Fresh installation 10.04 LTS Grub Rescue Error out of disk

[anewability]

After installing Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 on a Dell Latitude D600 I have come across a problem booting up. Instead of giving me the grub boot menu or being user friendly by hiding and booting up to Ubuntu, I get this:

Grub Rescue>

So the first thing I do is run help and it tells me help is an unknown command. Afterwards I just reinstall grub and then after the problem persisted, I reinstalled Ubuntu again. After reading up, I can not figure out how to manually boot the system. I ran a script for the boot info and everything seems fine... I have no idea what to do, maybe someone here could help me out?

The boot info script I ran gave me this:

                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 #1 for /boot/grub.

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       Extended Partition
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

sda5: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       swap
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *          2,048   482,383,871   482,381,824  83 Linux
/dev/sda2         482,385,918   488,396,799     6,010,882   5 Extended
/dev/sda5         482,385,920   488,396,799     6,010,880  82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs                                 
/dev/sda1        17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9   ext4                                     
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sda5        4d1fe2d4-c5a6-4e57-a41f-96e4d352dc60   swap                                     
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

aufs             /                        aufs       (rw)
/dev/sr0         /cdrom                   iso9660    (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (ro,noatime)


=========================== sda1/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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
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
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9 ro   quiet splash
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	recordfail
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
	echo	'Loading Linux 2.6.32-21-generic ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=UUID=17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9 ro single 
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9
	linux16	/boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
if [ ${timeout} != -1 ]; then
  if keystatus; then
    if keystatus --shift; then
      set timeout=-1
    else
      set timeout=0
    fi
  else
    if sleep --interruptible 3 ; then
      set timeout=0
    fi
  fi
fi
### 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 ###

=============================== sda1/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    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=17ae25ad-f124-496d-b629-21e49d4fb1d9 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=4d1fe2d4-c5a6-4e57-a41f-96e4d352dc60 none            swap    sw              0       0

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


 159.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
 232.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
 159.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
 159.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
 159.0GB: initrd.img
 159.0GB: vmlinuz

Even after further researching, still no luck... In grub rescue mode:

error: out of disk.
grub rescue> ls
(hd0) (hd0,1)
grub rescue> set
prefix=(hd0,1)/boot/grub
root=hd0,1
grub rescue> ls /boot


error: out of disk.
grub rescue> insmod /boot/grub/linux.mod
error: out of disk.
grub rescue>

I looked up "error: out of disk" and everything mentioned about it didn't help.

[rokytnji]

I would

Verify your .iso before burning to disc (see here for that) and run a CD integrity check before approaching installation – this will ensure that installation doesn’t die mid-way through! You’ll find this option on the LiveCD titled ‘Check CD for defects’.

from

Installing Ubuntu 10.04: Survival guide | OMG! Ubuntu!

Because going to grub rescue after install probably means there is a integrity issue with your downloaded iso (did you do a md5sum check of iso file?)

or burn was too fast or media (CD) is defective. Just a guess from West Texas as google brought up a lot of successful Ubuntu 10.04 installs on a Dell D600 (except for problems with wireless broadcom chipset). But nobody had any issues like you are experiencing. I have had to reburn sometimes when getting your

Grub Rescue>

After making sure iso file was md5sum checked ok in terminal. Then burning CD at alowest speed possible (4x for me) I would not get the

Grub Rescue>

after a fresh reinstall of same iso after doing the above integrity steps.

[anewability]

Thanks for the reply rokytnji,

I have a good ISO, I have used it to install to the computer I am currently using. I have copied the ISO to both a CD and a USB drive. I even have a CD from canonical themselves that installs Ubuntu, but I still end up with the same problem. I feel that we can rule out the possibility of the install image being bad.

[rokytnji]

Thanks for the reply rokytnji,

I have a good ISO, I have used it to install to the computer I am currently using. I have copied the ISO to both a CD and a USB drive. I even have a CD from canonical themselves that installs Ubuntu, but I still end up with the same problem. I feel that we can rule out the possibility of the install image being bad.

Ok. I am not a grub rescue> guru. So no help from me there.

If it was me with your problem. And I know you aren't me. I would try a experiment and download a ubuntu-10.04-alternate-i386.iso and try installing with it instead of the graphical install iso.

Because sometimes, even other senior members on this forum had troubles with the graphical Ubuntu Install Iso (like you have) but had success with install using the alternate iso method of install. Just a suggestion is all. Good Luck with it, Rok

[rokytnji]

Best I could do for a video showing the alternate installer in action (in Spanish)

YouTube - ‪Instalar Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx ) Alternate CD‬‎

Maybe you can find a better video?

[rokytnji]

you might also try typing in at grub rescue prompt

find /grub/stage1

then when it shows where it is installed

setup (hd 0 or whatever the first number the readout gives)

Example:

grub>find /grub/stage1
grub>root (hd0,4)
grub>setup (hd0)

[anewability]

I haven't had a chance to run the alternate installer yet, but I have tried using find, rood, and setup in grub rescue mode. I got "unknown command '{command_name}'" for those three. I shall post back tomorrow morning after I get to test the alternate installer.

[rokytnji]

Try my above post #5 by booting up your Ubuntu cd and pick grub rescue from options in grub menu.

[devils casper]

Try to re-install GRUB2. Boot up from Ubuntu LiveCD and execute this in Terminal :

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
sudo umount /mnt

Reboot machine.

In case above method doesn't work, check if there is any kind of virus protection enabled in BIOS.

[anewability]

I think I have narrowed my problem down to simply grub. I have reinstalled grub, installed ubuntu server and even debian... I guess my next step now is to figure out how to install something like lilo... does anyone know a guide that a newbie can follow? I haven't really found one that I can comprehend. =/

-----
I also read somewhere that someone else got "error: out of disk" because their bios had the wrong hard drive size. My hard drive is bigger than what the laptop says it is in the bios... It is not a setting that I can change either... so I am lost on what to do...