(SOLVED) Malformed UTF-8 character (fatal)

[linuxist]

I have re-installed this kernel:
kernel-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs-1-1pclos2011
I then received this message after download finished:
Malformed UTF-8 character (fatal) at usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm line 289
I checked line 289 (& 290) which reads:
LINE 289 my ($keyword, $v) = split('[ \t=]+', $_, 2) or
LINE 290     warn qq(unknown line in /boot/grub/menu.lst: "$_"\n), next;

How important is this message? Should I do anything? If so, please could you instruct me step by step please.
I'm not knowledgeable with command line entries.
Thank you.

[kjpetrie]

When you install a new kernel, a 'post' scriptlet runs a perl script to change the links in /boot to point to the new kernel and its initrd image. It then updates menu.lst  to add a new entry pointing to your old kernel so you can still boot it if the old one does not work.

This second part appears to have gone wrong because your menu.lst uses a character the perl script doesn't recognise, so it is likely menu.lst has been corrupted or the new entry has not been added.

Do not reboot until this is solved, as you might not be able to start up with a corrupted menu.lst. Post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst here so people can advise you further.

[linuxist]

Thank you. I have posted menu.lst and menu.lst.old
Here is the contents of menu.lst
timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/boot/gfxmenu
default 4

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet failsafe vmalloc=256M acpi=on
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

title 2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs BOOT_IMAGE=2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs.img

title   Memory Test
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/memtest-4.20 BOOT_IMAGE= _Memory_Test

title linux
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

Here is the contents of menu.lst.old
timeout 10
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/boot/gfxmenu
default 3

title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

title failsafe
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet failsafe vmalloc=256M acpi=on
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

title 2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs BOOT_IMAGE=2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs.img

title linux
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

title 2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs BOOT_IMAGE=2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs root=UUID=a0da0ecf-3c10-479d-ac58-883f886ec809 quiet vmalloc=256M acpi=on resume=UUID=defe26d5-e19b-47d8-a00f-7532ea0ba6d7 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd-2.6.38.8-pclos3.bfs.img

title   Memory Test
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/memtest-4.20

Thank you for your help

[kjpetrie]

As I suspected, there is no entry for your currently running kernel. Please post the result of the following command:

Code: [Select]

ls -l /boot/

(Those are lower case 'L's.)

This will tell us exactly which kernels are available, which should enable us to reconstruct the correct stanza for you to add.

I will be going to bed now, but I'm sure someone else will pick up the challenge. If not, I'll be back in about ten hours time. Please be patient and don't shut down until all options are safely restored.

[linuxist]

Thanks. Here's the result:

@localhost ~]$ ls -l /boot/

total 20472

-rw-rw-r-- 1 root  root     440 Jun  9 20:48 boot.backup.sda

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root  root      26 Aug 13 18:07 config -> config-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root  126423 Jun  4  2011 config-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rwxr-xr-x 1 david root 1166336 Oct 25  2011 gfxmenu*

drwxr-xr-x 2 root  root    4096 Aug 13 06:35 grub/

-rw------- 1 root  root 5957692 Oct 25  2011 initrd-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs.img

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root  root      30 Jul 16 20:58 initrd.img -> initrd-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs.img

-rw------- 1 root  root 9358611 Jun 25  2010 initrd.img.old

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root  root      34 Aug 13 18:08 kernel.h -> /boot/kernel.h-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root    1493 Aug 13 18:08 kernel.h-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root  164504 May 18  2011 memtest-4.20

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root  254766 Nov  6  2006 message-graphic

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root  root      30 Jul 16 20:46 System.map -> System.map-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root 1565330 Jun  4  2011 System.map-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-rw-r-- 1 root  root     256 Oct 25  2011 uk-latin1.klt

-rw-rw-r-- 1 root  root     256 Jun 15  2011 us.klt

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root  root      27 Jul 16 20:58 vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs

-rw-r--r-- 1 root  root 2330784 Jun  4  2011 vmlinuz-2.6.38.8-pclos1.bfs


On this line:
-rw------- 1 root  root 9358611 Jun 25  2010 initrd.img.old the text initrd.img.old has a grey background
Hope this is what you need & thanks again

[kjpetrie]

You have only one kernel installed. Did you remove the current kernel at the same time as installing the new one? That's unwise, because if something goes wrong with the new kernel or it doesn't work you will have bricked your machine.

However, it means your menu.lst is correct, although the stanzas are in a rather strange order, which puts your default entry at the bottom rather than the top. If you edit it to move it to the top you would also need to change the line that reads "default 4" to "default 0".

[linuxist]

Some time ago I installed pclos3.bfs. At the time I did not remove pclos1.bfs. (I took the advice from one of your members). So I then had the option to use both kernels. My system seemed to run better using pclos1.bfs. I removed pclos3.bfs.
Your question: "Did you remove the current kernel at the same time as installing the new one?"
No, I didn't.
 
If you edit it to move it to the top you would also need to change the line that reads "default 4" to "default 0".
How do I do this?

Referring to my first posting. . . For my peace of mind, there is no need to worry about the 'fatal' message?
Thanks for your advice

[kjpetrie]

It seems the fatal error was fatal to the script which was editing menu.lst, but the only harm appears to be that the stanzas are in an odd sequence.

You don't need to do anything, but if you want to tidy up menu.lst, open it as root in your favourite text editor and cut and paste the bottom stanza to the top of the list, below the "default" line. Then change the default number from 4 to 0 so it still points at the correct stanza in its new position. Save the file and exit.

Only do this if you are sure you know what you're doing, as a mistake in menu.lst could leave your machine unbootable. The current situation looks odd, but will work.

[linuxist]

Thanks KJP
I fully understand your very clear reply. Just one question before I attempt 'tidy up' menu.lst..  I assume that I will overwrite the stanza "title linux-nonfb" when I paste the bottom stanza to the top of the list. Is that ok? The only difference is the text -nonfb.
What does "-nonfb" mean?
Also, I notice title linux is default 3 in the menu.lst.old. Is this an error too?
Should it be at the top and changed from default 3 to default 0?
Thanks for your help.

[Bald Brick]

Thanks KJP
I fully understand your very clear reply. Just one question before I attempt 'tidy up' menu.lst..  I assume that I will overwrite the stanza "title linux-nonfb" when I paste the bottom stanza to the top of the list. Is that ok? The only difference is the text -nonfb.

Don't overwrite the title linux-nonfb stanza. Just paste the title linux stanza so that it comes before the title linux-nonfb stanza, or in other words so that it becomes the first of the boot stanzas

What does "-nonfb" mean?

It means "no framebuffer". For the meaning of "framebuffer" see  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framebuffer.

Also, I notice title linux is default 3 in the menu.lst.old. Is this an error too?
Should it be at the top and changed from default 3 to default 0?
Thanks for your help.

The "default 4" line tells grub that the default boot stanza is the fifth one, "default 0" that it is the first one. (The stanzas are counted starting from 0, not from 1.)

Actually I wouldn't edit the file if I were you. Just inserting an extra line break when cutting and pasting can have unexpected consequences. And as kjpetrie wrote: "The current situation looks odd, but will work."

[linuxist]

OK. I'll take the advice of both of you. I'll leave menu.lst alone. Finally. . . Am I correct in assuming menu.lst.old should not be deleted?

[kjpetrie]

Yes, there is no need to delete it though it makes little difference really as the only difference between the files is the old one includes an entry for the kernel you removed, which obviously wouldn't work.

[linuxist]

KJP. . . Thanks again for your clear answer. I appreciate being taught. I'll now mark this (Solved)