ubuntu-boot team mailing list archive

[Tormod Volden <bugpost.tormod@xxxxxxxxx>]

Please attach or paste the output from "lsusb" when the USB drive is
plugged in and works (e.g. from a live CD).

** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu)
     Assignee: Ubuntu Boot (ubuntu-boot) => (unassigned)

** Package changed: grub2 (Ubuntu) => initramfs-tools (Ubuntu)

-- 
Ubuntu 9.10 Beta doesn't boot from usb-attached hard drive, exits to busybox console
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/442679
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Status in “initramfs-tools” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed

Bug description:
I just installed Ubuntu 9.10 Beta using IA64 ISO to a external usb-attached hard drive. (System already has a internal hard drive but can't install anything on that one).

Installation process finished alright with default options, using entire hard drive which was correctly recognized during installation.

When I try to boot the system, I get the usual GRUB menu with the correct options (normal boot, failsafe, memtest, etc). However, after choosing the normal boot the system exits to a busybox console giving a similar error message as the one that follows:

---------------------------------------
Boot from (hd0, 4) ext3 682bc0ce-b500-488e-b36e-4bc7ad043776
Starting up...
Loading, please wait...
Gave up waiting for root device.  Common problems:
 -Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline)
   -Check root delay = (did the system wait long enough?)
   -Check root=(did the system wait for the right device?)
 -Missing modules (cat /proc/modules; ls /dev)
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/682bc0ce-b500-488e-b36e-4bc7ad043776 does not exist. Dropping to shell!

Busybox v1.10.2 (Ubuntu 1:1.10.2-2ubuntu7) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.
---------------------------------------

Apparently, from dmesg output it only finds one hard drive (sda), which seems to be the internal one. BUT it is capable of reading GRUB menu, so at some point it actually recognizes external hard drive.

Workaroung of adding "rootdelay=90" at grub.cfg (remember it's GRUB2) doesn't work, neither typing "exit" after a few seconds.

Will try to provide "dmesg", "uname -a", "sudo lspci -vvnn" on following updates.

System is a Dell Latitude D630 with Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.