Hi, After my 30-something year old self had been using the computer, linux (Ubuntu 6.06) would get part way through booting, then start shutting down. (Tried a couple of times). Immediately upon loading GRUB the machine would recycle power and start the boot process again.
Immediately previous to this I'd performed a network boot and used a Zen imaging tool to attempt to install Another OS to an external HDD. I was pretty certain that, while I'd altered the partition table on the external HDD, I hadn't (intentionally) touched my internal HDD at all. Some Googling found https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub/+bug/26058 and http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?func=detailitem&item_id=15048#comment5 It appears that Zen tools, whether within Windows XP or stand-alone, write to the boot sector without warning. My solution (worked for me): - boot from a rescue CD (no Knoppix to hand, so I used Insert http://www.inside-security.de/insert_en.html) - mount the partition containing the grub files (/dev/hda1 mounted on /mnt/hda1 for me) - grub-install --recheck --nofloppy --root-directory=/mnt/hda1 /dev/hda - chroot /mnt/hda1 - update-grub - reboot For the record, mainly in case I need it again. Cheers, Roy.
