GRUB problem: I just get a GRUB prompt

[Paloma Gómez]

Hi,

I've had kubuntu along with windows xp running on my laptop for a few
weeks.  My dual boot was configured like this: I had the windows loader in
the MBR and grub in the / partition. Yesterday I noticed that Konqueror
wasn't working fine (sometimes it froze) but I ignored it and shut down
normally. This morning I started my computer, went through the windows
loader menu and...after that I just got a grub prompt. I wasn't able to type
anything and pressing esc didn't work.

I assumed that somehow it had corrupted and decided to reinstall kubuntu. I
am still getting the grub prompt after a fresh install.

I have installed the 32bit version, but I have an amd64 processor. I've
using a 64bit Ubuntu live cd to troubleshoot the problem. (I hope that this
32 and 64bit mixing doesn't matter).

This is what i've tried so far:

ubuntu at ubuntu:~$ sudo -s

root at ubuntu:~$ fdisk -l
Disk /dev/hda: 80.0GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units= cylinders of 16065*512=8225280 bytes

Device        Boot    Start    End    Blocks        Id    System
/dev/hda1    *    xxx    xxx    40981783+    7    HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2        xxx    xxx    6964177+    83    Linux
/dev/hda3        xxx    xxx    28917000    f    W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda4        xxx    xxx    1285200        b    W95 FAT32
/dev/hda5        xxx    xxx    1044193+    xxx    Linux Swap/Solaris
/dev/hda6        xxx    xxx    8297509+    xxx    Linux
/dev/hda7        xxx    xxx    19575171    xxx    Linux

xxx is data I didn't copied. If it is necessary, I can provide it.
My laptop is HP and almost all of them come with a hidden partition. I guess
that in this case it's /dev/hda3

root at ubuntu:~$ mkdir mysysimage

root at ubuntu:~$ mount /dev/hda2 mysysimage

root at ubuntu:~$ chroot mysysimage

root at ubuntu:/# ls /boot/grub
device.map menu.lst fat_stage1_5 reiserfs_stage1_5 e2fs_stage1_5
jfs_stage1_5
minix_stage1_5 xfs_stage1_5 stage1 stage2

root at ubuntu:/# cat /boot/grub/device.map
(hd0) /dev/hda

root at ubuntu:/# grub

grub> cat (hd0,1)/boot/grub/menu.lst

I will omit some obvious comments:
---------------------menu.lst-------------------------------------
default 0
timeout 10

# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
###BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
## lines between AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LISTS
## 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
# kopt=root=/dev/hda2 ro

## default root device
# groot=(hd0,1)

##should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
# alternative=true

##should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
# lockalternative=false

## altoption boot target option
## multiple altoptions are allowed
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## nonaltoption boot target option
## This option controls options to pass to only the
## primary kernel menu item
# nonaltoptions=quiet splash

## controls how many kernels should be put ino the menu.lst
## Only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
#howmany=all

##should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
#memtest86=true

## End Default Options ##

title    Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386
root    (hd0,1)
kernel    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=dev/hda2 ro quiet splash
initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot

title    Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.12-9-386 (recovery mode)
root    (hd0,1)
kernel    /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=dev/hda2 ro single
initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386
savedefault
boot

title    Ubuntu, memtest86+
root    (hd0,1)
kernel    /boot/memtest86+.bin
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

#This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
#ones

title    Other operating systems
root

#This entry automatically added by the debian installer for a non-linux OS
#on /dev/hda1

title    Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root    (hd0,0)
savedefault
chainloader +1
boot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

grub> geometry (hd0)

drive 0x80: C/H/S=16383/255/63,
The number of sectors=156301488, /dev/hda

Partition num: 0, Filesystem type unknown
Partition num: 1, Filesystem type ext2fs
Partition num: 3, Filesystem type fat
Partition num: 4, Filesystem type unknown
Partition num: 5, Filesystem type ext2fs
Partition num: 6, Filesystem type ext2fs

grub> root (hd0,1)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83

grub> kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=dev/hda2 ro
[Linux-bzImage, setup=0x1c00, size=0x124b1b]

grub> initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.12-9-386

Error 16: Inconsistent filesystem structure

grub> quit

root at ubuntu:/# exit
root at ubuntu:~$ umount mysysimage
root at ubuntu:~$ fsck /dev/hda2
fsck 1.38 (30-Jun-2005) e2fsck 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
/: clean, 11050/870912 files, 239874/1741044 blocks


Apparently the filesystem is OK. Then, why do i get that "Inconsistent
filesystem structure" message?

I'm wondering if this may have something to do with the way I have
manipulated my partition table.
I insert my installation CD, and follow the installation process. When I
reach the partitioning part,
I create my partitions and set /dev/hda2 as / and bootable.Then, I go
through the installation process
to the end. After that, if I try to boot my machine I get a "Missing
operating system" message. Then,
I insert the installation CD again and go through the installation process
until I reach the partitioning bit.
The partitions are still there but their mounting point have changed: now
they are named /dev/hdax.
I rename them appropriately and set the windows partition to be bootable. I
select continue and get a warning message
saying that I have to format / in order to make a clean install. I get an
error message saying that the installation
hasn't been completed and I'm presented the installation process menu. I
select to quit and reboot. The windows loader works
fine and offers me two options: windows or linux. If I select windows
everything goes fine. However, if I select Linux
I get the grub prompt and a blinking cursor. I cannot type anything, I press
esc and nothing happens. At that point
I'm forced to shut down the computer.

Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance!
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