LL2 not booting if one extended partition is formatted to FAT 32

[arunp]

Code:

linux@linux:~$ cat /etc/fstab
overlayfs / overlayfs rw 0 0
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs nosuid,nodev 0 0
/dev/sdb5 swap swap defaults 0 0

[gold_finger]

Looks like you ran that last command from a live DVD.  Boot into your installed Mint on the hard drive and run the command again.  I need the output from the installed version, not the live DVD.  Thanks.

[arunp]

Dear gold_finger,

That is the issue, it doesn't boot if i configure it in that fashion. Now again i have booted it with CD and use Gparted and made the NTFS partition as unallocated and then restarted and now it boots with USB HD. Now again using the Gparted and converted the Unalocated space to NTFS and run the script and posting here.

Code:

arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ cat /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/sdb2 during installation
UUID=13ea928f-6d38-445e-b3b7-c06760ec9fea /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /home was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=0278cd76-2f6f-44fa-bb27-87602c6c6332 /home           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=01dae284-d8de-4c09-bea1-2759ea815dc4 none            swap    sw              0       0

 

Now if I restart the Grub runs and it doesn't start the OS

[gold_finger]

That is the issue, it doesn't boot if i configure it in that fashion. Now again i have booted it with CD and use Gparted and made the NTFS partition as unallocated and then restarted and now it boots with USB HD. Now again using the Gparted and converted the Unalocated space to NTFS and run the script and posting here.

Code:

arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ cat /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/sdb2 during installation
UUID=13ea928f-6d38-445e-b3b7-c06760ec9fea /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /home was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=0278cd76-2f6f-44fa-bb27-87602c6c6332 /home           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=01dae284-d8de-4c09-bea1-2759ea815dc4 none            swap    sw              0       0

 

Now if I restart the Grub runs and it doesn't start the OS

If I understand you right, you're saying that at this point you are booted into the system and used GParted to convert sda3 to NTFS format.  Also, you made NO changes to fstab file -- it still reads as shown here.  Correct?  And you are saying that if you were to reboot at this point, it will not work?

I have to say, that makes absolutely no sense to me and I've never seen that happen before.

Finish doing whatever you do for the NTFS partition and reboot the computer.  If it does not boot into your installed Linux Lite system, reboot again with the live DVD one more time before making any changes.  From the LIVE DVD, post back entire output of these commands:

Code:

lsblk
sudo parted -l
sudo blkid -c /dev/null
sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt
cat /mnt/etc/fstab

[arunp]

Dear gold_finger,

Yes, your understanding is exactly right, After the conversion of sdb3 to NTFS format and restarted the system, it does not boot from USB HDD after the Grub screen, Here is the output from the system as requested by you after booting through LL CD

Code:

linux@linux:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 232.9G  0 disk
├─sda1   8:1    0 125.5M  0 part
├─sda2   8:2    0  12.2G  0 part
├─sda3   8:3    0 102.9G  0 part
├─sda4   8:4    0     1K  0 part
└─sda5   8:5    0 117.7G  0 part
sdb      8:16   0 465.8G  0 disk
├─sdb1   8:17   0     1K  0 part
├─sdb2   8:18   0  59.6G  0 part /mnt
├─sdb3   8:19   0 305.6G  0 part
├─sdb5   8:21   0   7.5G  0 part [SWAP]
└─sdb6   8:22   0  93.1G  0 part
sr0     11:0    1   700M  0 rom  /cdrom
loop0    7:0    0 668.3M  1 loop /rofs
linux@linux:~$ sudo parted -l
Model: ATA WDC WD2500BEKT-7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system  Flags
1      32.3kB  132MB   132MB   primary   fat16        diag
2      134MB   13.2GB  13.0GB  primary   ntfs         boot
3      13.2GB  124GB   110GB   primary   ntfs
4      124GB   250GB   126GB   extended
5      124GB   250GB   126GB   logical   ntfs


Model: Seagate Portable (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system     Flags
2      1049kB  64.0GB  64.0GB  primary   ext4            boot
1      64.0GB  172GB   108GB   extended
5      64.0GB  72.0GB  7999MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)
6      72.0GB  172GB   100GB   logical   ext4
3      172GB   500GB   328GB   primary   ntfs


Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system).  /dev/sr0
has been opened read-only.
Error: Invalid partition table - recursive partition on /dev/sr0.         
Ignore/Cancel? i                                                         
Model: PLDS DVD+-RW DS-8A5SH (scsi)
Disk /dev/sr0: 734MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 2048B/2048B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start  End  Size  Type  File system  Flags


linux@linux:~$ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="DellUtility" UUID="07DB-011B" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="RECOVERY" UUID="663EC66B3EC633B9" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="OS" UUID="0E58C90F58C8F68D" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="30D748C43DA76362" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sr0: LABEL="Linux Lite 2.0 64-bit" TYPE="iso9660"
/dev/sdb2: UUID="13ea928f-6d38-445e-b3b7-c06760ec9fea" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb3: UUID="6B6D529C3C948BA7" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="01dae284-d8de-4c09-bea1-2759ea815dc4" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="0278cd76-2f6f-44fa-bb27-87602c6c6332" TYPE="ext4"
linux@linux:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt
mount: /dev/sdb2 already mounted or /mnt busy
mount: according to mtab, /dev/sdb2 is already mounted on /mnt
linux@linux:~$ cat /mnt/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/sdb2 during installation
UUID=13ea928f-6d38-445e-b3b7-c06760ec9fea /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /home was on /dev/sdb6 during installation
UUID=0278cd76-2f6f-44fa-bb27-87602c6c6332 /home           ext4    defaults        0       2
# swap was on /dev/sdb5 during installation
UUID=01dae284-d8de-4c09-bea1-2759ea815dc4 none            swap    sw              0       0
linux@linux:~$

[gold_finger]

I don't see anything that would cause that problem so it still makes no sense.  At this point, let's try wiping out the whole drive and starting over.  If there is anything on there that you need to save, do that first.

*  Boot with live LL DVD

*  Open GParted and delete all partitions on the USB drive.

• Delete logical partitions before extended partition
  
• Delete extended partition
  
• Delete primary partitions
  
• If you can't delete swap, right-click it and choose "Swapoff" first, then delete.
  
• If you can't delete other partitions, right-click and choose "Unmount", then delete.
  

*  Click "Apply" button (arrow button under word "Help") to finalize deletions.

*  Now make a new partition table:  Device -> Create Partition Table -> msdos

*  Make the following new partitions with GParted:

• Primary partition -- 25GB -- Ext4 formatting  (this will be root)
  
• Extended partition -- size = rest of drive, 475GB
  
• Logical partition -- 8GB -- Swap
  
• Logical partition -- 100-125GB -- Ext4 formatting  (this will be /home)
  
• Logical partition -- 342-367GB -- NTFS formatting  (this will be /mnt/Windows)
  
• Click "Apply" button to finalize making your new partitions.
  

*  Close GParted and start the installer.

*  Choose "Something Else" option, then on the partitioning page:

• Highlight 25GB partition, hit "Change", then
  • [li]Use as = Ext4 file system
    
  • Mount point = "/" (root)
    
  • Size = leave it at 25GB that you made with GParted
    
  • Format Box = does not matter (you already formatted with GParted)
    
  [/li]
  
  
• Highlight 100-125GB partition, hit "Change", then
  • [li]Use as = Ext4 file system
    
  • Mount point = "/home"
    
  • Size = leave it at 100-125GB that you made with GParted
    
  • Format Box = does not matter (you already formatted with GParted)
    
  [/li]
  
  
• Highlight 342-367GB partition, hit "Change", then
  • [li]Use as = NTFS file system
    
  • Mount point = "/mnt/Windows"  (you will need to type that in -- no quote marks.)
    
  • Size = leave it at 342-367GB that you made with GParted
    
  • Format Box = does not matter (you already formatted with GParted)
    
  [/li]
  
  
• No need to do anything with Swap partition.  Installer will use it automatically.
  
  
• Near bottom of window, "Device for boot loader installation" = /dev/sdb (or whatever the device name for the USB drive is).  It will be pre-filled with /dev/sda.  You need to change it to the USB drive designation.
  

*  Double-check your entries, then finish the installation

If you follow these steps and it refuses to boot properly, then I have no idea what is going wrong.

[arunp]

Dear gold_finger,

Thanks for all your effort, I installed the system as per your guide lines and restarted the system still the same issue. gild_finger i want to insist on one point i presume we are missing is that the "Hard disk boots, it shows all the LL grub boot options and the 10 seconds time is running below after that the OS hangs or doesn't start further in lay mans language the Grub is not able to find/decide the boot folder if we configure the system in this format. i am sorry if you have taken this point into account before to mention it again. given below is the inputs from the commands you have already asked to post after this installation:

Code:

linux@linux:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 232.9G  0 disk
├─sda1   8:1    0 125.5M  0 part
├─sda2   8:2    0  12.2G  0 part
├─sda3   8:3    0 102.9G  0 part
├─sda4   8:4    0     1K  0 part
└─sda5   8:5    0 117.7G  0 part
sdb      8:16   0 465.8G  0 disk
├─sdb1   8:17   0  24.4G  0 part
├─sdb2   8:18   0     1K  0 part
├─sdb5   8:21   0   7.8G  0 part [SWAP]
├─sdb6   8:22   0  97.7G  0 part
└─sdb7   8:23   0 335.9G  0 part
sr0     11:0    1   700M  0 rom  /cdrom
loop0    7:0    0 668.3M  1 loop /rofs
linux@linux:~$ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="DellUtility" UUID="07DB-011B" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="RECOVERY" UUID="663EC66B3EC633B9" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="OS" UUID="0E58C90F58C8F68D" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="30D748C43DA76362" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sr0: LABEL="Linux Lite 2.0 64-bit" TYPE="iso9660"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="3e1b2b86-cac2-49d1-a834-1b6a7f16b1be" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="e36750d1-437d-45be-b954-be8a4b8cb74d" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="3e8711c6-3e32-44f2-a02e-db8f65ce6f6c" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb7: UUID="62B9FEA64E895E5B" TYPE="ntfs"
linux@linux:~$ sudo parted -llinux@linux:~$ cat /etc/fstab
parted: invalid option -- 'i'
parted: invalid option -- 'n'
parted: invalid option -- 'u'
parted: invalid option -- 'x'
parted: invalid option -- '@'
parted: invalid option -- 'i'
parted: invalid option -- 'n'
parted: invalid option -- 'u'
parted: invalid option -- 'x'
parted: invalid option -- ':'
parted: invalid option -- '~'
parted: invalid option -- '$'
Usage: parted [-hlmsv] [-a<align>] [DEVICE [COMMAND [PARAMETERS]]...]
linux@linux:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 232.9G  0 disk
├─sda1   8:1    0 125.5M  0 part
├─sda2   8:2    0  12.2G  0 part
├─sda3   8:3    0 102.9G  0 part
├─sda4   8:4    0     1K  0 part
└─sda5   8:5    0 117.7G  0 part
sdb      8:16   0 465.8G  0 disk
├─sdb1   8:17   0  24.4G  0 part
├─sdb2   8:18   0     1K  0 part
├─sdb5   8:21   0   7.8G  0 part [SWAP]
├─sdb6   8:22   0  97.7G  0 part
└─sdb7   8:23   0 335.9G  0 part
sr0     11:0    1   700M  0 rom  /cdrom
loop0    7:0    0 668.3M  1 loop /rofs
linux@linux:~$ sudo parted -l
Model: ATA WDC WD2500BEKT-7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system  Flags
1      32.3kB  132MB   132MB   primary   fat16        diag
2      134MB   13.2GB  13.0GB  primary   ntfs         boot
3      13.2GB  124GB   110GB   primary   ntfs
4      124GB   250GB   126GB   extended
5      124GB   250GB   126GB   logical   ntfs


Model: Seagate Portable (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system     Flags
1      1049kB  26.2GB  26.2GB  primary   ext4            boot
2      26.2GB  500GB   474GB   extended
5      26.2GB  34.6GB  8389MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)
6      34.6GB  139GB   105GB   logical   ext4
7      139GB   500GB   361GB   logical   ntfs


Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system).  /dev/sr0
has been opened read-only.
Error: Invalid partition table - recursive partition on /dev/sr0.         
Ignore/Cancel? i                                                         
Model: PLDS DVD+-RW DS-8A5SH (scsi)
Disk /dev/sr0: 734MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 2048B/2048B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start  End  Size  Type  File system  Flags


linux@linux:~$ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="DellUtility" UUID="07DB-011B" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: LABEL="RECOVERY" UUID="663EC66B3EC633B9" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="OS" UUID="0E58C90F58C8F68D" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sda5: UUID="30D748C43DA76362" TYPE="ntfs"
/dev/sr0: LABEL="Linux Lite 2.0 64-bit" TYPE="iso9660"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="3e1b2b86-cac2-49d1-a834-1b6a7f16b1be" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="e36750d1-437d-45be-b954-be8a4b8cb74d" TYPE="swap"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="3e8711c6-3e32-44f2-a02e-db8f65ce6f6c" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sdb7: UUID="62B9FEA64E895E5B" TYPE="ntfs"
linux@linux:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt
mount: block device /dev/sdb2 is write-protected, mounting read-only
mount: you must specify the filesystem type
linux@linux:~$ cat /mnt/etc/fstab
cat: /mnt/etc/fstab: No such file or directory
linux@linux:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt
mount: block device /dev/sdb2 is write-protected, mounting read-only
mount: you must specify the filesystem type
linux@linux:~$

   

[gold_finger]

You've got a strange situation going on there.  It makes no sense for it to be doing that.  Your partitions look good, so don't see a problem with them.  It appears that you followed steps correctly.  I'm a bit stumped -- have never seen or heard of this happening before.  At this point just going to have you repost output for commands that needed to be adjusted for the new partition layout you have now.  Your old layout needed them to be run on sdb2.  Your partitions changed with the new install.  Run commands again as shown below -- this time they are going to apply to the new root partition, sdb1.

linux@linux:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt
mount: block device /dev/sdb2 is write-protected, mounting read-only
mount: you must specify the filesystem type

This was looking for the old root partition on sdb2.  Root is now on sdb1, so go ahead with new commands below.

Code:

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
cat /mnt/etc/fstab
sudo umount /mnt

Post back with full output from those commands please.

[arunp]

Dear gold_finger,

I tried another way of installation, Primary partition of sdb1 - 124 GB, swaparea - 8 GB and rest extended partition of NTFS - 364 GB and installed the system. This time the system booted but doesn't mount the NTFS drive i.e not recognize the drive. given below is the output from the same commands you have specified.

Code:

arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 232.9G  0 disk
├─sda1   8:1    0 125.5M  0 part
├─sda2   8:2    0  12.2G  0 part
├─sda3   8:3    0 102.9G  0 part
├─sda4   8:4    0     1K  0 part
└─sda5   8:5    0 117.7G  0 part
sdb      8:16   0 465.8G  0 disk
├─sdb1   8:17   0 119.2G  0 part /
├─sdb2   8:18   0     1K  0 part
├─sdb5   8:21   0   7.5G  0 part [SWAP]
└─sdb6   8:22   0 339.1G  0 part /mnt/Windows
sr0     11:0    1  1024M  0 rom 
arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for arunp:
Model: ATA WDC WD2500BEKT-7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system  Flags
1      32.3kB  132MB   132MB   primary   fat16        diag
2      134MB   13.2GB  13.0GB  primary   ntfs         boot
3      13.2GB  124GB   110GB   primary   ntfs
4      124GB   250GB   126GB   extended
5      124GB   250GB   126GB   logical   ntfs


Model: Seagate Portable (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End    Size    Type      File system     Flags
1      1049kB  128GB  128GB   primary   ext4            boot
2      128GB   500GB  372GB   extended
5      128GB   136GB  7999MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)
6      136GB   500GB  364GB   logical   ntfs


arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ cat /etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

#Entry for /dev/sdb1 :
UUID=152be27a-4d93-4fb6-95e5-45e098c6f568    /    ext4    errors=remount-ro    0    1
#Entry for /dev/sdb6 :
UUID=5480819C42DE547D    /mnt/Windows    ntfs-3g    defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8    00
#Entry for /dev/sdb5 :
UUID=f943611f-2a44-4f89-9b69-f840156d1c80    none    swap    sw    0    0


arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb6 /mnt
Mount is denied because the NTFS volume is already exclusively opened.
The volume may be already mounted, or another software may use it which
could be identified for example by the help of the 'fuser' command.
arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ cat /mnt/etc/fstab
cat: /mnt/etc/fstab: No such file or directory
arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
[sudo] password for arunp:
arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ cat /mnt/etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

#Entry for /dev/sdb1 :
UUID=152be27a-4d93-4fb6-95e5-45e098c6f568    /    ext4    errors=remount-ro    0    1
#Entry for /dev/sdb6 :
UUID=5480819C42DE547D    /mnt/Windows    ntfs-3g    defaults,locale=en_US.UTF-8    00
#Entry for /dev/sdb5 :
UUID=f943611f-2a44-4f89-9b69-f840156d1c80    none    swap    sw    0    0


arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$ sudo umount /mnt
arunp@arunp-Vostro-3400:~$

I will also reconfigure the system the Old way and post you the output as requested by you

[gold_finger]

Something does not make any sense to me.  This is the second time now that you have posted output that indicates that you are booted into the installed LL and that it has recognized and mounted the NTFS partition -- but you seem to think that it has not.

On your last post you said it booted okay, but did not recognize the NTFS partition.  That is not what I see.  In screenshot below, the first red box shows that you are booted into your installed LL.  The second red box show that it has mounted the NTFS partition at /mnt/Windows.





The other time this happened (where you said it wouldn't boot into the installed LL), I asked you in "Reply #7" to boot with the live DVD and run 3 commands.  Your reply to that, ("Reply #8), indicated that you had run the commands from within the installed (not live) LL.  In other words, you had booted into the installed LL while the sdb3 partition was formatted as NTFS -- which is something you said you could not do.  When I saw that, I asked you in "Reply 9" to post output from "cat /etc/fstab" thinking you would again boot into your installed LL to do it.  You then ran that command from the live DVD instead, which gave wrong info.  So I asked in "Reply 11" for you to boot back into LL and run command from there.  To which you said in "Reply 12" that you couldn't boot into it, even though that's exactly what you did do in "Reply 8".  However, you made changes to the drive and I could no longer pursue the question.

Here is screenshot of your "Reply #8" with red boxes showing that you were booted into the installed LL and that it recognized and mounted the NTFS partition.





One last note for now:

I'm not saying this to be mean, but to be blunt -- we are going in circles here and I feel like I'm wasting my time.  I make replies to your questions and ask for output based on what you post.  But, you keep making further changes to the partitions in the meantime which renders the command output I ask for inapplicable to your new, changed partitions.  If you want me to continue trying to figure this out, please wait for my answers before making further changes.

In your last post you said you were going to change everything back to "the Old way" -- whatever that means.  Post back whatever the situation is at that point, then don't change anything until I have a chance to reply.  If you change things again before seeing my reply, I will stop replying all together.