Boot problem after / partition resize - ( Stupid mistake !!) [SOLVED]

[Tony]

Seems I'm up the creek without a paddle,... ?

I have a XP Disk, plus the 2010 pclinuxos Minime 2010 Live CD, and Pclinuxos LXDE Mini 2011.06 LiveCD(Installed) - plus Internet access from that .

[AS]

EDIT: Also, adding more info,  the setup is a 40 GB HDD, which had WinXP, and 18 GB's of Free space, and I wanted as I have as previously with pclos KDE Minime for eight months, install to linux partitions created on that Free disk space, using 12 GB's of the Free 18 GB's. I use a 500 GB External Drive to collect any large downloads that would compromise the Free space, if that makes any sense.

Your first disk (/dev/sda) look like 40 Gb, containing only a 12 Gb Linux partition, 28 Gb apparently are free space ...
the second disk (/dev/sdb) seems to be 6 Gb containg a 6 Gb Windows (XP ?) partition.

If you had XP installed on the first (40 Gb) disk, actually there is no XP partition on that disk.

Do you have one or more backup of your system ?

[Tony]

Your first disk (/dev/sda) look like 40 Gb, containing only a 12 Gb Linux partition, 28 Gb apparently are free space ...
the second disk (/dev/sdb) seems to be 6 Gb containg a 6 Gb Windows (XP ?) partition.

Thanks AS, yep that's about how I read the situation.

If you had XP installed on the first (40 Gb) disk, actually there is no XP partition on that disk.

Do you have one or more backup of your system ?

Wow, I'm Windows free !!    Wish me luck as I explore the range of PCLinuxOS installations  

I have all I want on my 500GB External Drive, not a disc image of my XP System, but I have WinXP InstallDisc, so things will be fine.

I am very concerned however with this Partitioning situation when installing PCLinuxOS. Really I suppose I made an Error and wiped the XP partition, and well hopefully it's not that easy to do, as I'd hate to have it happen again. I will, maybe (most certainly   Reinstall XP - see what I think, in two minds - XP is a Classic gotta admit. Plus it's a legal disc, of course, although I will probably have to ring Microsoft to verify the serial no. )

I'm scared, and hope I can ask some stupid questions here, or more imaginative is better put; like there's no way I could Install PCLinuxOS onto my 500 GB External Hard Drive ? GRUB would need to be there at each boot, meaning the Ext Drive would have to be plugged in at each startup ? ***

My Progress thus far:
As said,
*Have a working install of pclos LXDE Mini 2011.06. ( Nice ! )
*Have actually downloaded the PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.06.iso, within LXDE, and to my delight burnt a Live CD  
*I really are taking baby steps, especially as I've always used KDE desktop.

Will most likely install PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.06 as well LXDE, in wait for MiniMe, today as have no sound in LXDE, and I'm sick of problems  

Thanks to the Forum members who have supported my chaotic ride  
( We have so much work  to do communally.)
I'm noticing; Info I collected 6 months ago is out of date. Links are dead, this is just a "To Do" list in general for the Community, and if I have time would be happy to help with the Wiki, or I help anybody if I can, but honestly a clear Installation Guide, mainly with an explanation without suggesting using GParted, or some obtuse method of Partitioning, apologies if there is and I overlooked it, every bit of info I've searched here and online has been really outdated. Maybe as we are spawning new versions of PCLinuxOS at the moment and older advice no longer is relevant.) I'll shutup now  

Before I go any further actually, is it feasible to install PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.06 given the circumstances above. I need to know, and make a good plan.
*ie.Should I uninstall pclos LXDE Mini 2011.06 ?
I've a feeling maybe I need to Format the whole 40GB HDD before proceding with any further installations ?, 
*This was a " PreInstall" box with windows in a hidden Partition, which when I run an NEC "UnInstall Disc" some time soon, I will not know whether the "Hiden WinXP Partition" exists still, I doubt it ...
*How do I make sure I have partitioned cleanly ?
*It would be nice to allocate 5  GB's to root(\) ; 1 GB to Swap, 10 GB's to Home . Thankyou !

[Old-Polack]

francis:

To answer your question about installing to your external drive, all my installations are on two external drives. They have to be, as there are no internal drives in this box.  

[root@fatman ~]# fdisk -l -u=cylinders

Code: [Select]

Disk /dev/sdb: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x2db1883a

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1          13      104391   83  Linux
/dev/sdb2              14         761     6008310   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb3             762        4497    30009420   83  Linux
/dev/sdb4            4498       91201   696449880    5  Extended
/dev/sdb5            4498       16947   100004593+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb6           16948       41750   199230066   83  Linux
/dev/sdb7           41751       45520    30282493+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb8           45521       50506    40050013+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb9           50507       65096   117194143+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb10          65097       79686   117194143+  83  Linux
/dev/sdb11          79687       91201    92494206   83  Linux

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0000d21c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1          39      313236   83  Linux
/dev/sda2              40        1047     8096760   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3            1048        7127    48837600   83  Linux
/dev/sda4            7128      121601   919512405    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            7128       20500   107418591   83  Linux
/dev/sda6           20501       33267   102550896   83  Linux
/dev/sda7           33268       37158    31254426   83  Linux
/dev/sda8           37159       41049    31254426   83  Linux
/dev/sda9           41050       44940    31254426   83  Linux
/dev/sda10          44941       48831    31254426   83  Linux
/dev/sda11          48832       61886   104864256   83  Linux
/dev/sda12          61887      101050   314584798+  83  Linux
/dev/sda13         101051      104942    31262458+  83  Linux
/dev/sda14         104943      108893    31736376   83  Linux
/dev/sda15         108894      113071    33559753+  83  Linux
/dev/sda16         113072      117641    36700160   83  Linux
/dev/sda17         117641      121601    31815017   83  Linux


[Tony]

Sorry old-polack I was Modifying/clarify when you posted.
Feel like sharing how to do this wonderful feat ? ( I'm virtually in Bed in Australia   ) but I will not give up till I have a plan, and installing to my 500 GB External HDD sounds wonderful !!!

[Tony]

I have a bit going on, but if you have the time I can give you an Email address, you can PM me, the options are limited only by my tired imagination !!

[Old-Polack]

Sorry old-polack I was Modifying/clarify when you posted.
Feel like sharing how to do this wonderful feat ? ( I'm virtually in Bed in Australia   ) but I will not give up till I have a plan, and installing to my 500 GB External HDD sounds wonderful !!!

How much of this will be applicable to you depends a lot on how much you already have stored on your external drive, and whether your hardware will boot to either a USB or eSATA hard drive. I will briefly explain what I did when the drives were each new and totally empty.

Knowing I will be installing multiple OS, I start with creating a small primary boot partition. This can be from 100 MB to 1 GB in size, and formatted with an ext3 filesystem. Next I add a swap partition twice the size of my installed RAM on the second primary partition. The third primary partition is a / partition for the first Linux installation, and the fourth and last primary partition is an extended partition that extends to the last sector of the drive, and contains all of the logical partitions I will later add.

I don't use a separate /home partition, choosing instead to have a data partition I mount on /home/polack/Documents. The advantage of this is that I can mount the same partition in the same relative place on all of my installations, so my data is easy to find, no matter which OS I am currently running. My /home/polack directory is part of the / partition and holds just the configuration files and things that only apply to that specific installation. I have other data partitions that I mount in various places on the system, but each of them is also mounted in a similar location on all other installations as well. I use the same /etc/fstab on all my installations, with only the / partition entry modified for each specific installation.

After the first installation and the creation of the first data partition, I usually leave the rest of the drive unpartitioned, until I have a specific use for a new partition. It may be another data partition, or a new / partition for another installation. The size will not be determined until the use is known.

[Tony]

Thanks so much old-polack, noted and stored.

Have just run the Live CD of PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.06; note Texstar has a full installation guide in HTML spookily answering all the quick fix Install Q's, (I need a decent Computer, Today !) questions I've asked.
Is that guy psychic 

That'll do me for this week 

[Xenaflux]

Is that guy psychic  Grin

in one word...yes !

OP, I have a question.
If I don't ask now, it's a 107% guarantee I will forget

What is the difference between how you do it and how I do it

Your way:
Knowing I will be installing multiple OS, I start with creating a small primary boot partition. This can be from 100 MB to 1 GB in size, and formatted with an ext3 filesystem....etc

Q: why separate boot partition and why ext3

My way:
I install swap first ( hda1 ), then Install Pclos ( first of many ) on extended partition (hda5 ) with bootloader in MBR ( as per default )
If adding further OSes, I install each bootloader in its own /   and then modify Menu.lst on hda5 manually


I am interested to know the difference as I am ( kind of ) supporting a small group of
( EX- ? )windows kids

Thanks

[Old-Polack]

Is that guy psychic  Grin

in one word...yes !

OP, I have a question.
If I don't ask now, it's a 107% guarantee I will forget

What is the difference between how you do it and how I do it

Your way:
Knowing I will be installing multiple OS, I start with creating a small primary boot partition. This can be from 100 MB to 1 GB in size, and formatted with an ext3 filesystem....etc

Q: why separate boot partition and why ext3

My way:
I install swap first ( hda1 ), then Install Pclos ( first of many ) on extended partition (hda5 ) with bootloader in MBR ( as per default )
If adding further OSes, I install each bootloader in its own /   and then modify Menu.lst on hda5 manually


I am interested to know the difference as I am ( kind of ) supporting a small group of
( EX- ? )windows kids

Thanks

I don't mount the boot partition on any installation. I have a grub directory with all the grub files and my master menu.lst. I also have a link to the partition named boot. Each time I add a new installation I feel will be permanent, or at least long term, I mount the boot partition on /mnt/boot then copy the new /boot directory to the boot partition. As the copy process sees the boot link it asks me to rename the copied directory, which I do with the name of the appropriate OS. I have directories named minime2010, kde2010, 750mm, openbox, etc.

My menu.lst entries reflect those directories where they would normally start with;

kernel (hd0,n)/boot/vmlinuz

they now are;

kernel (hd0,0)/minime2010/vmlinuz

kernel (hd0,0)/kde2010/vmlinuz

kernel (hd0,0)/openbox/vmlinuz

This gives me two means of booting each installation, a stanza that points to the / partition and another for the named directory on the boot partition. If the kernels or initrd images on either location become corrupted, I already have a backup set in place.

It's a little bit of extra bother, but I don't get locked out of any of my installations... ever.

[Xenaflux]

It's a little bit of extra bother,.....

Small investment for lower blood pressure .

I understand your reasoning  and will give it serious thought.
Possible better than my way.

Thanks a zillion

Xenaflux

[Tony]

Yes, very interesting indeed. I maybe shouldn't have done this but I have, and it's concerning the success of installing PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop, after cleaning up my Hard Drive, the 40 GB one, and feeling so chuffed that I installed PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini as well.

I suppose best just give the details, hoping that this is just a little oversight to the trained eye, and a lack of knowledge and being over zealous on my behalf - in "the grub files and my master menu.lst" , plus MBR settings I hope a well versed expert may help me to sort this problem, someone like, old-polack.    

In a Nutshell I get the GRUB Bootloader offering at the Top of the List at boot - PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop, with the ten second countdown, all as I set it up.
However I felt it just a matter of completing that Installation, closing down the Computer a for awhile, then putting my Live CD of PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini in the CD Drive, and installing following the Draklive Wizard, which all seemed to go well. I simply listed it below the Top entry, PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 - as it was offered, as PCLINUX. What is happening is that if I drop down to the second line in the Grub Boot selection List, to PCLINUX, which should I felt launch PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini, however it is booting to PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop, unfortuneately.
I feel so stupid now, and hope this is fixable, if that is a word, ugh !

The Basic details as I wrote whilst installation:
1.) PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop as I've just looked at the script of The MBR ( Redo MBR) is called /dev/sda2.
2.) PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini as I've just looked at the script of The MBR ( Redo MBR) is called /dev/sda8.
I have not opened the "Redo MBR" files, just seen what they were called, as stated.
Now, oh I'm a nuisance, heck, when I installed KDE 2011.6 Desktop, the parameters as I wrote them:
sda ; Journalised FS: EXT 4 / 3GB
sda7; Home ; FS: EXT 4 ; 2.5GB
swap 407 MB

PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini
/dev/sda8
I selected to install over the 6 GB Partition where i had installed it earlier last night, as I was sure I had deleted that partition, ( I actually Formatted the whole 40 GB HDD, using FDISK off of a Win 98 Boot Floppy ! ) and the Wizard offered a Line with Windows (?), plus the blue icon of PC, so I selected the PC partition, the radio button clicked in when I did (.) which then offered locations sda8 and sda10 had been formed as I believed at the time.

The Wizard said to logout, remove the disk, hit Enter, and reboot, as it does.
I must offer up more info, at this point I'm at my wits end as I've spent so long on this. probably not making much sense.
I'd be so greatful of a helping hand old-polack, spent hours on this. The idea of having The normal sized PCLOS KDE OS, and the Mini LXDE 2011.06 seemed so appealing.

I have just rebooted, and GRUB has this as a list:
                                                                PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop
                                                                PCLINUX

When I drop down to the 2nd line and click, it's booting PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop unfortuneately.

Hmmmmmmm  

Any Help Much appreciated, it made sense at the time !

[Tony]

It has something to do with changing USER, as I logged out of one OS, KDE, I noted that it could be selected to another, didn't think too much of it, logged off, went to make a cup of tea, then couldn' t resist turning computer on.
The Setup for root, and Username Passwords for LXDE opened up. So a tweak from some genius, or a kind word of learning may save my situation. That's really it for now, but heck I'm in the other Operating Systen now, I need to go to bed.
What a soap opera, so sorry 

francis

[djohnston]

I suppose best just give the details, hoping that this is just a little oversight to the trained eye, and a lack of knowledge and being over zealous on my behalf - in "the grub files and my master menu.lst" , plus MBR settings I hope a well versed expert may help me to sort this problem, someone like, old-polack.    

In a Nutshell I get the GRUB Bootloader offering at the Top of the List at boot - PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop, with the ten second countdown, all as I set it up.
However I felt it just a matter of completing that Installation, closing down the Computer a for awhile, then putting my Live CD of PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini in the CD Drive, and installing following the Draklive Wizard, which all seemed to go well. I simply listed it below the Top entry, PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 - as it was offered, as PCLINUX. What is happening is that if I drop down to the second line in the Grub Boot selection List, to PCLINUX, which should I felt launch PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 Mini, however it is booting to PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop, unfortuneately.

sda7; Home ; FS: EXT 4 ; 2.5GB
swap 407 MB

You're giving a general description, which won't allow anyone to offer help or suggestions. You need to provide specific information. In this case, provide the menu.lst you have and what isn't working. Also open a terminal, become root user, and provide the results of the command below.

fdisk -l (that's dash lower case L)

I selected to install over the 6 GB Partition where i had installed it earlier last night, as I was sure I had deleted that partition, ( I actually Formatted the whole 40 GB HDD, using FDISK off of a Win 98 Boot Floppy ! ) and the Wizard offered a Line with Windows (?), plus the blue icon of PC, so I selected the PC partition, the radio button clicked in when I did (.) which then offered locations sda8 and sda10 had been formed as I believed at the time.

The Wizard said to logout, remove the disk, hit Enter, and reboot, as it does.

My suggestion here would be to use one partition editor/manager. Sometimes using more than one can affect the results of another. You're working with PCLinuxOS, exclusively now, from what I gather. It has a partition editor/manager provided on the live CD and in the installed version. Stick with using it and I believe you'll avoid unintended problems with partitioning.

[Tony]

You're giving a general description, which won't allow anyone to offer help or suggestions.

Of course, so sorry. Believe it or not but through sheer good programming from the makers of PCLinuxOS I have both afore-mentioned OS's running, and able to be selected (Booted into).

Enough "Soap Opera's" I appreciate your reply djohnston and will post as asked raw details, thankyou for your support.



fdisk -l

Code: [Select]

Disk /dev/sda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders, total 80293248 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0165e8aa

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *       16065    80292869    40138402+   f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda2        67697910    74156039     3229065   83  Linux
/dev/sda5           16128    55102949    27543411    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6        74156103    74991419      417658+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7        74991483    80292869     2650693+  83  Linux
/dev/sda8        55103013    61561079     3229033+  83  Linux
/dev/sda9        61561143    62396459      417658+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda10       62396523    67697909     2650693+  83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 6488 MB, 6488294400 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 788 cylinders, total 12672450 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xcf85cf85

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *          63    12659219     6329578+   7  HPFS/NTFSEDIT -Note: Disk /dev/sdb: 6488 MB, 6488294400 bytes, is a stand alone 'Slave Drive, with Documents on it, it is not involved in any Linux config, but left as storage device from Old Windows install, although of course it is accessable, through PCLinuxOS, thankfully, as it have my .pdfs, and Linux manuals.

My suggestion here would be to use one partition editor/manager. Sometimes using more than one can affect the results of another.
You're working with PCLinuxOS, exclusively now, from what I gather.

Yes, all that is true. And I have seen a multitude of results trying different partition editor/manager's as you say.
i'm sure there is some tidying up to do, I've just plowed my head into this.

You're working with PCLinuxOS, exclusively now, from what I gather. It has a partition editor/manager provided on the live CD and in the installed version. Stick with using it and I believe you'll avoid unintended problems with partitioning.

O.K., great !
It would be fantastic if someone could help me initially sort whatever mess I've created, with the Native partition editor/manager, and point me to the instructions, if you would be so kind.

As far as reality: I have PCLinuxOS KDE 2011.6 Desktop installed, and PCLinuxOS PCLinuxOS LXDE 2011.06 desktop - Mini Version, installed.

Problems:
*Basically not sure how to select either one to Boot into from the GRUB Boot Menu.

*I turn off Computer, restart, then select the second choice ("Line 2") of the Grub Bootloader selections.  
*This method is how I'm changing to the the alternate OS to which I was using before powering off .

I'm very tired, please excuse my semantics, I hope there is enough clarity to smooth these kinks out and have a tidy System,

Thankyou, and all the best,

francis.