[Solved] operating system not found

Good day all,

On the Dutch Zorin forum has one of my members a serious problem.
And i can't fix it without some good knowledge from you guys.

Please note if you please that I am not a professional in Linux.
So if you please give me a step by step approach to the possible assignments and solutions.

The problem:

HermanB is the guy who want Zorin OS 9 Lite LTS 32-bit on an old laptop

the specs are:

a Medion laptop 95400
processor is an Intel Pentium M735
RAM is 512 MB
previous operating system Windows XP

The install of Zorin OS 9 Lite went smooth and succesfull (using forcepae and ACPI=off)
But here it comes:

After the install remove the disk and press enter to reboot result in "Operating system not found" at startup of the computer.

We have looked with GParted and /dev/sda1 is the partition that is used for Zorin OS 9 Lite and has a boot flag on it.
Now what do we have to do to make things work?

Sincere,
Hensyr Wolf

I have asked HermanB to give me an bootinfoscript, this is the outcom of it:

Code:

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

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
in partition 112 for .

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Zorin OS 9
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders, total 195371568 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 194,326,527 194,324,480 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 194,328,574 195,371,007 1,042,434 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 194,328,576 195,371,007 1,042,432 82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281 ext4
/dev/sda5 97aa1451-1f22-435c-9ab7-db48ba7d8114 swap
/dev/sr0 iso9660 Zorin OS 9 Lite 32 bit
/dev/zram0 aef811ce-0d84-448c-bd3d-3a251a68da69 swap

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)


=========================== sda1/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 $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${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 recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; 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$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$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 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
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=nl_NL
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
insmod gfxmenu
loadfont ($root)/boot/grub/themes/Zorin/Roboto-18.pf2
insmod png
set theme=($root)/boot/grub/themes/Zorin/theme.txt
export theme
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=-1
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=10
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=10
fi
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
if background_color 0,0,0; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Zorin' --class zorin --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$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 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281 ro forcepae acpi=off quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
submenu 'Geavanceerde opties voor Zorin' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281' {
menuentry 'Zorin, met Linux 3.13.0-32-generic' --class zorin --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.13.0-32-generic-advanced-b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$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 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
echo 'Laden van Linux 3.13.0-32-generic...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281 ro forcepae acpi=off quiet splash $vt_handoff
echo 'Laden van initiële RAM-schijf...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
menuentry 'Zorin, with Linux 3.13.0-32-generic (recovery mode)' --class zorin --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.13.0-32-generic-recovery-b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281' {
recordfail
load_video
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$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 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
echo 'Laden van Linux 3.13.0-32-generic...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281 ro recovery nomodeset forcepae acpi=off
echo 'Laden van initiële RAM-schijf...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
}

### 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,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
knetbsd /boot/memtest86+.elf
}
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$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 b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281
fi
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### 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 ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=b8ff4ef2-2d26-452d-a23b-202487c06281 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=97aa1451-1f22-435c-9ab7-db48ba7d8114 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)


======================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc: ========================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 df 0b fe 1f fc 26 f8 95 a6 f8 ab f6 69 f1 ae 97 |.....&......i...|
00000010 7f e1 4f 10 33 2e b1 a4 7c a6 6d 3a 55 c1 57 5c |..O.3...|.m:U.W\|
00000020 7f 0b 73 f4 af d6 bc 38 ab 5a 9a 94 1f c3 23 0a |..s....8.Z....#.|
00000030 f5 d4 26 e2 f6 68 92 d7 f6 8a f8 a7 e0 2d 53 c3 |..&..h.......-S.|
00000040 fa 3f 8e fc 65 2e a1 a1 6b 0d ba 19 a3 b8 2a f6 |.?..e...k.....*.|
00000050 a3 b7 03 a8 15 fa 1d a4 7f c1 48 be 0d 78 67 c2 |..........H..xg.|
00000060 7a 64 7e 2a d5 e2 d7 b5 ed 34 6d 75 52 58 e0 0e |zd~*.....4muRX..|
00000070 a7 1d 4f d6 be 93 38 e1 f5 8c a8 a9 c5 5b cc f9 |..O...8......[..|
00000080 ea 39 92 85 56 af a3 3f 3b 7f 69 ef f8 29 5f 83 |.9..V..?;.i..)_.|
00000090 7e 26 6a 36 30 bd ac 3e 1e f0 ae 91 b9 c5 a9 56 |~&j60..>.......V|
000000a0 63 74 0f 42 58 7f 2a fc 96 f8 b3 fb 41 78 bf e2 |ct.BX.*.....Ax..|
000000b0 8e 9e 34 1f 0b 5d 58 da 78 2f 56 94 c9 75 34 51 |..4..]X.x/V..u4Q|
000000c0 94 9b 60 38 55 07 d2 be e7 80 b8 13 ea d8 95 52 |..`8U..........R|
000000d0 ae c8 f9 bc eb 33 95 57 24 7c f1 65 a4 c1 a0 bf |.....3.W$|.e....|
000000e0 95 0d c6 27 b9 90 b9 52 c4 99 09 ea 49 af 48 d2 |...'...R....I.H.|
000000f0 6c ad a2 b3 fb 62 ba 14 b5 60 36 23 72 71 d4 8e |l....b...`6#rq..|
00000100 f8 af db 71 cd 3a 6e c7 c7 d0 d1 dc e9 f4 7b ab |...q.:n.......{.|
00000110 8d 61 c8 b6 81 a4 b5 b9 7d 80 ba e1 7d f9 ae 87 |.a......}...}...|
00000120 4d 71 0d df 91 6a 90 a4 85 81 0c 10 61 80 ed 5f |Mq...j......a.._|
00000130 19 55 dc f6 f0 c9 3b 33 d4 2e 49 f2 f5 01 77 3c |.U....;3..I...w<|
00000140 46 64 b5 0e 80 8f bc 4e 07 35 95 a7 eb 36 b2 e9 |Fd.....N.5...6..|
00000150 b6 16 97 77 6c bf 60 3b 57 90 36 9e e6 b8 6b a7 |...wl.`;W.6...k.|
00000160 6d 0f 56 94 6f 23 cd bc 7b 39 5d 33 c4 ba 76 97 |m.V.o#..{9]3..v.|
00000170 a8 5c a5 95 fc 39 60 b8 0c 7d 48 f7 eb 5e d1 fb |.\...9`..}H..^..|
00000180 1e 7f c1 3d 7e 1c 7c 5f d2 7c 45 aa 7c 4b bf fe |...=~.|_.|E.|K..|
00000190 de f3 50 4d 18 db e5 fd 8a 3e c0 63 b9 f5 a5 9a |..PM.....>.c....|
000001a0 63 9e 1b 08 ea 5f 53 d1 85 5e 4a 8a 28 fa 6a e7 |c...._S..^J.(.j.|
000001b0 fe 09 a1 e1 bf 87 fe 15 f8 ab a4 78 1a f2 00 fe |...........x....|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 e8 0f 00 00 00 |................|
000001d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200


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

cat: /tmp/BootInfo-Ew1NAxc2/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
No volume groups found

Hopefully someone can see what the problem is.

Hi Hensyr, Just looking at the early part of that txt file suggests that there is an unknown bootloader on sda2 - I suspect that the notebook still has some sort of recovery partition? Rather than running an install directly, ask the member to boot into the live desktop of Lite, then run the partition editor and delete all partitions to start from scratch. Then when bootng with the live medium once more, select the options needed to get it to work then choose the 'something else' method. I would:

1. Create a Primary Partition, 20 Gb (20480Mib) in size, formatted to 'ext4' and marked as '/', - this is where he installs the system to.
2. Create an extended partition and firs create the 'swap area' at the END of the extended partition, make it double his RAM, i.e., 1024 Mib.
3. Whatever is left before 'swap area' format to 'ext4' and mark as '/home'.

There could also be graphics issues!:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2218115

Keep us posted!

Hi dear Swarfendor437,

The problem is solved

After we did a brand new install like you told us to do, we got the same problem: operating system not found

So i was pretty sure this was a Bios problem.
After that we set the Bios to the default settings we got a grub

Great!

For the benefit of future issues, what was the setting you changed?

Unfortunately I can not tell you what was wrong in the BIOS, but it was a hunch to reset the BIOS. Apparently successfully.

Guess the golden rule is: "Have you ever updated your BIOS? If not DO IT NOW!"