Reinstall Grub in Ubuntu

I want to share my experience when I had problem with Grub error. It was in one of my company PC server. The PC use as Database mirror and fortunatelly for me the PC it self dont have direct impact to the other systems. Here are some actions when I am trying to fix the problem.

I check directly the PC and when I turn on the monitor, it said Grub Error 16 and can't access the Linux File System. I wonder what happen. Then I realize it was also my fault because I often told the building employee to had a hard boot when it down. It happen often and until that morning perhaps the system were very 'tired' and suddenly got 'sick'. Off course I dont want to have a re-formatted it because it was not only as the database mirror but also it use as a backup server. I try to look up google, try to find the best thing I can do to fix the problem. I found some trick to fix the problem. The grub should be re-install again using Ubuntu Live CD. Now I'll try to write down all the trick I've tried.

A. First it said we have to re-install grub from terminal
1. Pop in the Linux Live CD, boot from it until you reach the desktop.

2. Open a terminal window or switch to a tty.

3. Type "sudo su -"
4. Type "grub"
5. Type "find /boot/grub/stage1" 6. Type "root (hd0,0)"
5. Type "setup (hd0)"
6. Quit grub by typing "quit".

7. Reboot.

The problem is when I type : find /boot/grub/stage1 , it said : The file /boot/grub/stage1 not read correctly. So I skip the steps and follow the next step, but it still not working.

This method not working because some people told we have to reinstall grub from file system it self, not from Live CD. Use the Ubuntu Live CD and use the terminal to get interaction with system. Follow this steps :

sudo mkdir /mnt/coba  

sudo fdisk -l  

sudo mount -t reiserfs /dev/sda1 /mnt/coba  

sudo chroot /mnt/coba

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

This methods not working for me too.

B. After searching the other methods, someone in ubuntu forum told we can use 'a half' of ubuntu installation to fix the grub problem.

1. Boot your computer up with Ubuntu CD

2. Go through all the process until you reech "[!!!] Disk Partition"

3. Select Manual Partition

4. Mount your appropriate linux partions



/

/boot

swap

.....



5. DO NOT FORMAT THEM.

6. Finish the manual partition

7. Say "Yes" when it asks you to save the changes

8. It will give you errors saying that "the system couldn't install ....." after that

9. Ignore them, keep select "continue" until you get back to the Ubuntu installation menu

10. Jump to "Install Grub ...."

11. Once it is finished, just restart your computer

I have try this methods for more than 5 times but it still not working, I can't install grub without to format my / partition.

Note : After I read again this methods now, perhaps one thing is missing. In line 4 / , /boot, /swap. Perhaps that is the problem, he use separated boot partition, not in single / partition.

C. The last methods is use a bootable CD to deal with boot problems. I found one good software, super grub.

Super Grub Disk, PC boot spesialised disk. Super Grub Disk is also a teaching tool to help you learn more about bootloaders and the booting process. After all, booting is the most important thing your computer does -- without the boot process, you would not have an operating system to use!.

Download the software then burn the ISO image in CD. Booting from Your CDROM and we can use some options there. Here are the screen shot :

I have try this software, I have try all the options there but still it didn't fix anything. Not successfull :( .

Time is running out and the problem is still there. I have try all the methods but seems its not my lucky day or perhaps the disk or the file system is damage. So I decide to move the necessary data from disk to pendrive using Live CD and reinstall the  PC . Finish. All the problem were fix totally :D.