[SOLVED]Error Loading Operating System

yustr · 08-06-2007, 06:48 AM

My Ubuntu system is exhibiting a weird startup behavior: on normal (unassisted) startup it hangs and gives the thread title error. It occurs right after checking the memory and devices screen. But if I go into setup (F9) and just accept the current settings for boot device (HD) and then the current HD - it proceeds to load fine.

What's up?

One big clue: it failed to shutdown correctly yesterday. It churned away for a long time (maybe 5 minutes) until I got tired of waiting for it and shut it down manually (by holding the power button). Did I screw something up??? How badly?

**K-B** · 08-06-2007, 04:33 PM

Is Ubuntu the sole OS on that system? Do I understand you right that you get this message before Ubuntu starts loading? In that case, it would almost seem like a hardware problem...

yustr · 08-06-2007, 07:35 PM

Yes to both questions: Ubuntu is the only OS on this comp and I get the message right after the bios does its check of the existing drives. Then a screen showing the CPU temp and fan speeds comes on - upper portion of the screen, then it looks for a way to boot to an OS. It's then I get the message that it can't find one.

I can't figure out why it seems to find one after i fool it into thinking I changed the boot sequence.

Hardware? Drive maybe? Once it's up and running everything seems to run fine.

**K-B** · 08-07-2007, 03:45 AM

Seems to me I had that problem once. . . I'm picking my brain . . .I don't remember for sure, but I think it had something to do with the IDE cables. Have you changed anything inside the case recently?

yustr · 08-07-2007, 05:29 AM

K-B,

I'll check all the connections today and let you know if that solves it. If not, I'll move this thread over to Hardware and see if one of the smart guys over there has a clue...

Thanks
yustr

yustr · 08-07-2007, 07:33 AM

Hardware Team...

Kyle over in does not think it's software. All cables are tight so that's probably not the issue. I have not made any changes to the machine. Any ideas?

**Doby** · 08-07-2007, 05:36 PM

Hi Yustr,

First let me explain I know nothing about Ubuntu so I am at a disadvantage there.

The first thing I would do seeing as where it hangs is go to the hdd manufactures wesite and downlod their tools to run diagnostics on the drive. With these tools you can create a bootable floppy or cd to check the drive so its operating system independent.

If the drive passes the long test then you should download memtest86 to check the ram next

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

Again use the bootable floppy or iso version for cd, let memtest run for at least 3 passes but if it shows nothing I think you should let it run for 4 hours or so to be sure.

One note though memtest should be run on each stick of ram individually meaning you are going to have to open the case and remove some ram sticks before running memtest if you have more than one stick installed.

Keep us posted on how it goes

yustr · 08-07-2007, 08:42 PM

Sometimes its better to be lucky than good...

While I was trying to get the darn thing to boot from the WD diagnostic CD, I noticed that the boot order in the bios was different than what shows up on the boot screen (don't ask me how that is or even where the second one is coming from.

- I access it by pressing F9 during startup.

Anyway, in the bios it appeared that it was trying to boot from "Another Device". Once I reshuffled the order to make the proper HD first in the list - all is well.

I must have screwed it up in the first place but I sure don't remember doing so...

Anyway, consider this one solved.

Many thanks Doby - without you idea I might never got to the solution.

yustr

**Doby** · 08-08-2007, 10:51 AM

Great news Yustr, glad everthings all better

08-06-2007, 06:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 5,666 OS: XP Pro My System	[SOLVED]Error Loading Operating System My Ubuntu system is exhibiting a weird startup behavior: on normal (unassisted) startup it hangs and gives the thread title error. It occurs right after checking the memory and devices screen. But if I go into setup (F9) and just accept the current settings for boot device (HD) and then the current HD - it proceeds to load fine. What's up? One big clue: it failed to shutdown correctly yesterday. It churned away for a long time (maybe 5 minutes) until I got tired of waiting for it and shut it down manually (by holding the power button). Did I screw something up??? How badly? __________________ Wine gets better with age; the older I get the better it tastes.

08-06-2007, 04:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
K-B Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,792 OS: Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Is Ubuntu the sole OS on that system? Do I understand you right that you get this message before Ubuntu starts loading? In that case, it would almost seem like a hardware problem... __________________

08-06-2007, 07:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 5,666 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Yes to both questions: Ubuntu is the only OS on this comp and I get the message right after the bios does its check of the existing drives. Then a screen showing the CPU temp and fan speeds comes on - upper portion of the screen, then it looks for a way to boot to an OS. It's then I get the message that it can't find one. I can't figure out why it seems to find one after i fool it into thinking I changed the boot sequence. Hardware? Drive maybe? Once it's up and running everything seems to run fine. __________________ Wine gets better with age; the older I get the better it tastes.

08-07-2007, 03:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
K-B Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NY Posts: 2,792 OS: Ubuntu 8.04 My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Seems to me I had that problem once. . . I'm picking my brain . . .I don't remember for sure, but I think it had something to do with the IDE cables. Have you changed anything inside the case recently? __________________

08-07-2007, 05:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 5,666 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System K-B, I'll check all the connections today and let you know if that solves it. If not, I'll move this thread over to Hardware and see if one of the smart guys over there has a clue... Thanks yustr __________________ Wine gets better with age; the older I get the better it tastes.

08-07-2007, 07:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 5,666 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Hardware Team... Kyle over in does not think it's software. All cables are tight so that's probably not the issue. I have not made any changes to the machine. Any ideas? __________________ Wine gets better with age; the older I get the better it tastes.

08-07-2007, 05:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 7,924 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Hi Yustr, First let me explain I know nothing about Ubuntu so I am at a disadvantage there. The first thing I would do seeing as where it hangs is go to the hdd manufactures wesite and downlod their tools to run diagnostics on the drive. With these tools you can create a bootable floppy or cd to check the drive so its operating system independent. If the drive passes the long test then you should download memtest86 to check the ram next http://www.memtest.org/#downiso Again use the bootable floppy or iso version for cd, let memtest run for at least 3 passes but if it shows nothing I think you should let it run for 4 hours or so to be sure. One note though memtest should be run on each stick of ram individually meaning you are going to have to open the case and remove some ram sticks before running memtest if you have more than one stick installed. Keep us posted on how it goes __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

08-07-2007, 08:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 5,666 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Sometimes its better to be lucky than good... While I was trying to get the darn thing to boot from the WD diagnostic CD, I noticed that the boot order in the bios was different than what shows up on the boot screen (don't ask me how that is or even where the second one is coming from. - I access it by pressing F9 during startup. Anyway, in the bios it appeared that it was trying to boot from "Another Device". Once I reshuffled the order to make the proper HD first in the list - all is well. I must have screwed it up in the first place but I sure don't remember doing so... Anyway, consider this one solved. Many thanks Doby - without you idea I might never got to the solution. yustr __________________ Wine gets better with age; the older I get the better it tastes.

08-08-2007, 10:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 7,924 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Re: Error Loading Operating System Great news Yustr, glad everthings all better __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF