Cloneing OS & GRUB trouble

[Thomas Beckett]

On 2/23/06, dave s <ubuntu at pusspaws.net> wrote:
> I am trying to copy my OS from 40GB 5400 rpm, to a new 160GB 7200 rpm HDD. I
> have done something similar in the past but am having problems now :(
>
> I setup the partitions and format the 160GB so that I have ...
>
> [knoppix]# fdisk /dev/hda
>
> The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 20023.
> There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
> and could in certain setups cause problems with:
> 1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
> 2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
>    (e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)
>
> Command (m for help): p
>
> Disk /dev/hda: 164.6 GB, 164696555520 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 20023 cylinders
> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>
>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
> /dev/hda1   *           1       19930   160087693+  83  Linux
> /dev/hda2           19931       20023      747022+   5  Extended
> /dev/hda5           19931       20023      746991   82  Linux swap / Solaris
>
> Command (m for help):
>
>
> I put the 40GB and 160GB in the caddies on my wifes machine, setting the 40GB
> as master and the 160GB as slave, boot knoppix and ..
>
> rsync -aHvv /mnt/hda1/ /mnt/hdb1/
>
> Hey presto I get a clone of the OS files on my 160GB, all is well. I change my
> 160GB to master and plug its caddy into my machine
>
> All that is needed is to setup GRUB in the MBR so, once again from knoppix
> I ...
>
>
>     GNU GRUB  version 0.95  (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)
>
>  [ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.  For the first word, TAB
>    lists possible command completions.  Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
>    completions of a device/filename. ]
>
> grub> root (hd0,0)
>  Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
>
> grub> setup (hd0)
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
>  Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  16 sectors are embedded.
> succeeded
>  Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+16 p
> (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
> Done.
>
> grub> quit
>
>
> I then take out knoppix and re-boot .... ZIP :(
>
> The system starts then a blank screen. Nothing, no kernel loaded so no go. I
> must be doing something wrong with GRUB. All the files on hda1 are there, the
> whole OS.
>
> Does anyone have any idea what I am doing wrong ?
>
> Cheers
>
> Dave
>

The first thing to try is to do a new install from the CD. This will
show if the problem is with your hardware or the methodin which you
transfered your old setup.

Is this a Dapper based system by any chance? I cant run Dapper at all
at the moment due to problems with grub / kernel image. I hope it is
not the same problem:
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.15/+bug/6550

Try installing afresh from CD first. If that works then you know it
was your method of transfering that was wrong and at least know where
to focus your energies.

Tom