[Bug 948716] Re: grub-probe erroneously returns FAT UUID in lowercase

[IlyaY]

Hi Mike,

I will try to answer your questions.

On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 10:22 AM, mikifin <948716 at bugs.launchpad.net>
wrote:

> Let's review, so that I get you what you want. I am going to image the
> PC as it is. Wipe it and install Ubuntu using your file on a OEM Windows
> 7 system. This may take awhile, maybe several days.
>

You ought not to this, I'm pretty sure that the bug is fixed now so only to
this if you really wish to and have time. Probably you don't need to wipe
everything, installing copy of Ubuntu to H:\ drive seems to be good enough
test to me.


> First, I have to say that I was attempting to install 11.04 and
> installing the files to a back partition in my case H directly from the
> Ubuntu site not with a CD/DVD.
>

Yes, I understood. H: drive is the one with FAT filesystem, right? (that's
the key point). I just realized that the version I uploaded would install
Ubuntu 12.04. I'm sorry but I don't know the proper way to create wubi for
older releases. I've changed isolist.ini file to match 11.04 and uploaded
the new version to the same location. You can try it (it will say that it's
going to install 12.04 but that's not true -- it will try with 11.04) but I
can't guarantee it will work correctly -- don't use it unless you have time
for another iteration.

Now, this is the process I used initially and I will repeat it using
> your new file. I opened a network connection  from a Windows 7 Home
> Premium OS, downloaded wubi from the Ubuntu site and ran it on my
> desktop and it appeared that wubi went onto the internet and downloaded
> the files from Ubuntu for the 11.04 version and installed them to the H
> drive. The Windows boot menu appeared, I selected Ubuntu and next a
> "grub2?" boot menu appeared and I selected Ubuntu and it failed.
>

That sounds reasonable.


> Since that time I did three things. I investigated the issue from the
> windows side. First I discovered that the Windows system was setup on a
> dynamic drive. Then second I discovered that I had to shift the drive to
> a static drive to install another OS and did that. I then discovered (as
>

Uh. So, had you done this conversion (dynamic to basic) before trying Wubi?
Actually Linux supports dynamic disks but grub2 does not so one can't boot
Ubuntu system from dynamic disk.


> is common on most OEM computers like Dell) that they fill up the drive
> with primary partitions so that you can't install another type of
> operating system. It seems Windows systems only allow four primary
>

That's generic partition table limitation not Windows one.


> partitions, so third I turned two of the partitions to extended
> partition, which gave me the ability to install another OS.
>

That's ok but please note that you can skip this if you are going to use
Wubi -- it doesn't need separate partition.


> I decided to backstep to 10.43  and changed the partitioning as
>

Uh? What's 10.43?


> described above and then installed the Ubuntu files using a downloaded
> Ubuntu image ISO on a DVD and used the wubi.exe in the image and
> directed the installer to put the files on the C or primary partition
> (sda0?) instead of a back partition and it worked like a charm. This
>

It's sda1 and it's NTFS (not FAT) -- that's the key difference.

Again, probably you don't have to reinstall everything: now you at least
have the working system and unfortunately I can't guarantee that my
wubi.exe will work with 11.04.

Regards, Ilya.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to grub2 in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/948716

Title:
  grub-probe erroneously returns FAT UUID in lowercase

Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Here is the scenario/s:

  About a month ago I tried to setup Ubuntu using wubi. The install went
  well and I installed ubuntu to H partition there where three others C,
  E (HP TOOLS) OEM D (recovery) OEM and H the drive I setup for the
  Ubuntu install. I rebooted after the install and got the boot menu
  chose ubuntu and got this message (machine and config listed below):

  Try (hd0,0): no wubildr
  Try (hd0,1) no wubildr
  Try (hd0,2): error: "prefix" is not set

  I wiped the machine and reinstalled the OEM image and did the same
  setup and configuration to pick up a re-install later. I did setup
  Ubuntu to an external drive and boot to it using the BIOS to direct
  the computer to boot from the external drive. This works fine so I
  assume that the files are delivered and correct. I installed from a
  download ISO and installed it from disk.

  I have an HP G62 with Windows 7 Home Premium and I went to the Ubuntu
  site and downloaded the wubi setup software three days ago 3/3/12.
  Again the install when well. I got the boot menu, I can boot into Win7
  no problems. When I boot into Ubuntu I get these messages:

  Try (HD 0,0) NTFS: no wubildr
  Try (HD 0,1) NTFS: Error: "prefix" is not set.

  When I wait a couple of minutes I get:
  Gave up waiting for Root device. 
  Common problems:
  Boot args (cat/proc/cmdline) etc. etc. (lists causes)
  Check root etc. etc. (list causes)
  Missing modules etc. etc.

  Alert! /DEV/disk/by-ucid/1a16-46e4 does not exist
  dropping to shell Busybox v1.18.4

  initramfs

  The good thing is I have windows still working. The bad thing is I
  can't over-install, or un-install without a lot of hassle unless I
  become a boot manager mogul and hand build the boot strap.

  What I have done is use easyBCD to look around and it reports this:

  There are a total of 2 entries listed in the bootloader.

  Default: Windows 7
  Timeout: 10 seconds
  EasyBCD Boot Device: C:\

  Entry #1
  Name: Windows 7
  BCD ID: {current}
  Drive: C:\
  Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe

  Entry #2
  Name: Ubuntu
  BCD ID: {40b8ef84-5951-11e0-810e-f72a342c7c90}
  Drive: H:\
  Bootloader Path: \ubuntu\winboot\wubildr.mbr

  From the boot manager's point of view I have ubuntu installed to the
  right partition and I checked wubildr is there and so is a ubuntu
  folder. I checked the windows side and all the files and folders are
  in the right place.

   I checked the message boards and no one seems to have a good handle
  on what to do to fix the issue.

  
  If indeed easyBCD is correct the boot strap can't find the wubildr folder, whether the other files are installed in the ubuntu folder that are needed to get it up and running are in place I don't know.

  1. The version I think is 2 ubuntu2 or 11.04.1
  2. I would assume that with the time line above and the fact that I am using your wubi install you will know what versions and packages. I can't get the windows tools to tell me what version of Ubuntu was downloaded by wubi. I can't get into ubuntu or I would give that information to you. HINT: maybe you could add this stuff to the windows property sheets so troubleshooting would be easier.
  3. I downloaded wubi, ran it and what happened is listed above.
  4. I can't boot to Ubuntu
  5. What happened is listed above

  Finally, if you labelled the folders instead of grub to grub 2 and
  added information that the windows system can see you could get more
  information i.e. label the ubuntu folder ubuntu 11.04.1 or such and
  put in information that would register on the windows property sheet
  we could help you better.

  Obviously this is a severe level one bug. If you can install and get
  the OS up and running and don't provide for a painless un-install.

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