araUtilizar o se|
00000140 75 20 6d 69 63 72 6f 66 6f 6e 65 20 65 20 61 20 |u microfone e a |
00000150 63 c3 a2 6d 61 72 61 4e c3 a3 6f 20 66 6f 69 20 |c..maraN..o foi |
00000160 70 6f 73 73 c3 ad 76 65 6c 20 65 6e 63 6f 6e 74 |poss..vel encont|
00000170 72 61 72 20 6f 20 63 61 6d 69 6e 68 6f 20 61 62 |rar o caminho ab|
00000180 73 6f 6c 75 74 6f 20 70 61 72 61 20 6f 20 64 69 |soluto para o di|
00000190 72 65 63 74 c3 b3 72 69 6f 20 61 20 65 6d 70 61 |rect..rio a empa|
000001a0 63 6f 74 61 72 2e 4f 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 c3 b3 |cotar.O direct..|
000001b0 72 69 6f 20 64 65 20 65 6e 74 72 61 64 61 00 fe |rio de entrada..|
000001c0 ff ff 83 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 10 7a 04 00 00 |............z...|
000001d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================
xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
awk: cmd. line:36: Math support is not compiled in
Begging / Appreciation ;)
If anything else is required to solve my problem, please ask.
My only hopes are that I can solve this, and that doing so won't require re-installation of Grub due to how complicated the procedures are, or that I would be needed to reinstall the OS', as I have done so about six times already since friday due to several other issues I've encountered.
Thank you, and good day.
System
Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit / Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
64GB SSD as boot/OS drive, 1TB HDD as /Home Swap and Steam drive.
