Grub Errors 18 and 16 Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS

[lkraemer]

My built up computer with one IDE Western Digital 500 Gig IDE drive,
with 4 Primary Partitions has been giving GRUB errors 18 and now 16.

EVGA Motherboard 650i

Motherboard 122-CK-NF66-T1 with 2 IDE (Master & Slave) Ports
and 4 SATA Ports. Only one Harddrive (Western Digital 500 Gig IDE
MASTER and one IDE DVDRW IDE SLAVE are connected to the Primary IDE Port)

Partitions are laid out as:

Windows XP installed on /dev/sda1 and not activated = timed out
Windows does not have SATA drivers installed

UBUNTU 8.04.3 LTS installed on /dev/sda2 for /
/dev/sda3 is /home
/dev/sda4 is Linux-Swap

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0000a386

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 15298 122881153+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 15299 18485 25599577+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 18486 60482 337340902+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 60483 60801 2562367+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdc: 63 MB, 63488000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00267901

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 * 1 8 61968+ e W95 FAT16 (LBA)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(6, 254, 63) logical=(7, 183, 16)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
    in partition #2 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system: ntfs
    Boot sector type: Windows XP
    Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System: Windows XP
    Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system: ext2
    Boot sector type: -
    Boot sector info:
    Operating System: Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS
    Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda3: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system: ext3
    Boot sector type: -
    Boot sector info:
    Operating System:
    Boot files/dirs:

sda4: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system: swap
    Boot sector type: -
    Boot sector info:

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0000a386

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 245,762,369 245,762,307 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 245,762,370 296,961,524 51,199,155 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 296,961,525 971,643,329 674,681,805 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 971,643,330 976,768,064 5,124,735 82 Linux swap / Solaris

blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: UUID="A4C0E847C0E82172" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda2: UUID="3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75" TYPE="ext2"
/dev/sda3: UUID="628ffe72-beca-4157-855d-acc8c5a56c4c" SEC_TYPE="ext2" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda4: TYPE="swap" UUID="276518eb-910b-474f-84de-9861233f8198"
/dev/sda4: UUID="276518eb-910b-474f-84de-9861233f8198" TYPE="swap"

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.24-24-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /lib/modules/2.6.24-24-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
tmpfs on /tmp type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,nodev)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/ubuntu/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=ubuntu)

================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=1

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sda2/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/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=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,1)

## 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 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-26-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-26-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-25-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-25-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-22-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-21-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, memtest86+
root (hd0,1)
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 Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

=============================== sda2/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda2
UUID=3432e47f-8c14-4a8b-beb6-347e11360b75 / ext2 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda4
UUID=628ffe72-beca-4157-855d-acc8c5a56c4c /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda3
UUID=276518eb-910b-474f-84de-9861233f8198 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 vfat rw,user,noauto 0 0

=================== sda2: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================

 127.4GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
 127.4GB: boot/grub/stage2
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic.bak
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic.bak
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic.bak
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-22-generic.bak
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic
 127.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-25-generic.bak
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic
 127.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic.bak
 127.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic
 127.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic
 127.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-21-generic
 127.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-22-generic
 127.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic
 127.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-25-generic
 127.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-26-generic
 127.4GB: initrd.img
 127.3GB: initrd.img.old
 127.3GB: vmlinuz
 127.3GB: vmlinuz.old
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

ls: cannot access /dev/mapper: No such file or directory

I built a Grub Boot CDR, and can boot from that when I need to.

Yesterday's Update of the Kernel has caused Error 16 and I must use
a previous Grub Menu selection for previous kernel (2.6.24-25-generic)
to get it to boot and run. Prior to this I had numerous Grub 18 Errors
with lots of problems booting to Ubuntu.

I have Completely removed the Header and image files for Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS, kernel 2.6.24-26-generic
and now I can boot with only the Grub Error 18 at random times. The Error 16 hasn't been seen for
a day or two. (If I have my 3.5" floppy ENABLED in the BIOS and have Kernel 2.6.24-26-generic
installed I get the Grub ERROR 16 on each boot, but selecting the previous Kernel allows me to
boot.) My 3.5" floppy is now DISABLED in the BIOS.

The Western Digitial IDE Diagnostic reports no errors for the initial drive test. RESULT=000

I have blown away /dev/sda1 (Windows XP) and formatted it as ext3 and re-installed grub.

These problems started about 20+ days ago.........I can't associate them with any software upgrade.
NO other changes have been made to my system.

Any help would be appreciated.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Jan 24 15:51:30 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
Package: firefox-3.0 3.0.17+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.04.1
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: firefox-3.0
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-25-generic i686

[dino99 (9d9)]

outdated report & no more maintained distro; please send a new one if that issue still exist (using ubuntu-bug)