boot parameters

[archp2008]

I appreciate all this work you are doing for me. I'm back into Ubuntu, which, as you say is on the same 320 gb drive as used to have two versions of Windows on it but now just has XP and a small remnant of the what used to be a Vista partition that I've shrunk to the minimum. Here is what I get
grub> find /boot/grub/menu.lst
(hd1,1)
(hd3,1)
grub>quit
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.
arch@arch-desktop:~$ mount
/dev/sda6 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.27-9-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
/dev/sda5 on /boot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda1 on /media/sda1 type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/arch/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=arch)
arch@arch-desktop:~$
arch@arch-desktop:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
title Linux Mint on sdc2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

## 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 4

## 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=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,4)

## 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

## 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=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /memtest86+.bin
# quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
# title Windows Vista (64-bit)
# root (hd1,0)
# savedefault
# makeactive
# chainloader +1

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Windows (XP or Vista 32 bit)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

arch@arch-desktop:~$

[archp2008]

I noticed after doing that last post that I couldn't see the IDE drive in My Computer, so I think the power plug may have been a tad loose. So, just in case that threw things off, here goes again. Evidenlty, something is wrong for the quit command not to work properly.


find /boot/grub/menu.lst
(hd0,1)
(hd2,1)
quit
quit: command not found
arch@arch-desktop:~$ mount
/dev/sdb6 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
tmpfs on /lib/init/rw type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,noexec,nosuid,gid=5,mode=620)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.27-9-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=755)
/dev/sdb5 on /boot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sdb1 on /media/sda1 type fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/arch/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=arch)
arch@arch-desktop:~$
arch@arch-desktop:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
title Linux Mint on sdc2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

## 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 4

## 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=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,4)

## 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

## 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=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic
# quiet

# title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro single
# initrd /initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

# title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
# root (hd0,4)
# kernel /memtest86+.bin
# quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
# title Windows Vista (64-bit)
# root (hd1,0)
# savedefault
# makeactive
# chainloader +1

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Windows (XP or Vista 32 bit)
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

arch@arch-desktop:~$

[Jonathan183]

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-9-generic
root (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27-9-generic root=UUID=d23f4423-71f5-4588-a9d3-2845cacce7d2 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.27-9-generic
quiet

OK so we know that Ubuntu boot partition is sda5 and root partition is sda6.

Also from grub find output we also know sdb2 and sdd2 have grub menu files. From the partition size I guess sdb2 is a boot partition but sdd2 is a root partition with /boot info also (installation without separate boot partition).

add

title mint boot on sdb2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

title mint boot on sdd2
root (hd3,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

to Ubuntu /boot/grub/menu.lst file ... you should be able to determine which version of Mint is which from the menu entries.

[Hal343]

Is this the partition that doesn't boot?

arch@arch-desktop:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
title Linux Mint on sdc2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

[archp2008]

Thanks for this. It appears my attempt to post last night didn't work for some reason, possibly because I clicked quote instead of reply. This is what I have at the beginning of my menu.lst now:

title mint boot on sdb2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

title mint boot on sdd2
root (hd3,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot


title Linux Mint on sdc2
root (hd2,1)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
boot

The two Mint versions look so much alike I can't be 100% sure which is which after booting in. your first entry

title mint boot on sdb2
root (hd2,1)

boots into Mint 7

Your second entry

title mint boot on sdd2
root (hd3,1)

gives bad file or directory error

your third entry

title Linux Mint on sdc2
root (hd2,1)

begins to boot into Mint 5 but ends prematurely - I'm not sure what happened as this one used to work.

I guess I will comment out the 2nd and 3rd entries now and just leave the first for Mint 7

I need some help in getting rid of the partitions for Mint 5 to free up that space.

Also (unrelated) I have multiple entries for XP/Vista that I no longer need as there is only XP there now because I formatted and shrunk the partition that had Vista on it. I have to click Windows XP three times now before XP boots but should only have to click once.

Thanks again.

[archp2008]

I said that mint boot on sdb2 root (hd2,1) booted into Mint 7 but on the bottom of the desktop left it says "Elyssa." Shouldn't it be reading "Gloria?"

[Hal343]

Elyssa is Mint 5 because that's what comes up when I boot my laptop into Mint.
To re-use partitions you don't need anymore, you can use gparted to delete them, move the partitions you are going to use to the beginning of the disk (this takes a while, and you will need to rewrite /boot/grub/menu.lst unless you install something on the deleted partitions-if so it will rewrite it) and then format the deleted partitions however you want.

[archp2008]

Sorry to be so dense that I can't even recognize the difference between two distros! Meanwhile, Jonathan, do you have any further ideas on what number might work for my Mint 7? This old brain is so cramped now that i can't even recall for sure which drive it's on. I think I put in on the 80 gb IDE drive along with a 64bit version of WinVista.

[archp2008]

I disconnected all the SATA drives so that I could boot into Mint 7 again. Visually, it's very similar except that the start button does not have a Distro Name on it. Also the "Welcome to Mint 7" page opens by default the first time. I changed the backgrounds so that it's easier to tell which version is which.
I re-read this thread, which I have printed off, and I notice, looking back, that besides editing menu.lst from Ubuntu for the main drive, we also had to "create a folder in Ubuntu /media/mint and mount mint to it" and then "modify mint grub menu" as well as "modify mint fstab" and finally, "change all sda2 to sdc2, and to change all sda to sdc. This is more than a bit technical for me. Don't we need to redo this now so that I can boot the Mint 7 instead of the Mint 5 from the main drive? My problem now is I have no idea what to change the letters to this time. Would it be simpler to reformat the Mint 5 partitions, delete them, and redo the Mint 7 installation to that drive instead of the IDE drive, leaving all drives connected this time?

[archp2008]

Not getting anywhere with Mint, I had a look back at what you told me about adding Windows to Grub. Not fully understanding how to ascertain the letters and numbers of the drives, I added this to menu.lst just to see what happens:

title Windows2
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

title Windows3
rootnoverify (hd2,0)
map (hd0) (hd2)
map (hd2) (hd0)
chainloader +1

title Windows4
rootnoverify (hd4,0)
map (hd0) (hd4)
map (hd4) (hd0)
chainloader +1

title Windows5
rootnoverify (hd5,0)
map (hd0) (hd5)
map (hd5) (hd0)
chainloader +1

All of those returned error messages "non-executable files, or something like that" except the first one which I called Windows 2 which said, "Boot Configuration file missing. Evidently my parameters are incorrect there.