Well I got the problem partially solved; and I thought it would be a worse situation than it was. The partial solution I found at http://www.pendrivelinux.com/grub-error-21-after-full-install-to-usb-hard-drive/ and consists of
sudo fdisk -l to get a list of partitions and to find out where you want the primary grub to be. In my case (SATA) sda and sdb, in other cases (EDI) hda, hdb, hdc, etc. I wanted it to be on sda and not sdb (which it defaulted to). Then sudo grub-install /dev/sdx where x is the drive from which you wish to boot. In my case sudo grub-install /dev/sda to fix the problem. Then reboot. You will no longer be able to boot from the external drive.... Unless, and I haven't tried this yet.... I change the boot order in my Bios to boot from the external drive before booting from the hard drive. I still have to check this out. Be back shortly. On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 10:45 AM, Mike Bigalke <[email protected]> wrote: > I installed Ubuntu 8.10 on an external hard drive yesterday. Somehow > during the install Grub dHecided to default to the external drive and > I now get an error 21 when I try to boot without the USB drive > attached. I tried changing the BIOS to default to the internal drive > before the external USB; it didn't work. I thought maybe editing > menu.lst on the internal would work. Then I was struck by the idea > that maybe it actually defaults to and demands that the external drive > Grub program be present due to some low level change on the internal > hard drive and there I am. Stuck. Any ideas on how to get Grub to > default back to the internal hard drive? > > > > Here is my menu.lst from the external hard drive. > # menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8) > # grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8), > # grub-md5-cryptr/share/doc/grub > # and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/. > > ## default num > # Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and > # the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used. > # > # You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry > # is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'. > # WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your > # array will desync and will not let you boot your system. > default 0 > > ## timeout sec > # Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default > entry > # (normally the first entry defined). > timeout 10 > > ## hiddenmenu > # Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu) > #hiddenmenu > > # Pretty colours > #color cyan/blue white/blue > > ## password ['--md5'] passwd > # If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing > # control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the > # command 'lock' > # e.g. password topsecret > # password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/ > # password topsecret > > # > # examples > # > # title Windows 95/98/NT/2000 > # root (hd0,0) > # makeactive > # chainloader +1 > # > # title Linux > # root (hd0,1) > # kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro > # > > # > # Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST > > ### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST > ## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified > ## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below > > ## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs > > ## ## Start Default Options ## > ## default kernel options > ## default kernel options for automagic boot options > ## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z > ## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted. > ## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro > ## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro > ## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro > # kopt=root=UUID=773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 ro > > ## default grub root device > ## e.g. groot=(hd0,0) > # groot=773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 > > ## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options > ## e.g. alternative=true > ## alternative=false > # alternative=true > > ## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options > ## e.g. lockalternative=true > ## lockalternative=false > # lockalternative=false > > ## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the > ## alternatives > ## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5 > # defoptions=quiet splash > > ## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options > ## e.g. lockold=false > ## lockold=true > # lockold=false > > ## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option > # xenhopt= > > ## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option > # xenkopt=console=tty0 > > ## altoption boot targets option > ## multiple altoptions lines are allowed > ## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options > ## altoptions=(recovery) single > # altoptions=(recovery mode) single > > ## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst > ## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the > ## alternative kernel options > ## e.g. howmany=all > ## howmany=7 > # howmany=all > > ## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option > ## e.g. memtest86=true > ## memtest86=false > # memtest86=true > > ## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system > ## can be true or false > # updatedefaultentry=false > > ## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options > ## can be true or false > # savedefault=false > > ## ## End Default Options ## > > title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic > uuid 773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic > root=UUID=773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 ro quiet splash > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic > quiet > > title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode) > uuid 773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic > root=UUID=773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic > > title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+ > uuid 773dfc5d-50e2-41ff-856e-6792808e3d19 > kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin > quiet > > ### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST > > # This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian > # ones. > title Other operating systems: > root > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS > # on /dev/sda1 > title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader) > root (hd0,0) > savedefault > makeactive > chainloader +1 > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS > # on /dev/sda2 > title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader) > root (hd0,1) > savedefault > makeactive > chainloader +1 > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-18-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-18-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-18-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-18-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-18-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-18-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-17-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-17-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-17-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-17-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-17-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-17-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro splash vga=773 > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic > root=UUID=818f9ddc-a156-4240-ae16-5378b6cea4c5 ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sda5. > title Ubuntu 8.04.2, memtest86+ (on /dev/sda5) > root (hd0,4) > kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS > # on /dev/sdb2 > title Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader) > root (hd1,1) > savedefault > makeactive > map (hd0) (hd1) > map (hd1) (hd0) > chainloader +1 > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sdb3. > title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (on /dev/sdb3) > root (hd1,2) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic > root=UUID=d6d52470-6775-41b9-814a-778b47ed37ba ro quiet splash > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sdb3. > title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode) (on > /dev/sdb3) > root (hd1,2) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic > root=UUID=d6d52470-6775-41b9-814a-778b47ed37ba ro single > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic > savedefault > boot > > > # This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing > # linux installation on /dev/sdb3. > title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+ (on /dev/sdb3) > root (hd1,2) > kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin > savedefault > boot > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Central West End Linux Users Group (via Google Groups) Main page: http://www.cwelug.org To post: [email protected] To subscribe: [email protected] To unsubscribe: [email protected] More options: http://groups.google.com/group/cwelug -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
