Error 17: File not found - Ubuntu 8.10/Vista

zerdud

Member
Ok so long story short here... originally I had installed Windows XP followed by Ubuntu 8.10. I picked up an OEM Vista Home Premium disc from Newegg and tried to perform an upgrade. It wouldn't upgrade the existing OS so I installed over the existing WinXP installation. Obviously when I rebooted, Vista had hijacked the bootloader.

I figured the easiest solution was to use EasyBCD (I had read about it before), so I had a copy of my menu.lst from the Ubuntu installation and a copy of EasyBCD ready on a USB drive. I installed EasyBCD on my Vista partition, ran it, and installed the NeoGrub Bootloader. Then, I pasted my menu.lst in. When I reboot, it won't let me fire up any of the Ubuntu options. I get something like this:

Booting 'Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic'

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro quiet splash

Error 17: File not found

Press any key to continue...

Pressing any key takes me back to the Ubuntu options, and all of them give me the same file not found error. Vista boots fine though.

I had assumed that pasting the menu.lst in would have done the trick. Apparently not, though. I've got my menu.lst below...

# 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=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic
uuid 61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-11-generic root=UUID=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-11-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
uuid 61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Ubuntu 8.10, memtest86+
uuid 61b98757-a987-4fcf-a9f2-27c8c0f0ad50
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


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

It looks like the Ubuntu installation picked up an old Win2k3/WinXP dual boot on a secondary drive, which I believe is the "Windows/NT/2000/XP" entry at the end.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Zerdud, welcome to NST.
Are you using EasyBCD 2.0 ?
The 1.7 version pre-dates the switch to UUID grub syntax in the latest Linux builds, and is not compatible with Ubuntu higher than 8.4.
Try adding the Linux entry to the BCD again with Easy2.
If the Linux partition is on the same HDD as Vista you can add the Linux entry directly without ticking the "grub is not...." box.
If it's on a separate HDD, (or if you didn't install grub) you'll need to tick the box which will then use Neogrub.
 
Doh!!! Good catch, I have 1.7.2. :smile: I'll give 2.0 a shot and report back.

Addendum:

Erm... noob question... where do I download that? I only see 1.7.2 :frowning:
 
Last edited:
Sorry it took a whole half-hour. We normally try for speedy service !
Happy dual-booting.
 
I had the exact same problem so i did what was suggested (installed easy2 and added ubuntu entry to the BDC again) and now i have "Error 15: File not found" instead of "Error 17: File not found"...
How can i solve this, plz?
 
Remember to tick the "grub isn't ........." box if your Ubuntu partition is on a different HDD to Vista.
Leave the box unticked if Ubuntu is on the same HDD.
 
Hello wmw, welcome to NST

Please post your menu.lst file.

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 32e0cc4e-9ccc-421b-8025-99164bca6624
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=32e0cc4e-9ccc-421b-8025-99164bca6624 ro locale=pt_PT quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 32e0cc4e-9ccc-421b-8025-99164bca6624
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=32e0cc4e-9ccc-421b-8025-99164bca6624 ro locale=pt_PT single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 32e0cc4e-9ccc-421b-8025-99164bca6624
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista (loader)
rootnoverify (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1
Remember to tick the "grub isn't ........." box if your Ubuntu partition is on a different HDD to Vista.
Leave the box unticked if Ubuntu is on the same HDD.
It's in the same hdd and the box is unticked. Although i was trying with the NeoGrub instead of the NeoSmart. Does it make difference?

By the way, thanks for the fast reply.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks a mill.

Hi Zerdud, welcome to NST.
Are you using EasyBCD 2.0 ?
The 1.7 version pre-dates the switch to UUID grub syntax in the latest Linux builds, and is not compatible with Ubuntu higher than 8.4.
Try adding the Linux entry to the BCD again with Easy2.
If the Linux partition is on the same HDD as Vista you can add the Linux entry directly without ticking the "grub is not...." box.
If it's on a separate HDD, (or if you didn't install grub) you'll need to tick the box which will then use Neogrub.

Just what i've been looking for (ubuntu 9.04/vista) worked perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!
 
wmw,

If EasyBCD 2.0 was unable to fix your problems, please replace the uuid lines for each linux entry with the following:

find --set--root /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic

For memtest, replace the uuid line with the following:

find --set-root /boot/memtest86+.bin
 
What's the menu.lst in the NST folder on your "system" partition ?
It's the one i posted before.

wmw,

If EasyBCD 2.0 was unable to fix your problems, please replace the uuid lines for each linux entry with the following:



For memtest, replace the uuid line with the following:

I can't boot linux (i reinstalled Vista Bootloader) so how do i replace them? Is there any other solution besides re-installing linux?

EasyBCD can boot into Ubuntu via NeoGrub with the "GRUB is not installed to the bootsector" option (`configfile` NeoGrub command) IF the Ubuntu menu.lst file does NOT use the uuid command. (latest Ubuntu versions use the uuid command)

NeoGrub can also be configured to boot into Ubuntu by manually creating a Linux entry using "root (hdx,y)" syntax.

This is my problem right? How can i configure correctly that linux entry?
 
Last edited:
You can edit the Linux menu.lst by booting the Ubuntu CD in "live" mode and navigating to /boot/grub/menu.lst on the Linux partition you're trying to fix. (Don't get confused by the version on the "live" system, that's not what you want, make sure you're locating the one in the Linux partition)
 
You can edit the Linux menu.lst by booting the Ubuntu CD in "live" mode and navigating to /boot/grub/menu.lst on the Linux partition you're trying to fix. (Don't get confused by the version on the "live" system, that's not what you want, make sure you're locating the one in the Linux partition)
Tanks, i forgot that i could do that... i'll try that now and report here later how it worked...

EDIT: ok i'm not getting it right. But i think i might know how to solve my primary problem that lead me to use the easyBCD software, witch was getting windows to be the default boot option on the boot menu.
So i think i can solve this without having to restore the windows bootloader. If i keep the linux grub and edit the menu.lst on the boot of linux and change the order of appearance of the windows option, on the boot menu, it will boot windows as the default option, right?

EDIT 2: ok i reinstalled linux 9.04 and modified the menu.lst on linux, so that the vista boot option appeared first in the boot order list and it become the default boot if the time runs up. Both SO's are running great now, so i think it's no longer required easyBCD software to work the boot.
Either way thank you very much terry and kaiozamorro for all the quick support. Keep up the great work you've been doing so far.
 
Last edited:
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