Need help adding Arch to Grub

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-13 01:51:11

I am trying to dual boot Arch Linux and Ubuntu. When I try to boot there is no option for Arch. I have added it to the menu.lst file in ubuntu. Arch is installed on sdb1 according to sudo fdisk -l I need help!

perbh · 2009-05-13 01:57:39

well, a good start would be to
a) show us your partitions
b) show us menu.lst

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-13 02:05:16

Fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb38ab38a

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9544 76662148+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 9545 9729 1486012+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9545 9729 1485981 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.9 GB, 40992473088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4983 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0002eb1f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 4891 39286926 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000ea9be

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 30401 244196001 7 HPFS/NTFS

I think Arch is on the 40GB partition

Menu.lst

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## 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 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 0

## 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=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170

## 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 9.04
uuid ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

#title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
#uuid ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
#kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro single
#initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

#title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
#uuid ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
#kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
#quiet

# (0) Arch Linux
title Arch Linux
root (hd1,0)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda3 ro
initrd /kernel26.img

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
title Arch
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

perbh · 2009-05-13 02:30:47

So - you have _two_ entries for arch, none of which are correct!!
The first correctly states that 'root' is at (hd1,0) but then it says that kernel and initrd is on /dev/sda3 - well, /dev/sda3 doesn't exist according to your fdisk above.
The 2nd one is even worse as it points to (hd0,1) which is your extended partition on /dev/sda.

Probably, the easiest would be:

title archlinux
 root (hd1,0)
 kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 ro root=/dev/sdb1
 initrd /boot/kernel26.img

[edit]
Obviously - this is true only if you really did install arch on /dev/sdb1 !!
[/edit]
and more [edit] ...
In the future, instead of listing the whole garbunkle, why don't you do a:

grep -v '^#' menu.lst

[/edit]

Last edited by perbh (2009-05-13 02:36:15)

thisperishedmin · 2009-05-13 11:25:04

The above information seems precise...please post back to confirm if it works, and if so, mark the thread as solved by editing the title.

@perbh,
awesome trick with grep... never thought of matching and using inversion, obvious as it may be.

Thanks!

perbh · 2009-05-13 13:25:04

@thisperishedmin
You are more than welcome! What's the use of these small tricks if they can't be shared?
I kind-of discovered it trying to wade through a 'vsftpd.conf' which has more comments than anything else - I only wanted to see what was actually 'valied' ...
What I usually do in such cases is getting rid of the empty lines as well - such as:

grep -v '^#' somefile.conf | grep '.' | sort

;-)

[edit)*lol* obviously _not_ sorting if it's a menu.lst [/edit]

Last edited by perbh (2009-05-13 14:03:37)

Mr.Elendig · 2009-05-13 14:10:48

What filesystem did you choose for arch?

thisperishedmin · 2009-05-13 15:32:30

perbh wrote:

@thisperishedmin
You are more than welcome! What's the use of these small tricks if they can't be shared?
I kind-of discovered it trying to wade through a 'vsftpd.conf' which has more comments than anything else - I only wanted to see what was actually 'valied' ...
What I usually do in such cases is getting rid of the empty lines as well - such as:
grep -v '^#' somefile.conf | grep '.' | sort
;-)
[edit)*lol* obviously _not_ sorting if it's a menu.lst [/edit]

I'm a bit confused by the second one.... does grep '.' specify any character? I thought that grep would look for lines with ONLY a period to print then? maybe I'm misunderstanding... I suppose grep '*' would then just print everyline? lol

I've recently been exploring pipes and stdinout ...without referencing anything....would:

grep -v '^#' somefile.conf > newsomefile.conf

create a file with the comments ommitted?

if so, how is this different from:

grep -v '^#' somefile.conf | cat > newsomefile.conf

...or do they do the same thing?

back on topic: OP - have you gotten to try the proposed solution?

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-13 17:52:39

Mr.Elendig wrote:

What filesystem did you choose for arch?

EXT3

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-13 17:54:03

thisperishedmin wrote:

The above information seems precise...please post back to confirm if it works, and if so, mark the thread as solved by editing the title.
@perbh,
awesome trick with grep... never thought of matching and using inversion, obvious as it may be.
Thanks!

I posted last night and now I'm at school but when I get home I will post as soon as I can check.

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-14 22:27:23

Ok guys sorry it took so long for a reply I was having hard drive trouble

I just tried adding:

title archlinux
 root (hd1,0)
 kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 ro root=/dev/sdb1
 initrd /boot/kernel26.img

However I'm still booting straight into ubuntu.

This is what I have now that's not working:

title        Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title        Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet


title archlinux
 root (hd1,0)
 kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 ro root=/dev/sdb1
 initrd /boot/kernel26.img

Last edited by Letmekilluplz (2009-05-14 22:31:20)

.:B:. · 2009-05-15 00:12:59

Try specifying the UUID of the Arch partition?

Letmekilluplz · 2009-05-16 02:13:29

Ok well my hard drive failed so this thread is useless until I get my new one but is it possible my incorrect install of Arch caused it? I used the begginers guide so I don't think I did anything wrong.

stewie · 2009-05-16 06:17:45

Letmekilluplz Wrote:
...
## 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 0
## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 0
...

and then sometime later

However I'm still booting straight into ubuntu.

title        Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro quiet splash 
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title        Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170 ro  single
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title        Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid        ce3a864f-3f72-480b-96b3-54516b307170
kernel        /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet


title archlinux
 root (hd1,0)
 kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 ro root=/dev/sdb1
 initrd /boot/kernel26.img

Maybe you could try changing the timeout and/or default to something like this

# This will make archlinux the default
default  3 

# This will give you some time to make a decision as to which os to boot
timeout  10

Arch Linux

#1 2009-05-13 01:51:11

Need help adding Arch to Grub

#2 2009-05-13 01:57:39

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#3 2009-05-13 02:05:16

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#4 2009-05-13 02:30:47

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#5 2009-05-13 11:25:04

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#6 2009-05-13 13:25:04

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#7 2009-05-13 14:10:48

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#8 2009-05-13 15:32:30

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#9 2009-05-13 17:52:39

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#10 2009-05-13 17:54:03

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#11 2009-05-14 22:27:23

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#12 2009-05-15 00:12:59

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#13 2009-05-16 02:13:29

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

#14 2009-05-16 06:17:45

Re: Need help adding Arch to Grub

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