Booting problem
Keith Powell
keith at keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk
Mon Oct 6 13:40:54 UTC 2008
Karl Larsen wrote:
> Keith Powell wrote:
>> My set-up here is two internal hard drives. One has XP on it and the
>> other Ubuntu 8.04.1. Each installation is entirely separate. While the
>> BIOS is booting, I select which hard drive to use.
>>
>> This has been working perfectly until a couple of days ago. Now I am
>> having a big problem!
>>
>> With only the Ubuntu hard drive plugged in, it boots correctly.
>>
>> However, with both hard drives plugged in, Ubuntu starts booting and
>> then stops with the error message:
>>
>> BusyBox v1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.1.3-5ubuntu12) Built-in shell (ash)
>> Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands
>> (initramfs)_
>>
>> I have tried rebooting in safe mode, but get the same message.
>> I have tried using the XP System restore and going back to an earlier
>> point (in case there was an XP problem).
>> I have even reinstalled Ubuntu with the XP drive unplugged.
>>
>> All are the same: Ubuntu is OK if XP is unplugged, no good if it's
>> plugged in. For information, XP runs whether both drives are plugged in
>> or if the Ubuntu is unplugged.
>>
>> It's defeated me and I don't know what's causing it.
>>
>> Any ideas, please? (Apart from "Don't use Windows!!)
>>
>> Many thanks
>>
>> Keith
>>
>>
> Sounds as if you have my problem. When I plug in both my IDE and
> SATA hard drives the BIOS goes nuts. It is a feature of the Award Bios
> that it can't get SATA and IDE to work together. On mine it depends
> which HD was last used. Drove me mad.
>
>
> I suggest you try a dual boot of Windows and Ubuntu on the Windows
> HD. Bet that works fine.
>
Thank you for your reply, Karl.
Both the drives are IDE. I don't have any SATA drives.
I've just done an experiment. I have replaced the Ubuntu drive with a
spare IDE drive I have. Then I installed Ubuntu on it. It works
correctly with the XP drive plugged in. Next, I installed all the
upgrades, including the new kernel. It still works! So I am wondering if
the original Ubuntu drive has gone faulty.
Cheers
Keith
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