I need help with debian 7.6 grub and other issues.

[ShadowVVL]

I have been getting grub and initramfs errors at boot on a new install of debian.I have tried to figure out the issues for 2 weeks now and I need help.

Debian does boot but only have 8 to 15 rests,I don't have any other hdds plugged in so its not a multi boot issue.

The errors I get are basically
1. grub cant find hd0
2. the file system is unknown
3. cant load initram
4. disk is out of partition.
5. grub or

when I dont get grub errors I get initramfs cant read file and then kernel panic.

list of things I have tried
1 updating grub,
2 purging/reinstalling grub2
3 grub rescue commands.
4 reinstalling initrd and linux img from live disk

The only thing I have not done is make changes to the etc/default/grub.

I tried different burning sofware dvd/cds at lowest write speed, usb, sata2 and ide hdds and redownloaded debian iso.

I don't feel like giving up just yet so this is the 5th reinstall,it is clean and I have not messed with it.

 

[lxskllr]

I wonder if it's a hardware problem. Maybe try a different hd, or a usb stick.

 

[ArisVer]

Debian does boot but only have 8 to 15 rests,

What do you mean? Explain.

Can you post what partitioning scheme you use while installing? Maybe you are running out of disk space, eg making a very small /boot partition.

If I understood well, you have also tried installing on a different HDD?

 

[ShadowVVL]

I meant resets as in hitting the reset button or ctrl alt delete.

The partitions are
/ root ext3, set at 40gbs sda1
home ext4is 80gbs sda5
swap is 2gbs sda6

yes I tried a 200gb ide and 2 320gb satas.

I had debian 7.4 running fine on a old 80gb sata for about a year then the drive died.

 

[ArisVer]

Something to try. If you have a full iso of 7.4, install that without a network connection. If the installation is without problems and it boots well into the system, connect to the internet and it will update to the new version (or maybe you have to update it yourself, don't remember much).

 

[ShadowVVL]

I installed 7.4 with ethernet unplugged and it still doing it,so I figured lxskllr was right its a hardware problem.
I brought my hdds and debian down to a friends house to try installing it with his comp and it works fine on all 3 drives.I think the problem is my motherboard chipset is garbage.so I will try to get a hdd controller or a new motherboard.

Thanks for the help.

 

[lxskllr]

Maybe your board is failing. If it works once, it should work every time. It could also be some kind of race condition that causes it to sometimes work depending on what gets loaded first. If that's the case, you may be able to fix it with some scripting. Try searching your specific board online, and see if anyone else is having problems with it.

 

[ShadowVVL]

Thanks lxskllr,
I searched around and didn’t expect to find much,but I found that alot of people had bios issues with this board and the evga version.
I didn’t think it was the bios because I had already set them to defaults a week ago.
But I decided to try the clear cmos button and reload defaults again and now the drives boot fine.

My guess is it may have been an error preventing the bios from loading defaults correctly.