Thread: Dual Boot problem - Grub Rescue and failed mounting

hi all,
i'll start warning i'm totally new this.

wanted use ubuntu web browsing, word processing, charts , graphs etc etc, still wanted windows gaming.

friend of mine set pc dual boot ubuntu 9.10 , windows xp 64bit.

1 hd, 3 partitions:
- lynux
- windows
- data

worked fine ages , i've not re-installed anything, used it.
1 day failed boot ubuntu after i'd selected on boot list, once rebooted fine again.
other day failed again , upon restart got "grub rescue>" prompt.

did obligatory "google" , thought might grub problem.

booted install cd , tried:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ grub-install -v
grub-install (gnu grub 1.97~beta4)

have got "grub2" ???

screen used (ish):

(borrowed ubuntu site)

did:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

disk /dev/sda: 250.1 gb, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
disk identifier: 0x86d5f01c

device boot start end blocks id system
/dev/sda1 * 1 6374 51199123+ 7 hpfs/ntfs
/dev/sda2 6375 27791 172032052+ f w95 ext'd (lba)
/dev/sda3 27792 30401 20964825 83 linux
/dev/sda5 6375 27791 172032021 7 hpfs/ntfs


, tried boot info script route said sda3 ubuntu partition , problem -

"mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type ''


here's list

code:

                 boot info script 0.60    17 may 2011   ============================= boot info summary: ===============================   => grub2 (v1.97-1.98) installed in mbr of /dev/sda , looks @ sector      1 of same hard drive core.img. core.img @ location ,      looks in partition 3 /boot/grub.  sda1: __________________________________________________________________________      file system:       ntfs     boot sector type:  windows xp     boot sector info:   no errors found in boot parameter block.     operating system:  windows xp     boot files:        /boot.ini /ntldr /ntdetect.com  sda2: __________________________________________________________________________      file system:       extended partition     boot sector type:  -     boot sector info:    sda5: __________________________________________________________________________      file system:       ntfs     boot sector type:  windows xp     boot sector info:   according info in boot sector, sda5 starts                         @ sector 63.     operating system:       boot files:          sda3: __________________________________________________________________________      file system:            boot sector type:  grub2 (v1.97-1.98)     boot sector info:   grub2 (v1.97-1.98) installed in boot sector of                         sda3 , looks @ sector 446737599 of same hard                         drive core.img. core.img @ location ,                         looks in partition 256 /boot/grub.     mounting failed:   mount: unknown filesystem type ''  ============================ drive/partition info: =============================  drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________  disk /dev/sda: 250.1 gb, 250059350016 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders, total 488397168 sectors units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes disk identifier: 0x86d5f01c  partition  boot  start sector    end sector  # of sectors  id system  /dev/sda1    *             63   102,398,309   102,398,247   7 ntfs / exfat / hpfs /dev/sda2         102,398,310   446,462,414   344,064,105   f w95 extended (lba) /dev/sda5         102,398,373   446,462,414   344,064,042   7 ntfs / exfat / hpfs /dev/sda3         446,462,415   488,392,064    41,929,650  83 linux   "blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________  device           uuid                                   type       label  /dev/loop0                                              squashfs    /dev/sda1        3c1c597b1c5930de                       ntfs        /dev/sda5        5084bc7684bc5fe0                       ntfs       data  ================================ mount points: =================================  device           mount_point              type       options  /dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (rw) /dev/sr0         /cdrom                   iso9660    (rw)   ================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [boot loader]  timeout=30  default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows  [operating systems]  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="windows xp professional x64 edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

when click places/homefolder/ , @ list of directories , hd's on left, can see other 2 partitions, windows , data.
3rd has hd symbol , called file system.
can open , brings window labelled: "/" , seems contain ubuntu folders, none of important contents tie i've found on forums.

tried go through install process using cd, , lynux partition listed "not formatted" backed out of install in case ruined anything.

i'm lost. don't know it. i've got data on ubuntu partition i'd save don't want format , start again!


guys.

tried more fiddling can't work out why won't mount or allow me select operating systems on boot

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