[SOLVED] Windows 8 made all my arch partition unallocated space

Hi, I've been using arch for the past 8 months without any problem. I used to have win 7 and fedora on my laptop also.I used the bootloader from fedora to boot arch. Yesterday I decided to replace win7 with win8. After playing around with it, it was time to return to my arch, so I grabbed a live cd and booted, chrooted to my fedora and reinstalled grub. Everything fine but when I rebooted and selected Arch to start I got error that the partition doesn't exist. I booted into fedora and really, gparted shows all my 3 arch partitions as unallocated space. Why only arch has been deleted, and is there a way to save it somehow? I don't know the exact size of the previous partitions. Thanks
Last edited by raxbg (2012-03-15 06:52:33)

fdisk seems to find the partition table correctly, but I will not try to write it to the disk since it is now working. Im gonna buy a USB Hard drive and move everything important there first, then I will experiment Thank you for your help

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[SOLVED] Windows 8.1, lost Arch boot loader, cannot reinstall or boot

Hi all,
Apologies but I am only posting as I have exhausted my (admittedly quite limited) knowledge and have spent hours trying to get it back up and running but nothing seems to work at all. This will probably be quite long, apologies if there is something really obvious that I have missed on the Wiki or anywhere, but I'm only posting as I can't seem to get anywhere with it at all despite reading and trying.
Essentially I had a Toshiba Satellite p850-321 laptop (UEFI, secure boot off, fast boot off) which I had dual booting with Windows 8 and Arch using rEFInd. I then had several moments of madness, starting when for some reason - on very little sleep so didn't think - decided to upgrade Windows 8 to 8.1. Unsurprisingly (but a surprise for me at the time), it then booted straight into Windows 8.1, no rEFInd. In hindsight, it had probably just set itself as boot priority but I thought it had overwritten rEFInd with its own bootloader or set it back to default or something so started on a way to try and get it back.
I then spent many hours trying to get my old bootable Arch USB stick to work with no joy, updating it to the latest arch iso and all sorts. It eventually worked when I updated the laptop BIOS. Booted from the USB, chrooted into arch, reinstalled rEFInd, played around, eventually got it to reboot and display rEFInd but Arch wouldn't start. At this point I noticed that my fstab looked strange (devices/labels mixed up from what I expected), so followed the Beginner's Guide again and recreated the fstab. My disk is partitioned as follows (main partitions of note):
/dev/sda2 - Windows EFI partition
/dev/sda4 Windows 8.1
/dev/sda6 arch swap partition (archswap)
/dev/sda7 arch root partition (archroot)
/dev/sda8 arch home partition (archhome)
Couldn't get rEFInd to work so decided to start again with gummiboot. Installed gummiboot, followed Beginner's Guide to install and configure it. Edited arch.conf and after having to mess about with the location of vmlinuz-arch.efi in the conf file, I have the options part looking like this:
options root=/dev/sda7 rw
Now gummiboot loads on startup but all I get on trying to load Arch from gummiboot is the dreaded:
ERROR: device '' not found. Skipping fsck
ERROR: Unable to find root device ''.
I've tried changing the root in options in arch.conf to UUID, PARTUUID and even different partitions (just to see what happened...) - the same. Is it likely to be due to me recreating the fstab and something is messed up there?
Another problem is that now, whatever I do, I cannot boot from the USB again to get in to even try to fix anything. The laptop on boot just hangs for a while and then loads the gummiboot from the disk drive rather than from the USB (I've set the boot priority, everything) and nothing will allow me to boot from the USB. That is probably a secondary issue, I can probably try to reinstall the BIOS again and see if that helps.
If anyone has had anything similar and has any solutions I'd be really grateful - anything. I don't mind being shown to be incredibly stupid, I get that a lot so have a lot of experience! - just anything that can get me back into Arch again without having to reinstall from scratch!
Thanks.
Last edited by pilf (2013-11-02 19:45:44)

Thanks for replying, very much appreciated. The partitions were numbered sequentially, I only posted up the partitions that I thought were of interest to the issue (which wasn't very helpful!). The partitions are as follows:
Partition No Type
1 Win Recover
2 EFI System (EFI partition)
3 Microsoft Reserved
4 Microsoft Basic (Windows 8.1 installation)
5 Windows Recover
6 Linux Swap
7 Microsoft Basic (Arch root partition)
8 Microsoft Basic (Arch home partition)
9 Windows Recover
It looks like I have managed to solve it, but I admit I'm not sure what of the several changes I made that solved it. I managed to boot into the USB arch disk by resetting my BIOS back to defaults and then changing the boot order back, which was the only way it would boot the USB - without resetting back and putting the boot order back exactly how it was before it wouldn't boot from the USB. Anyway...
Checked the partitions with gdisk, no problems. I did sort the partitions as you mentioned, just in case. Changed the partition names using gdisk to the same names I had before (archroot, archhome, archswap). Changed the types from Microsoft Basic to Linux filesystem (partitions 7 and 8) and wrote the partition.
Mounted everything, chrooted, edited the gummiboot arch.conf file and noticed there were some strange characters in it, a forward slash before /root in the options for example. I had edited the arch.conf file from windows by booting into Windows, mounting the EFI partition (mountvol z: /s) and editing it that way, which would have messed up the formatting. It can't have only been that though as it wasn't booting anyway which is why I went into Windows to edit the file in the first place. Corrected the arch.conf file, rebooted and it booted. Some errors on boot which I need to correct but I can work on those as it boots into my arch installation.
So all solved. I thought I'd update just to say thanks for the advice and in case it helps anyone else in the future.

Classic 160GB, Itunes and Windows Explorer all disagree on how much space is on the Ipod

Hi,
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Thanks for your help.

Also, does an Ipod running on Windows need the "metadata_never_index" file? I don't remember this being on the pod until recently, and from what I've read it's a file for connection to Macs.

Can't extend windows 7 partition, even though I have 40gb of unallocated space?

Can someone help? I am in computer management in Windows 7 and would like to somehow use "unallocated space" of 40gb to further expand and extend my Windows 7 partition of 325gb, but the option is grayed out. I can shrink the Windows 7 Partition,
but can't seem to extend it.
In the diagram, this is the order of my partitions:
325gb (Windows 7, NTFS & Primary Partition), 89.13gb (Ubuntu (Linux) 10.04 & primary partition), 3.82gb free space, 39.75gb unallocated space, and 7.79gb for a recovery/respawn (oem) partition (primary partition).
Anyone know if its the order of my partitions thats the problem and thats why i can't seem to extend the partition?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Are you sure all the unallocated space is exactly behind your partition that you want to extend? If not, I think that’s why the extend option is grayed out.
But, don’t de depressed! If you cannot extend your partition in the built-in Disk Management, you also can try some partition resizing tools to help you out, like GParted, IM-Magic Partition Resizer Free and EaseUS Partition Master, etc.
Most importantly, no matter which one you choose to use, you’ d better back up everything important well in case of data loss.

Elements 12 will not run. I am using windows 7, all updates have been made. When I try to open it up, it loads at first, then closes, and will not open up again. I need help with this, as I have not found a single answer in this forum that works.

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My post has been viewed 24 times, and yet have had no answers. I have always like adobe products, however if this is the type of support they offer, I will never purchase another product of theirs. The issue I am having is the same issue many others have had, and yet no answer. Poor customer service!

When you set up a windows os on the bootcamp partition, do you have to treat the computer like a pc with all the maintenance proceedures, like defrag, antivirus and malware software?

When setting up Windows 7 OS on a partition through bootcamp, do you then need to treat it like a PC? Are the same precautions necessary to run an optimal system using proceedures like defrag, disk clean up, and runinig antivirus and malware programs now necessary?

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[SOLVED] Installed Win 7, now Arch won't boot

Edit: To save anyone reading this all the way, the problem turned out to be a badly edited fstab. Sigh.
PROBLEM:
Grub loads, then loads the kernel, but the boot hangs a few seconds later with no real error messages.
BACKGROUND:
1) I needed to boot a native Windows 7 partition on my 128GB laptop SSD.
2) So, I used gparted in an Ubuntu Live USB to resize my existing Arch partition and create an NTFS partition for Win 7:
sda > sda1=Arch > sda2=ntfs > sda3=linux swap
Arch still booted fine after this (sda1).
3) I then installed windows 7 (BIOS install) onto the second partition (sda2). I don't know where or if it puts some system reserved partition - but I can't see anything in gparted.
4) chrooted from an Arch Live USB, reinstalled GRUB, including mkconfig step
5) *If* I recall, Arch then booted OK.
6) Booted into Windows and applied all updates, set windows to use UTC clock and updated my laptops BIOS. Reboot.
7) Win 7 boots fine from the grub menu from (hd0,2)
8) Arch starts booting, loads the kernel, then hangs after the kernel has loaded, but before gdm appears. With the following on screen:
[2.104597] INFO @wl_cfg80211_attach : Registered CFG80211 phy
I have tried chrooting and reinstalling linux and linux-headers and grub. But so far to no avail.
[SOLVED with face palm]
I installed syslinux using chroot, as it displays more startup messages. The boot was hanging at [a disk task is starting] or words to that effect. It was my USB stick, which I'd foolishly added to fstab with the "auto" option. Editing that out of fstab - and it's all good.
I'll leave this here in case anyone else does something this dumb.
Last edited by sultanoswing (2013-10-30 08:09:03)

fettouhi wrote:
Thanks for the clarification about the DAEMONS list. My DAEMONS list is:
DAEMONS=(!hwclock ntpd syslog-ng !network netfs crond @alsa dbus networkmanager ufw cupsd avahi-daemon samba)
when I try to enable alsa and dbus I get this
[root@andre ~]# systemctl enable alsa-store.service
The unit files have no [Install] section. They are not meant to be enabled using systemctl.
[root@andre ~]# systemctl enable alsa-restore.service
The unit files have no [Install] section. They are not meant to be enabled using systemctl.
[root@andre ~]# systemctl enable dbus.service
The unit files have no [Install] section. They are not meant to be enabled using systemctl.
Is LVM handled automatically by systemd? The reason I ask is because I have the USELVM= set to YES in rc.conf.
I made the permanent transition to systemd and did not start alsa at all - sound works fine - so I never bothered with the alsa-store/alsa-restore service files at all - it just works! Also dbus gets handled by default in systemd so you don't need any starting of dbus service at all... it just works.

How to install my company's image of Windows 7 onto a Bootcamp partition?

My company uses a reimaging DVD to install Windows 7, MS Office, and all other propietary company software and settings. On a PC, you boot to the disk, it asks is you want to erase the entire and reimage the entire disk. It does not recongize partitions to allow you to choose which disk is erased and reimaged. I assume it would reformat the entire HD, removing partitions, and reimage the whole thing with WIndows 7 erasing the Mac OS.
The disk is made up of a boot folder with a etfsboot.com file. I'm assuming that this is where the process starts. It looks like they may have used imagex to create the image. There is a WIM file along with 4 SWM files which I'm assuming contain the image rebuild. There are several other support files but none of significant size.
I've read a ton of different blogs and forems, but I can't find anything that addresses my situation. Bootcamp doesn't recongnize the disk or the boot file as a Windows 7 install disk (I didn't think it would, but it was worth a shot).
How do I get this image onto a bootcamp partition?

You need a full retail version of Windows in order to install Windows on a Boot Camp partition. Ask your IT Admin or whoever created the image why it does not install on an Apple computer. We have no idea what they put on the disk with respect to software, security, etc.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634

[Solved] Can't boot into Arch after deleting some partitons

About 6 months ago I installed Arch on a machine that used to run Ubuntu. Had some trouble at the time getting to boot into Arch but somehow managed. Now eventually decided to delete the old Ubuntu partitons to free up some space using gparted. Arch partition number changed from sda12 to sda6.
On rebooting after deleting ubuntu partitions with gparted, I got an ubuntu splash screen and a whole lot of ubuntu boot options. Somehow these were all contained in my Arch's /boot/grub/menu.lst. Arch is all on one partition and no separate boot partition (which I had with Ubuntu - maybe I haven't deleted that and this is the problem?). Will need to check that out.
I can chroot into Arch and did the following -
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd0,5)
grub> root (hd0,5)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
grub> setup (hd0)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"... 16 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+16 p (hd0,5)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeed
ed
Done.
grub>
The Arch /boot/grub/menu.lst had a whole lot of ubuntu stuff in it but I edited to the following -
# 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 3
## 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
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,3)
title Arch uuid
#root (hd0,5)
uuid d15cf4f9-18ca-4ec5-95bc-db0f6f264736
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda6 ro vga=775
intrd /boot/kernel26.img
title Arch hd
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda6
intrd /boot/kernel26.img
I have a bootinfo script which gives the following (from the chroot environment) -
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #6 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.
=> No boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
sda1: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda2: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sda5: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
mount: /dev/sda5 already mounted or sda5 busy
sda6: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
mount: /dev/sda5 already mounted or sda5 busy
mount: /dev/sda6 already mounted or sda6 busy
sda7: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sda3: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
Boot files/dirs: /etc/fstab
sda4: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /grub/menu.lst /grub/grub.cfg /grub/core.img
sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________
File system: xfs
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750155292160 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465147055 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sda1 417,690 6,554,519 6,136,830 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 25,414,954 1,465,144,064 1,439,729,111 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 25,414,956 1,360,287,809 1,334,872,854 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1,360,287,873 1,423,198,349 62,910,477 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1,423,198,413 1,465,144,064 41,945,652 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 6,554,520 25,414,829 18,860,310 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 * 63 417,689 417,627 83 Linux
Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
Partition Boot Start End Size Id System
/dev/sdb1 2,048 1,953,523,711 1,953,521,664 83 Linux
blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 2a95d85a-45fe-4584-88dd-0ee20e651ec5 swap
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos" PART_ENTRY_SCHEME="dos" PART_ENTRY_TYPE="0x5" PART_ENTRY_NUMBER="2"
/dev/sda3 32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ext3
/dev/sda4 d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 ext3
/dev/sda5 37971286-b8d3-4a1b-9f94-4008288fed6d ext3 data
/dev/sda6 d15cf4f9-18ca-4ec5-95bc-db0f6f264736 ext3 30GB-02
/dev/sda7 eb736131-b558-4404-9b83-7f1e6d9e76ae ext3 var
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 0e83045d-a0bd-4d36-b61d-bdb905130dc2 xfs 1TB-04
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/sda12 / ext3 (rw,commit=0)
=============================== sda3/etc/fstab: ===============================
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda1 = swap
/dev/sda1 none swap sw 0 0
# /dev/sda3 = root
#UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9
/dev/sda3 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda4 = boot
# UUID=d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
/dev/sda4 /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda5 = home
# UUID=670eee83-0a3e-429c-863f-b9ecced9f97e
/dev/sda5 /home ext3 relatime 0 2
#/dev/sda6
#UUID=37971286-b8d3-4a1b-9f94-4008288fed6d
/dev/sda6 /home/ben/Data ext3 defaults,relatime 0 0
# /dev/sda7
# UUID=fdb14ca4-d71d-489f-a00e-6e608770674c
/dev/sda7 /var ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda8
/dev/sda8 /opt ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda10 - Arch
/dev/sda10 /mnt/arch ext3 relatime 0 2
# Not sure what this is doing here
# Have commented it out - May be the reason why xbmc and mythtv were crashing on dvd insert and play
# /dev/hda /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
# /dev/sde1
# uuid appears to be 644406B3570C1846 -> ../../sde1
#/dev/sde1 /home/ben/Data/TVRecordings-1TB01 xfs defaults,relatime 0 0
#1TB-01
UUID=76f3823a-81dc-45c9-a0b7-2bc6c3beb2f8 /media/1TB-01 xfs noatime,nodiratime,allocsize=512m 0 0 #remove
d defaults, relatime
# 1TB-02
UUID=59cbf7a1-7008-40d0-96ed-c6f231823d4f /media/1TB-02 xfs noatime,nodiratime,allocsize=512m 0 0 #remove
d defaults, relatime
# 1TB-03
UUID=0e936800-3c53-4b87-abc8-19be0ffca7f9 /media/1TB-03 xfs noatime,nodiratime,allocsize=512m 0 0 #remove
d defaults, relatime
# 750GB-02 ext3 Partition
# UUID giving problems, trying with dev
# UUID=c23b9c9a-66fc-4256-9211-73156c1ac64a /media/750GB-02_ext3 ext3 defaults,relatime 0 0
/dev/sde2 /media/750GB-02_ext3 ext3 defaults,relatime 0 0
============================= sda4/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 3
## 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=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,3)
## 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 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-26-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-26-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-23-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-22-generic
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, kernel 2.6.32-22-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,3)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
title Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS, memtest86+
root (hd0,3)
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
============================= sda4/grub/grub.cfg: =============================
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/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 recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
set locale_dir=($root)/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-26-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-26-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu -
-class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-26-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu -
-class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu -
-class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-23-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu -
-class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-22-generic ...'
linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux16 /memtest86+.bin
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41
linux16 /memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Arch Linux (on /dev/sda10)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,10)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 26851879-58d1-4d65-90b4-e0845fe1176c
linux /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda10 ro
initrd /boot/kernel26.img
menuentry "Arch Linux Fallback (on /dev/sda10)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,10)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 26851879-58d1-4d65-90b4-e0845fe1176c
linux /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda10 ro
initrd /boot/kernel26-fallback.img
#### 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.
# From Arch grub menu.lst
# (0) Arch Linux
#title Arch Linux [/boot/vmlinuz26]
#root (hd0,0)
#kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda3 ro
#initrd /kernel26.img
#Note: With a separate boot partition, omit /boot from the path, (i.e. type set prefix=(hdX,Y)/grub and insmod
(hdX,Y)/grub/linux.mod).
#This introduces the "linux" and "initrd" commands, which should be familiar (see #Configuration).
#An example, booting Arch Linux:
#set root=(hd0,5)
#linux /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sda5
#initrd /boot/kernel26.img
#boot
###menuentry "Arch1" {
###insmod ext2
###set root='(hd0,10)'
#search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 = FOR UBUNTU THIS IS THE BOOT
PARTITION
#linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash = FOR
UBUNTU THIS IS THE ROOT PARTITION
#initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
###search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 # UBUNTU'S BOOT PARTITION UU
ID
###linux /boot/vmlinuz-26 root=635d7d02-3f5b-4af6-9c74-16b2af8cc7fd ro quiet splash # ARCH'S ROOT UUID
###initrd /boot/kernel26.img
# /dev/sda10 uuid = 635d7d02-3f5b-4af6-9c74-16b2af8cc7fd - obtain using ls -l /dev/disk/by-uuid/
###menuentry "Arch2" {
###insmod ext2
###set root='(hd0,4)' #= TRYING UBUNTU'S BOOT
#search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 = FOR UBUNTU THIS IS THE BOOT
PARTITION
#linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash = FOR
UBUNTU THIS IS THE ROOT PARTITION
#initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
#search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 # UBUNTU'S BOOT PARTITION UUID
###linux /boot/vmlinuz-26 root=/dev/sda10 ro quiet splash # TRYING ARCH'S ROOT DEVICE FORMAT
###initrd /boot/kernel26.img
# /dev/sda10 uuid = 635d7d02-3f5b-4af6-9c74-16b2af8cc7fd - obtain using ls -l /dev/disk/by-uuid/
###menuentry "Arch3" {
###insmod ext2
###set root='(hd0,10)' #= TRYING UBUNTU'S BOOT IN HD FORMAT
#search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 = FOR UBUNTU THIS IS THE BOOT
PARTITION
#linux /vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic root=UUID=32495e1a-227c-4d23-9f63-b1319def0dd9 ro quiet splash = FOR
UBUNTU THIS IS THE ROOT PARTITION
#initrd /initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
#search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d6dc69b0-967d-4886-b62d-8c0d6be06b41 # UBUNTU'S BOOT PARTITION UUID
###linux /boot/vmlinuz-26 root=/dev/sda10 ro quiet splash # TRYING ARCH'S ROOT DEVICE FORMAT
###initrd /boot/kernel26.img
# /dev/sda10 uuid = 635d7d02-3f5b-4af6-9c74-16b2af8cc7fd - obtain using ls -l /dev/disk/by-uuid/
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
=================== sda4: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
.0GB: grub/core.img
.0GB: grub/grub.cfg
.0GB: grub/menu.lst
.0GB: grub/stage2
.0GB: initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
.0GB: initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
.1GB: initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
.1GB: initrd.img-2.6.32-26-generic
.0GB: vmlinuz26
.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic
.1GB: vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
.0GB: vmlinuz-2.6.32-26-generic
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================
No volume groups found
mdadm: No arrays found in config file or automatically
[/quote]
Output of fdisk -l from chroot is -
[quote]Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750155292160 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465147055 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: 0x0000b084
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 417690 6554519 3068415 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 25414954 1465144064 719864555+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda3 6554520 25414829 9430155 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 * 63 417689 208813+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda5 25414956 1360287809 667436427 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1360287873 1423198349 31455238+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1423198413 1465144064 20972826 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00025bd3
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2048 1953523711 976760832 83 Linux
I need to post this now and come back from a different machine to note the error messages I am now getting on boot. ...
Note that when I boot and press esc to get the menu I get the menu.lst I created (in the second quote) above in /dev/sda6, ie the one with the Arch hd and uuid entries - so grub is looking there and finding that menu.lst, but something goes wrong after that.
OK. Have now booted the machine and after pressing esc and selecting the uuid entry (the same thing happens with the hd entry) I get a whole lot of stuff, but what seems relevant is (typing it out) -
List of all partitions:
No filesystem could mount root, tried:
Kernel panic - not syncing: VS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)
Pid: 1, comm: swapper Not tainted 2.6.39-Arch #1
If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. This is my MythTV machine so the WAF is about to take a big dive!
If I could just install grub to the MBR as if this was a new installation of Arch that would be great.
I am really lost as to what is going on, which I'm sure is evident.
Thanks a lot
belbo
Last edited by belbo (2011-08-12 13:31:23)

Hi. Unfortunately that didn't help.
So next, based on this post https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ke … el_version I chrooted into Arch and (a) rolled back and (b) reinstalled my kernel but that didn't help either. I suspected it wouldn't because the kernel was working fine before I deleted the partitions in question.
[2011-08-08 23:32] ==> Image generation successful
[2011-08-08 23:32] upgraded kernel26 (2.6.39.3-1 -> 2.6.39.3-1)
I then did a pacman -Suy and the linux package has now replaced kernel26. ( See this wiki entry http://www.archlinux.org/news/changes-t … filenames/). I didn't change anything in menu.lst owing to this and it seems there is no need to. Unfortunately this hasn't helped either - still getting the kernel panic.
Pacman.log relating to the new kernel package below -
[2011-08-09 00:22] Running 'pacman -Suy'
[2011-08-09 00:22] synchronizing package lists
[2011-08-09 00:23] starting full system upgrade
[2011-08-09 00:23] Running 'pacman -Suy'
[2011-08-09 00:23] synchronizing package lists
[2011-08-09 00:23] starting full system upgrade
[2011-08-09 00:26] removed python-mygpoclient (1.5-1)
[2011-08-09 00:26] removed kernel26 (2.6.39.3-1)
[2011-08-09 00:26] warning: /boot/grub/menu.lst installed as /boot/grub/menu.lst.pacnew
[2011-08-09 00:26] upgraded grub (0.97-17 -> 0.97-19)
[2011-08-09 00:26] upgraded icu (4.8-1 -> 4.8.1-1)
[2011-08-09 00:26] upgraded linux-firmware (20110512-2 -> 20110727-1)
[2011-08-09 00:26] >>> Updating module dependencies. Please wait ...
[2011-08-09 00:26] >>> Generating initial ramdisk, using mkinitcpio. Please wait...
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Building image from preset: 'default'
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux -c /etc/mkinitcpio.conf -g /boot/initramfs-linux.img
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Starting build: 3.0-ARCH
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [base]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [udev]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [autodetect]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [pata]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [scsi]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [sata]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [filesystems]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [usbinput]
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Generating module dependencies
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Creating gzip initcpio image: /boot/initramfs-linux.img
[2011-08-09 00:26] 7079 blocks
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Image generation successful
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Building image from preset: 'fallback'
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux -c /etc/mkinitcpio.conf -g /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img -S autodetect
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Starting build: 3.0-ARCH
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [base]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [udev]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [pata]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [scsi]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [sata]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [filesystems]
[2011-08-09 00:26] -> Parsing hook: [usbinput]
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Generating module dependencies
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Creating gzip initcpio image: /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
[2011-08-09 00:26] 23360 blocks
[2011-08-09 00:26] ==> Image generation successful
[2011-08-09 00:26] installed linux (3.0.1-1)
I don't think I've mentioned that my old menu.lst seems to have disappeared and so must have been on one of the partitions that were deleted. I did have 2 Arch installations when I was setting things up months ago and that menu.lst may have been on the other partition but pointing to this partiton's kernel for booting. Presumably that's possible since this partiton is definitely the one I have been using for the last several months (confirmed by log and other files updated in the last few days etc). Even so, I suppose that probably wouldn't be relevant to this issue, since grub is finding the menu.lst on this partition when it boots so it is looking in the intended place now.
It seems I'm at a bit of a dead end. It seems these kernel panics are usually because there is something wrong with the kernel - which there wasn't with mine (and presumably the kernel in the new linux package is fine) or there is a typo in menu.lst (I can't see one and nobody has pointed one out yet) or menu.lst is pointing to the wrong partition (mine is pointing to the same partition and /boot directory that is found by grub - which is where my boot image is located - so it seems to be correct). I have nevertheless tried editing the menu.lst entry when booting to boot from different partitions but so far that hasn't worked either.
If anybody has other ideas I'd really appreciate it.
If not, some suggestions on re-installing would also be appreciated. I have a recent tar archive of the partition, but presumably reinstalling that wouldn't be of much use since it would just put back what is currently there. I guess that I need to format the partition, create a separate boot partition, do a fresh install of Arch into the formatted partition (and with boot in the new boot partition). And then restore my tar backup (excluding the boot directory) into the formatted partition?
Any assistance greatly appreciated.
Thanks
belbo
Last edited by belbo (2011-08-08 23:17:49)

Problems with installation of Windows 8.1 with Arch Linux GPT

Hi everyone, I have Arch Linux installed in EFI MODE with a GPT Partitioned disk. I'm trying to install Windows 8.1 on a partition, but the message that i get is "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk is not of the GPT partition style". How I can solve this? Thank you for reading me.
Giuseppe

The output is
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 106MB 105MB fat32 EFI system partition boot, esp
2 106MB 1050MB 944MB ntfs Basic data partition hidden, diag
3 1050MB 131GB 130GB Basic data partition msftdata
4 131GB 152GB 21.5GB ext4 root
5 152GB 168GB 16.1GB ext4 var
6 168GB 201GB 32.8GB ext4 home
7 201GB 479GB 277GB ntfs Basic data partition msftdata
The partition in which i'd want to install Windows is the number 3.
I had windows before arch, then i installed arch having both on my computer. Only lately i have deleted windows, but i need it now so i'm trying to install it again...
Last edited by sillettig (2015-01-25 09:41:06)

Installing Windows from virtualisation onto bootcamp partition - formatting problem!

Hello!
I hope I can describe this well enough.
I'm in the situation of trying to install Windows 7 from a .iso I've made as my superdrive is totally dead. I'm running 10.7.4.
Currently what I've done is basically the first chunk of steps from this post:
Installing Windows 7 on MacBook Pro without SuperDrive | CommitBlog
I get hung up on the windows installer right away though. When I'm installing windows into my raw disk (bootcamp.vmdk) I get this:
"Windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The error occurred while preparing the partition selected for installation. Error code: 0x80070057"
I've tried reformatting the partition I made with boot camp assistant to NTFS preemptively with Paragon NTFS in hopes that the installer would skip the formatting step, but no dice.
Any thoughts on how to move forward here? Is there a permissions change that I somehow haven't made? I can't seem to find any documentation or posts on anyone in exactly this situation.
This is a really pressing problem actually, so quick responses are especially appreciated!
All the best and thanks in advance
-Ijnad

I've actually resolved this!
Well, not that I fixed it. But I was able to hack into Boot camp assistant and convinve it to let me make a bootable Windows 7 Usb key and install from that!
peace
-Ijnad

Best way to clone arch partition

i currently have my system set up as follows:
c:\ (windows)
d:\ (programs, data, etc.)
i haven't yet decided to move over completely to arch, so i'd like to keep my windows and data partitions intact for a while, at least until i can get arch set up properly.
and i figured, rather than dual boot (and play around with the partitions, etc.), i could simply clone my arch partition and save it on d:\. whenever i need to get back on xp, i just restore my xp image, and whenever i want to set up arch, i just restore the arch image.
now, i usually use ping, but ext4 isn't supported, so i've had to try other programs. clonezilla looked good, but after i restored my arch image, grub failed to load, and i couldn't fix it at all. so, i want to ask: what do you use for image your partitions?
thanks!

QuimaxW wrote:
Personally, I think the whole re-image just to get into another OS is far too time consuming...resize the partitions (one time operation), keep XP installed and dual boot. In my experience, it never seems to fail that I need Windows for something ridiculous.
My opinion aside...
GParted is what I use to resize partitions and such.
Clonezilla is the only program I have ever used in the Linux world. For my notebook, it restored GRUB fine for me. It's just a collection of other tools that you could also use, a little reading on their site should reveal what they are. I think GParted might even have a way to save/restore partition images.
in any case, i'm looking for a good imaging program, since i like to create images of my installations, in case of emergencies.
when you used clonezilla, did you restore only linux partitions? i had no trouble restoring linux partitions when the original partition was the linux one. but the operation failed when i tried to restore the linux partition after i first restored the xp partition. this suggests that restoring the xp partition wiped out something linux requires.
as for gparted, i took a look, and it is capable of copying partitions, but i don't think it can create images.
TheSaint wrote:If you just like to try out Arch, Virtualbox would satisfy your needs.
thanks. i use virtualbox all the time to test things out, including various distros. but sometimes you need to install the os to test the things you can't test in a vm, e.g., bluetooth.

Use unallocated space on 4tb MBR boot drive by adding partitions?

I've replaced a pair of RAID 0 1tb drives as one of these was dying. I used Acronis to clone the drive and it works well, but I still have almost half a disk of unallocated space. I know MBR has a size limitation of 2tb, but surely I can get around this
by using a partition for the unallocated space, since Windows (7, 64bit) can see it (I hope). When I right-click though, all options are gray...
While disk manager can see that the drive is 4tb, Acronis disk director only sees the cloned partition. Has Acronis put some limit on the drive in the cloning process, or is it a Win7 issue?
If it is Win7, is there a way to utilise the space on that disk, or a program that can?
Thanks.

The 4TB HDD must be a GPT disk to utilize the full space. Windows cannot convert from MBR to GPT with data in place, but I think you can find utilities that will accommodate the conversion without losing your data.
You may have the capability to clone from the MBR disk to a GPT disk with Acronis. Either read the Acronis manual or contact Acronis Technical Support since this is not a Windows feature and Acronis is not a Microsoft product.

[SOLVED]pacman -Sf zim makes arch read-only filesystem

Hi,
Last night I was trying to install zim, it looks like there were a couple packages which weren't properly installed before. I googled the error I received and found somewhere on the forum the tip to use
pacman -Sf package
I ran the command and it installed some sort of new kernel, fstab, something with python, and zim of course. While it was installing the packages I noticed it moved a couple files around and I'm not quite sure what it all did. anyway when I booted arch this morning it didn't quite make it to gdm, so I quickly booted into ubuntu, mounted my arch partition changed the inittab to boot to init 3. I then noticed that it mounted the arch / as read-only, I looked around a bit seems like my /etc/fstab was moved to /etc/fstab.pacorig. Now before I start playing around and maybe break things more than they are, anyone have a tip about how to figure out everything that was changed?
I also noticed that I could login as root without having to use a password which I don't like at all, which is a little scary.
Last edited by whitethorn (2010-06-26 13:50:11)

First things first; using the -f/--force flag with pacman is the absolute last resort, when everything else fails, and when you know exactly what you're doing. Using it just because you found a tip on the forum, and clearly without thinking about the potential consequences, is just asking for trouble - and you've got it.
To fix: your pacman log will tall you what packages were installed, and also has a record of any install-time messages. Comb through that, and work out how to revert the major issues.
[edit] overlap with loafer - he was faster because he used fewer words.

Best way to migrate existing XP SP3 partition to a virtual machine to run via Windows 8.1 as physical partition and not a vhd?

Hi I have a current XP SP3 setup have been using in a dual boot with Windows 8.1(on separate partitions on different hard drives - I think these are SATA drives) but now am thinking of migrating my XP partition preferably as a live virtual machine
to be run as a guest via Windows 8.1 as host so I don't have to do the rebooting. Also prefer this to making a VHD of my XP so can use the existing partition allocated for it rather than taking up extra space as VHD on my windows 8 (and don't want yet
to replace my xp dual boot in case it does not work so well as vhd, as I have a lot of old educational programs my kids still use on it that I don't really want to put onto my W8.1). Will also save time if I don't have to convert it to VHD first. I
also do not want to reinstall a new XP Sp3 virtual machine from scratch for same reason - will take too long to resetup -just use existing as is.
I have used VMWare player and Virtual Box in past with an old 98SE system as a virtual VHD/VPC file but VMWare workstation is paid which may be the one I need to use a physical partition but I prefer to try freeware options first.
Will Hyper-V in Windows 8.1 (I have retail PRO version of both my XP and Windows 8.1) be able to do the same as VMWare workstation? OR is there another option to run the physical XP?
The other thing with my XP setup is that the user profiles that people login with are located on a different partition E (80GB) to my XP which is on J (100GB) and most of the programs for it run from partition D (over 120GB) and the XP boot loader resides
on a partition C (2GB) (which is not the Windows8.1 partition which becomes C only when it boots, but this C drive for XP may also be having the Windows 8 boot loader and files for that -using EasyBCD to handle boot menu of W7 type boot loader).
So I need a system that can mount these other physical partitions also alongside with my XP partition when it boots up.
So what are my options for running this XP SP3 setup via Windows 8 as a guest operating system?
Also will doing this be likely to require reactivation of my existing windows XP (retail) which means I cannot then use it again if I go back to the XP dual boot at times or in case the VM setup does not work?
Also do I need to change my XP first so that it boots off its own drive rather than the C partition - and how do I set this up then using EasyBCD or windows boot repair?

HI I found I had to make physical disk offline to use in Hyper-V which I cannot do and do not want to do with all partitions - cannot choose just ones want.
So now am trying to make VM of my physical XP -and other partitions neeeded but D partition is over 127Gb so cannot use Disk2VHD.
Here is what am trying now - any other suggestions for alternate software to vmware convertor/disk2VHD maybe to do partitions over 127GB? I have posted also at VMware forums but no answer as yet.
Advice on doing a physical XPSP3 conversion to a VM for Virtual box and hyper-v ultimately
Hi I need advice as to best way to convert an existing XP Sp3 install on a physical hard drive along with other related partitions to a Virtual box VM image with aim to convert that VM image to a Hyper-V VM for use with Windows 8.1 host.
I have several C (boot ini partition), D programs, E Data, etc partitions and a current dual boot with an extra XP install I use as a backup system.
My main XP is on J drive and other XP on I drive with C drive boot ini that switches btw 2 with J set as default.
I have a D partition that is over 127 Gb so cannot use Disk2VHD which would have been easier, and it seems there is not a way to make a direct Hyper-V VM from converter but only Vmware VM?
I do not have or want to purchase as yet VMware Workstation as have W8.1 Pro that can use Hyper-V to run my XP SP3.
I seem to also have an issue with COM+ corrupted on my machine XP J drive ( It tried to reinstall the COM+ but my es.dll file won't register and I did get a failed conversion with converter when tried earlier at 94% saying VSS snapshots have
reached their limit). I think this is related to my COM+ issue which I am not sure now how to fix apart from repair install of my Xp (as I have tried repairing COM with various articles searched on google to no avail) which I may do first before
retry conversion. However my ALT XP on I drive seems to be fine with being able to browse the COM+ applications ok. SO maybe I can use that instead but it is the J drive XP I want the most (not sure if will work at reboot if I do not
hot clone it?)
I have read also the manual for converter 5.5.1 ver standalone and am not sure of a few things so if someone can guide me it would be very much appreciated.
First of all which version VM should I make image of if I later want to convert it to a Hyper-V VM image (I only have free Virtual Box latest ver, VMware Player and Hyper-V on Windows 8.1 PRo) ie: VMware workstation 10 or Vmware Player 6 or lower
ver or other? OR is there another software I should install for the conversion or later conversion to Hyper-V? I prefer to use Hyper-V over Virtual Box and Vmware Player if possible, but should these others work just as well for my Xp Sp3 existing
system as a VM in Windows 8.1? Please advise which you think is best of these?
Should I leave all configuration options off while converting and even XP licence, workgroup etc or is it most likely that I will have to reactivate my XP (retail ver) once I reboot in the VM although I am putting to run on Windows 8.1 host on exact same
hardware as my current XP in dual boot (replacing my physical copies which I don't intend to use after conversion)? Can I enter licence etc later as well?
I currently have 8 GB ram total -should I leave Xp one at max it suggests of around 3Gb ram?
I have Quad core processor -but should I make Xp Vm one dual core for when it runs on W8.1 host to allow the host some processors so can run at same time or leaving my Xp at quad core will be ok?
Network - I want to use host one as I read it is safer for obsolete XP so do I set that at start or is it better to change this later too -allowing xp to have own internet access (maybe as may need to reactivate also - don't want to call Microsoft
if can avoid it)?
If I just want to convert resulting VM to Hyper-V VM -which software to use after for this that is freeware (Virtual Box or VMware Player or Hyper-V -not sure which can do it) and do I not then install Vmware tools?
SYSPprep should I do anyway regardless of what target VM will be when configuring later, even if on same hardware machine? OR can I just boot Vm and see if boots ok first?
Anything else I should set specifically for this future use of the VM image in hyper-v?
AU

[SOLVED] Windows 8 made all my arch partition unallocated space

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