The grub2 nightmare

[Kir_B]

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grub>

The text above, is how my computer looks after it boots and that's as far as it gets. This is the result of trying to complete the upgrade from grub legacy to grub2 in my Ubuntu, which was installed as a dual boot alongside vista on a Dell inspiron 531s. The Ubuntu was originally 9.04 Jaunty and then upgradedto 9.10 Karmic via the internet.

I've been trying to complete the upgrade of grub legacy for two weeks now and i've done too many things to list {it's all a blur anyhow}. I am however, willing to try anything again, as I may have been following bad and/or incomplete instructions leading me into this disaster. I even tried to do a clean Karmic install, but, for some reason I can't get it to boot into full screen mode {all I get is 1/4 screen located in the upper left of my monitor}. With Ubuntu Jaunty I had a similar problem that was remedied
by starting in Safe Graphics Mode and then installation went without a hitch. With Karmic, it doesn't get past the text phase.

Hopefully, I haven't messed things up too much.Any assistance is muchly appreciated. I am a newbie {about a month old}, so please be very specific with any suggested instructions. Once again thanks a million and any extra info necessary will be provided upon request.

Thanks, Kirby.

[jmadero]

try installing via the alternative install cd that you can find on Ubuntu.com. that might do it

[Kir_B]

Thanks for the suggestion jmadero, but my computer has the same problem with the alternate 9.10 as it does with the desktop. With a normal install, I can only see the bottom right 1/4 of the screen in the upper left 1/4 of my monitor. With an install using the Safe graphics mode, I get lots of text that never leads to anything and stops midway through it's process {if I remember correctly, about 40% through detecting files}. At least with 9.04 Desktop I'm able to run the demo off of the Livedisc in Safe graphics mode.

I don't know why I'm not hearing more about this problem happening to other people. Is it an issue that is only happening on my Dell? Or has anyone else heard this problem. It's happening for me with 9.10 Alternate and Desktop, 9.04 Alternate and Desktop, Xubuntu Desktop and Linux Mint 7.

[Kir_B]

I FOUND IT!!! Please, tell me this helps me?
This is the command that got me here:

-rm -f /boot/grub/menu.lst*

On the first few attempts at upgrading the grub, I noticed that the terminal pointed out this command at the end of the upgrade {or at the end of one of the steps}. I didn't use it on those attempts and they weren't successful. I read somewhere that grub2 didn't use those files and that they would be no longer necessary. That got me thinking that the old files {/boot/grub/menu.lst*} were messing with the new .cfg files {I think they're .cfg with grub2} keeping the upgrade from completing itself successfully. It booted up into the chainloader before, So I decided to run the command, lost myself in a few other tasks and eventually rebooting to find myself here and feeling like an idiot again.

I had a bad feeling about running this command, so {I hope Fortunately} I accessed these {5} files and copied them into another document and saved it onto the hard drive. I just accessed them and copied them onto my usb drive. I hope I just simply need to create and/or copy these back to their previous location{s}. I just need a good walkthrough the necessary steps. I'm more than a little leary now.

Thanks again folks. Kirby

[Kir_B]

Problem solved. The solution to this problem is very long and was accomplished at the Ubuntu Forums website with the help of "lmarmisa". The thread is titled "my grub2 nightmare won't end" and I hope it is helpful.
Thanks, Kirby

P.S.Check out My Firefox add-on collection. Karmic.