Unknown command (loadfont) - Will not boot

[RamosDevil]

I have a dual booting HP Pavilion laptop. I originally had only Windows 7 running on it (64-bit) and installed Ubuntu 10.04 alongside Windows 7 (via a Ubuntu 10.04 install DVD) and never looked back. However, last night I installed Wine 1.2, shut the computer off, and the next time I booted up my laptop, I get an error when I attempt to boot Ubuntu using the Windows Boot Loader (unknown command (loadfont) - the laptop continually resets itself). I am able to boot into Windows 7, but not Ubuntu. I have followed all of the instructions on this thread (1) AND this thread (2), both to no avail. Using a live USB stick, I have been able to comment out the loadfont and associated lines in grub.cfg, yet that did not fix the problem. When I change grub.cfg to grub.cfg.broken (as detailed in another post), I can boot into the grub prompt and manually boot. Once into my laptop-native Ubuntu, I have performed the sudo update-grub command, yet when I reboot, I get the loadfont error again. What else can I do? I also uninstalled Wine and all of its components using Synaptic, being as it caused these problems in the first place. Help!

[Rubi1200]

Hi and welcome to the forums

I suggest you use a LiveCD to boot the computer and choose to try not install Ubuntu.

Click on the link at the bottom of my post and follow the instructions there.

Post the results back here so we can see what is where.

Thanks.

[RamosDevil]

Thanks for your help, Rubi1200. I ran the script and this is what it came back with:

                Boot Info Script 0.55    dated February 15th, 2010                    

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

 => Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
 => Syslinux is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb

sda1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  Windows 7
    Boot files/dirs:   /bootmgr /boot/bcd /Windows/System32/winload.exe 
                       /wubildr.mbr /ubuntu/winboot/wubildr.mbr /wubildr 
                       /ubuntu/winboot/wubildr /ubuntu/disks/root.disk 
                       /ubuntu/disks/swap.disk

sda1/Wubi: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info:  
    Operating System:  Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
    Boot files/dirs:   /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda2: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ntfs
    Boot sector type:  Windows Vista/7
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   /bootmgr

sdb1: _________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  Fat32
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files/dirs:   

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
240 heads, 63 sectors/track, 41345 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sda1    *             63   601,966,591   601,966,529   7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2         601,966,592   625,135,615    23,169,024   7 HPFS/NTFS


Drive: sdb ___________________ _____________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 2020 MB, 2020904448 bytes
63 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1010 cylinders, total 3947079 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot         Start           End          Size  Id System

/dev/sdb1    *             62     3,945,059     3,944,998   b W95 FAT32


blkid -c /dev/null: ____________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL                         

/dev/loop0                                              squashfs                                 
/dev/loop1       01183a06-3c65-4181-8703-4557d17e9797   ext3                                     
/dev/loop2       ff2a46ac-5542-4ac3-860d-bd075506bac0   ext4                                     
/dev/sda1        23A85F0441831D29                       ntfs                                     
/dev/sda2        D606384806382C3D                       ntfs       HP_RECOVERY                   
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos" 
/dev/sdb1        38E4-BDEF                              vfat                                     
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos" 

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev  output: ===========================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

aufs             /                        aufs       (rw)
/dev/sdb1        /cdrom                   vfat       (rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/loop0       /rofs                    squashfs   (ro,noatime)


======================== sda1/Wubi/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by /usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ ${prev_saved_entry} ]; then
  set saved_entry=${prev_saved_entry}
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then
    saved_entry=${chosen}
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function recordfail {
  set recordfail=1
  if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then if [ -z ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=640x480
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
    # For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
    # understand terminal_output
    terminal gfxterm
  fi
fi
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
set root=(loop0)
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ ${recordfail} = 1 ]; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-25-generic" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro   quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-25-generic (recovery mode)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-24-generic" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro   quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (recovery mode)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-23-generic" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro   quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-23-generic (recovery mode)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-22-generic" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro   quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-22-generic (recovery mode)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-21-generic" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro   quiet splash
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, Linux 2.6.32-21-generic (recovery mode)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	loopback loop0 /ubuntu/disks/root.disk
	set root=(loop0)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic root=/dev/sda1 loop=/ubuntu/disks/root.disk ro single 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_lupin ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,1)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 23a85f0441831d29
	chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" {
	insmod ntfs
	set root='(hd0,2)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d606384806382c3d
	chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

============================= sda1/Wubi/etc/fstab: =============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
proc            /proc           proc    nodev,noexec,nosuid 0       0
/host/ubuntu/disks/root.disk /               ext4    loop,errors=remount-ro 0       1
/host/ubuntu/disks/swap.disk none            swap    loop,sw         0       0

================= sda1/Wubi: Location of files loaded by Grub: =================


   2.3GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
   2.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-21-generic
   2.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22-generic
   3.7GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-23-generic
   9.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic
  18.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-25-generic
   2.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-21-generic
   2.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
  11.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-23-generic
   6.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic
   4.3GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic
  18.6GB: initrd.img
   9.5GB: initrd.img.old
   4.3GB: vmlinuz
   6.5GB: vmlinuz.old

[bcbc]

Copy the c:\ubuntu\winboot\wubildr file over the c:\wubildr file (backup before overwriting)

[RamosDevil]

Copy the c:\ubuntu\winboot\wubildr file over the c:\wubildr file (backup before overwriting)

I renamed the C:\wubildr file to C:\wubildr_old, then copied the C:\ubuntu\winboot\wibildr file to C:\. I then restarted the computer, and again got:

"Try (hd0,0): NTFS5
error: unknown command 'loadfont'
error: file could not be found"

The laptop then rebooted. Did I miss a step? I renamed/copied the wubildr file using Windows 7 - not sure that would make a difference, but I figured it was worth noting.

[bcbc]

OK do this instead:
Boot a live CD, then edit grub.cfg as follows:

sudo mkdir /media/win 
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/win
sudo mount -o loop /media/win/ubuntu/disks/root.disk /mnt
sudo cp /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg.copy
sudo chmod +w /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg
gksu gedit /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg

Delete all lines up to (not including) the first line that starts with "menuentry"
Save, reboot.

[RamosDevil]

Seems like that did the trick. After editing grub.cfg and removing those lines, I rebooted and I was able to boot normally. Any idea what would have caused this to happen? Every time I install Wine I seem to get booting problems, which only happens on this machine (I have had no problems with Wine on my Desktop computers). Also, would you care to explain exactly what it is I did to make this work? I understand that the grub configuration file somehow got messed up, did I just delete unnecessary commands or did I disable some features that were preventing me from booting? I'm happy your solution works, but now I'd like to know HOW it works. Thanks so much for the help.

[bcbc]

Seems like that did the trick. After editing grub.cfg and removing those lines, I rebooted and I was able to boot normally. Any idea what would have caused this to happen? Every time I install Wine I seem to get booting problems, which only happens on this machine (I have had no problems with Wine on my Desktop computers). Also, would you care to explain exactly what it is I did to make this work? I understand that the grub configuration file somehow got messed up, did I just delete unnecessary commands or did I disable some features that were preventing me from booting? I'm happy your solution works, but now I'd like to know HOW it works. Thanks so much for the help.

When you find out let me know

Basically, what I know is that there was a grub update. Part of that update replaces the wubildr file on the root partition. (This doesn't happen on all wubi installs, just the ones that grub can identify - the ones installed on the main windows partition - due to another unrelated bug).

That's why I suggested to replace the wubildr with the leftover wubildr from the installation. For the 10.04 to 10.10 upgrade this gets Wubi Ubuntu booting again.

However, that didn't work this time. So some other part of the grub update must be failing. Grub has a simple bootloader component, but it also has many modules plus the grub menu itself stored on the linux partition. The grub bootloader (wubildr for wubi installs) loads these modules and then it tries to process the grub menu. It's finding an incompatibility between the commands used in grub.cfg and the modules themselves. That's what those errors are.

So what you did is eliminate all those little commands that are causing the incompatibility (you could also have commented out the one it's complaining about - loadfont - but it's easier to just do what you did).

Honestly, I am puzzled by the grub devs. I reported this problem around July/August when 10.04.1 came out, but there were issues like this before that. This latest grub update - from the bug report - appears they did just a single test before promoting the fix.

When I tested the 10.04.1 bug, I found that after applying the workaround to get it booting, running "sudo update-grub" actually fixed the problem. It regenerates the grub.cfg menu identically as before as far I recall, so it must be doing something else that fixes the issue. Give it a try - at the worst you just follow the same workaround.

But since there's no wubi-specific documentation and the devs aren't sharing anything, your guess is as good as mine.

My recommendations for any wubi install is to lock the versions of grub-pc and grub-common (and lupin-support) in synaptic. The updates are never security related and they are very poorly tested.

[Paper Pusher]

my netbook has the same problem as op.
i will follow bcbc's instructions in the morning.

bcbc's comments are frightening. the grub situation seems out of step with the spirit of ubuntu.

[bcbc]

my netbook has the same problem as op.
i will follow bcbc's instructions in the morning.

bcbc's comments are frightening. the grub situation seems out of step with the spirit of ubuntu.

Here's the bug report for this latest fix where it certainly appears a single test case was used to decide it was OK: https://bugs.launchpad.net/wubi/+bug/581760

Also, bear in mind that these known wubi bugs remain unfixed:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/wubi/+bug/610898 (this bug reported in July, but originally this was reported in April where the problems affected all installs, not just wubi: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...b2/+bug/576724)
Bug 610898 also specifically mentions the booting problem with wubi installs on the same partition as windows.

The following bug is specifically on the lupin package that results in grub not being able to identify certain wubi installs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...in/+bug/604417

This bug documents the broken wubildr problem on upgrades from 10.04.1 to 10.10. This problem is very similar to the current wubildr problems on 10.04 and newly on 10.10, except there is at least an easy workaround: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...in/+bug/653134