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finotti
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Post subject: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 06.12.2011, 05:01
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Joined: 2010-09-12
Posts: 479
Status: Offline
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Dear all,
I've just installed aptosid in a Lenovo Thinkpad W520. All seems to be working, but grub does not show the recovery partition:
Code:
root@w520[/home/finotti]# fdisk -l
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
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8132d846
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 2459647 1228800 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 2459648 416739327 207139840 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 944003072 976771071 16384000 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4 416739328 944003071 263631872 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
I am pretty sure sda3 is the recovery partition...
Code:
root@w520[/home/finotti]# cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi
function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.1-4.slh.3-aptosid-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
echo 'Loading Linux 3.1-4.slh.3-aptosid-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.1-4.slh.3-aptosid-amd64 root=UUID=f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835 ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.1-4.slh.3-aptosid-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.39-3.slh.1-aptosid-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.39-3.slh.1-aptosid-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.39-3.slh.1-aptosid-amd64 root=UUID=f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835 ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.39-3.slh.1-aptosid-amd64
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, experimental multiboot)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
multiboot /boot/memtest86+_multiboot.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200, experimental multiboot)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f648ea5c-16fd-4b2e-bfec-f996d6f6f835
multiboot /boot/memtest86+_multiboot.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root CC16DEA916DE93B4
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0252E2B152E2A89D
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
I will eventually need to wipe this installation and return it to original installation, so I need access to the recovery partition... Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Best to all,
Luis |
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alexk
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Post subject: RE: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 06.12.2011, 17:54
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Joined: 2010-10-01
Posts: 288
Status: Offline
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Not sure why update-grub isn't picking up that partition, but you could probably boot it from the Grub command line with something like:
Code:
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
parttool (hd0,msdos3) hidden-
parttool (hd0,msdos3) boot+
set root=(hd0,msdos3)
chainloader +1
boot
You could type at the Grub command line:
Code:
set root=(hd0
followed by <TAB> to see available partitions by argument completion. You could also try:
Code:
ls
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finotti
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Post subject: Re: RE: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 06.12.2011, 19:30
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Joined: 2010-09-12
Posts: 479
Status: Offline
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alexk wrote:
Not sure why update-grub isn't picking up that partition, but you could probably boot it from the Grub command line with something like:
Code:
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
parttool (hd0,msdos3) hidden-
parttool (hd0,msdos3) boot+
set root=(hd0,msdos3)
chainloader +1
boot
You could type at the Grub command line:
Code:
set root=(hd0
followed by <TAB> to see available partitions by argument completion. You could also try:
Code:
ls
Thank you for your reply!
Following your commands, I get:
Code:
BOOTMGR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
I have no error message when issuing those commands, and <TAB> does show that msdos3 has label "Lenovo_Recovery". Any ideas?
Thanks,
Luis |
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finotti
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 06.12.2011, 21:02
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Joined: 2010-09-12
Posts: 479
Status: Offline
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OK, it seems that the Recovery utility is not installed by default. Since I did not use Windows at all (went straight to installing Linux) I did not realize that.
Now, I tried to install it from Windows, but it gave an error regarding writing to the MBR, as now it is taken by grub. I think I might need to install Windows bootloader in the MBR, install the recovery software, then reinstall grub (from the live CD). Or does anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks for the help,
Luis |
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slh
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 06.12.2011, 23:47
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Joined: 2010-08-25
Posts: 954
Status: Offline
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Usually, recovery partitions have their own (often DOS based) bootloader (in partition), so just chainmounting should work (also read http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Hidden_Protected_Area), however fun like HPA (host protected area) and the like might make it a little difficult.
Disclaimer: I haven't dealt with recovery partitions myself so far - and when I do encounter them, I usually blow them away (install media on external/ optical media and current drivers are imho more convenient to deal with). |
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ConvBSD
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Post subject:
Posted: 07.12.2011, 05:00
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Joined: 2010-09-16
Posts: 30
Status: Offline
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Hi,
An idea:
Why you won't mount the recovery partition to see what's there.
Maybe it's empty. |
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alexk
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Post subject:
Posted: 07.12.2011, 15:54
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Joined: 2010-10-01
Posts: 288
Status: Offline
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I can't say I have experience booting recovery partitions, either, sorry. Just based on some experience booting OS's from Grub, I can think of trying the old trick of hiding the other Windows partitions:
Code:
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
parttool (hd0,msdos3) hidden-
parttool (hd0,msdos1) hidden+
parttool (hd0,msdos2) hidden+
parttool (hd0,msdos3) boot+
set root=(hd0,msdos3)
chainloader +1
boot
I assume /dev/sda1 (msdos1) is a small Windows boot partition and is what you use to boot Windows.
If you can't find a way to activate the rescue partition, I believe you can generally order recovery DVDs, though probably for a fee.
Boot Info Script may also be useful (though of course use at your own risk). |
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DeepDayze
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Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: recovery partition not showing up in grub
Posted: 08.12.2011, 02:14
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Joined: 2010-09-11
Posts: 616
Location: USA
Status: Offline
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slh wrote:
Usually, recovery partitions have their own (often DOS based) bootloader (in partition), so just chainmounting should work (also read http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Hidden_Protected_Area), however fun like HPA (host protected area) and the like might make it a little difficult.
Disclaimer: I haven't dealt with recovery partitions myself so far - and when I do encounter them, I usually blow them away (install media on external/ optical media and current drivers are imho more convenient to deal with).
Most systems have an option in Windows to create recovery CD/DVD's which will place all the data in the recovery partition onto the media where you can then recover systems where the disk has failed completely. I generally do that then blow all the partitions away and install Aptosid. IBM/Lenovo systems have HPA and there's most likely a setting in the BIOS to turn HPA off on such systems so that you can then utilize the whole disk |
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