Help with grub

[KathyK]

Hi all,

I am trying to load grub with the following steps:

grub> root (hd0,3) (where i put my files)
grub> kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda3

and I get:
Error 15: File not found


any ideas?

Thanks
Kathy

[KathyK]

some more information:

grub> cat /boot/grub/device.map
(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd0) /dev/sda

grub> cat /boot/grub/grub.conf
Error 15: file not found

grub> cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
Error 15: file not found

thanks again

[Steven McCoy · Accepted solution]

Hey Kathy,

/dev/sda3 is where your kernel resides, or your root filesystem (or both)? Is '/boot' mounted on a separate partition than '/'?

Typically /boot is on its own partition at /dev/sda1. In that case, you would do:

grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup (hd0)
^ this installs grub information to the disk's MBR.

If your kernel is actually on /dev/sda3 (as well as your root filesystem), you may want to do:

grub> root (hd0,3)
grub> kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda3

And to prevent possible conflicts, you could (at the shell prompt (not in grub)):

cd /boot
ln -s . boot

Also, when doing some of the commands in grub, you can hit the 'Tab' key which allows completion. That might help you find your kernel.

HTH, but please reply if you continue to have trouble. Please also provide your fstab and a description of the contents of /dev/sda3.

[KathyK]

thanks Steven,
the linux kernel is on 3rd partition and windows is on the first, so when i do this:

grub> root (hd0,3)
grub> kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda3


i get error 15: file not found, and
find /vmlinuz gives me the same error.

and reboot, brings me back to grub.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Steven McCoy]

Hey Kathy,

Could you try doing:

grub> root (hd0,3)
grub> kernel /

Does anything display after hitting the TAB key a couple times?

Thanks,

[KathyK]

this is the result:
grub> kernel /
Possible file are: bin dev etc lib mnt opt tmp sys var usr boot home proc sbin root .reiserfs_priv pentest

[Steven McCoy]

how about:

grub> kernel /boot/

?

[KathyK]

grub> kernel /boot/
grub> kernel /boot/grub/
possible files are: default device.map e2fs_stage1_5 jfs_stage1_5 xfs_stage1_5 minix_stage1_5 fat_stage1_5 stage1 stage2 installed-version reiserfs_stage1-5

[Steven McCoy]

Those are grub files. They should be in '/boot/grub/', not '/boot/'. Is there anyway you can boot to a LiveCD, mount the filesystem and show us what the contents of /dev/sda3 are?

How did you install this system? What events led up to this?

Thanks,

[KathyK]

the files are in /boot/grub/

and yes i do have the live cd. what happened is that my co-worker installed dual boot linux on this machine and then decided he likes grub better than lilo so installed the grub using
appget install grub

I personally am not familiar with that. I'm also new to linux, so your help is very much appreciated.

regards,
kathy

[KathyK]

Also please list the command to boot into LiveCD.

thanks
Kathy

[Steven McCoy]

In this case, there does not appear to be any kernels installed on that system (since '/boot' is empty other than the 'grub' dir).

How the LiveCD works is very dependent on your Linux distribution. Just set CDROM as the boot device in the BIOS with the disc installed, and it should get you to a place where you can mount and chroot into your system.

Once you can get into your existing system you'll want to reinstall your kernel. It should put the necessary files in '/boot/' (vmlinuz, initrd, etc).

[KathyK]

Steven,
Thank you for all your help. I was able to boot the linux.