[SOLVED]Incorrect UUIDs

Question

I promise this isn't just another duplicate post like so many others from people who just start blindly posting when they have a problem. It's really not. I've searched thoroughly, and even found something of a solution to my original problem here on this very forum. Just give me a chance.
Anyway, I'll get to the point. After taking a break from Arch to experiment with Slackware, I decided that--while I did enjoy Slack--I missed Arch too much and wanted to return. Since it's been awhile I see some things have changed. The installation process seems mostly the same as when I had stopped, but it doesn't want to go as smoothly as it used to for me. I, like many others, have recently come across this error after what I thought was a successful install:
Booting 'Arch GNU/Linux, with Linux core repo kernel'
error: no such device: ad4103fa-d940-47ca-8506-301d8071d467.
Loading Linux core repo kernel ...
error: file '/boot/vmlinuz-linux' not found.
Loading initial ramdisk ...
error: you need to load the kernel first.
Press any key to continue...
Now wait! Don't start getting frustrated and tell me to use the Search function or otherwise label me as a leecher, noob, or idiot. I promise you, I did use the Search function. Quite a bit. I arrived at this thread: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=157195, which helped me to achieve a semi-fix. I did as the link suggested, and when I rebooted, GRUB loads, and I saw three entries for Arch instead of the original two that are there by default with GRUB. Both of these had the random non-existent UUID posted above. The third entry, on the bottom, was simply labeled: Arch Linux. I checked my grub.cfg; indeed the UUID matches the one in my /etc/fstab. This one get's me into my installed system successfully, however, it does so without displaying any of those pretty Arch startup messages whatsoever. Just blank, then I'm at a login prompt. Weird. Another thing I noticed is that there's no Windows entry, however, there is an entry for it when I look at the actual grub.cfg. One other odd thing is that UUID in the above error is the exact same as the one mentioned in the solved thread I visited.
Now that I've given that background here's some info. Much like the link I posted above I have a dual-boot, installed Arch from USB. Partitioning scheme is as follows:
/dev/sda1 - Windows boot
/dev/sda2 - Windows
/dev/sda3 - Shared NTFS part visible in both windows and *nix
/dev/sda5 - logical /
/dev/sda6 - logical /boot
/etc/fstab:
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
# <file system> <dir> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# UUID=6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe
/dev/sda6 / ext4 rw,relatime,data=ordered 0 1
# UUID=2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
/dev/sda5 /boot ext4 rw,relatime,stripe=4,data=ordered 0 2
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 ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi
if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi
export menuentry_id_option
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 {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos6'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos6 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos6 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos6 6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi
if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux core repo kernel' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-core repo kernel-true-6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos5'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos5 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos5 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
fi
echo 'Loading Linux core repo kernel ...'
linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe rw quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux core repo kernel (Fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-core repo kernel-fallback-6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos5'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos5 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos5 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
fi
echo 'Loading Linux core repo kernel ...'
linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe rw quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos5'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos5 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos5 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2097ae5f-4235-436c-8fcf-c3451b0fe26a
fi
echo 'Loading Linux core repo kernel ...'
linux /vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe rw quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-6b8bc0b7-0723-4227-8cd3-eb246fe71cfe' {
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-8832E79332E78512' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 8832E79332E78512
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8832E79332E78512
fi
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 ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
All the UUIDs seem to match the one in /etc/fstab. For some reason when I boot up it doesn't show any startup messages, as well, I get these errors:
When running grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-linux
Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-linux.img
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
WARNING: Failed to connect to lvmetad: No such file or directory. Falling back to internal scanning.
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
No volume groups found
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
error: out of memory.
error: syntax error.
error: Incorrect command.
error: syntax error.
Syntax error at line 175
Syntax errors are detected in generated GRUB config file.
Ensure that there are no errors in /etc/default/grub
and /etc/grub.d/* files or please file a bug report with
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.new file attached.done
[ 226.740489] SQUASHFS error: Can't find a SQUASHFS superblock on sda4
[ 226.744243] EXT4-fs (sda4): unable to read superblock
[ 226.747550] EXT4-fs (sda4): unable to read superblock
[ 226.750797] EXT4-fs (sda4): unable to read superblock
and when running os-prober:
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
WARNING: Failed to connect to lvmetad: No such file or directory. Falling back to internal scanning.
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
/run/lvm/lvmetad.socket: connect failed: No such file or directory
No volume groups found
/dev/sda1:Windows 7 (loader):Windows:chain
There error also displays EXT4-fs (sda4): unable to read superblock, three times but with different numbers in front of them. This obviously has a lot to do with why GRUB isn't detecting Windows.
I really don't understand why the command:
genfstab -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
Seems to want to create this UUID: ad4103fa-d940-47ca-8506-301d8071d467
Because that's the UUID it puts in my /etc/fstab and that is the same exact one the other user was given in the link I provided. Is this some sort of bug? Generating fstab has always gone without a hitch before I left for Slackware. So, to summarize as to make the post less confusing:
Issues:
- genfstab /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab generates wrong UUIDs and I have to restart and implement the solution in the link provided.
- Aforementioned solution somewhat works, it boots me into my system but I see no startup messages(I like those startup messages), and there is obviously something wrong if this is happening anyway.
- GRUB refuses to detect Windows despite what is in grub.cfg, and os-prober and grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg spits out errors.
Thanks very much.
Last edited by xworld (2013-12-19 07:02:47)

Answer 1

Thanks for the tip with the english output, didn't know that.
I hadn't searched that problem as my boot process works, lowering the severity-level of this particular error to 'interesting'.
In english the message says
LC_ALL=C sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-linux
Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-linux.img
No volume groups found
error: out of memory.
error: syntax error.
error: Incorrect command.
error: syntax error.
Syntax error at line 166
Syntax errors are detected in generated GRUB config file.
Ensure that there are no errors in /etc/default/grub
and /etc/grub.d/* files or please file a bug report with
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.new file attached.done
Now I had  time to mess around with the grub files, here's what's going wrong:
Syntax error at line 166
Line 166 happens to be the last line in /boot/grub/grub.cfg.new.
If I remove the 40_memtest file from /etc/grub.d/, the resulting grub.cfg.new is shorter and the error message is just
Syntax error at line 142
Such last line errors normally hint to a missing semicolon or unclosed brackets, something like that.
That's what happens here too.
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-ba68a391-44a1-4849-aa24-1ed08facbd0f' {
load_video
set gfxpayload=keep
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 ba68a391-44a1-4849-aa24-1ed08facbd0f
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ba68a391-44a1-4849-aa24-1ed08facbd0f
fi
echo 'Loading Linux core repo kernel ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=ba68a391-44a1-4849-aa24-1ed08facbd0f rw quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-ba68a391-44a1-4849-aa24-1ed08facbd0f' {
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
At the bottom, the submenu entry? This bracket never gets closed.
The reason for this lies in /etc/grub.d/10_linux line 274 ff:
echo "submenu '$(gettext_printf "Advanced options for %s" "${OS}" | grub_quote)' \$menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-$boot_device_id' {"
is_top_level=false
fi
if ! test -e "/etc/arch-release" ; then
linux_entry "${OS}" "${version}" advanced \
"${GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX} ${GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT}"
fi
if [ "x${GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY}" != "xtrue" ]; then
linux_entry "${OS}" "${version}" recovery \
"single ${GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX}"
fi
list=`echo $list | tr ' ' '\n' | grep -vx $linux | tr '\n' ' '`
done
# If at least one kernel was found, then we need to
# add a closing '}' for the submenu command.
if ! test -e "/etc/arch-release" ; then
if [ x"$is_top_level" != xtrue ]; then
echo '}'
fi
fi
The first line in this excerpt opens the bracket, the two if clauses at the bottom should close it but they don't.
At leas the first clause returns false.
After just commenting out line 274, thus never opening the submenu entry, the error mesage is gone
LC_ALL=C sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-linux
Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-linux.img
No volume groups found
done
So, large text, small insight;
the problem isn't the submenu or the  10_Linux script itself but rather that
if ! test -e "/etc/arch-release" ;
isn't true.
That's because the file is there, it's empty (0B) but it should contain something or not be there at all. It being there but empty borks the whole thing
Removing it (= renaming it to "arch-release~")  solves the issue kind of.
It changes the appearance of the grub menu quite heavily (only Arch and Advanced are there, the 2 core repo kernel entries not) but the boot process still works.
Last edited by Caldazar (2013-12-20 17:20:55)