I recently decided to remove Windows Vista from my dual-boot and replace it with Windows XP. Originally, I was using the Vista boot loader to dual-boot between Linux and Vista. This required to have grub actually installed on my Linux partition and then the Vista boot loader booted into that to get to Linux. After I installed XP, it put on the XP boot loader. When I used a live CD to try to reinstall GRUB, it doesn't work. Specifically, when I attempt to use the root command to get to my Linux partition, I get Error 23. I'm not exactly sure what that means. I know Linux is on the first partition of my hard drive which is (hd0,0). Ever time I try to use grub-installer or setup, it gives me errors. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the grub installation I had to put on the partition for the Vista boot loader. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

btw, I'm using 64-bit Ubuntu on a laptop.

Are you using the Grub Super Disk? If not this might fixed your problem.

http://supergrub.forjamari.linex.org/

If the grub shell from Live-CD Linux can't see the partition, then how is Super-GRUB going to help?

error 23 means there was an error in parsing a command. Make sure your "root" command is like this: "root (hd0,0)" where "0,0" means "first drive, first partition"
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...index.html#Top

Running from the live CD, give us also the output of "fdisk -l"

You need to tell us what the errors are!!

I figured Super GRUB Disk wouldn't be able to do anything a live CD can't, but thank you anyway alpha01.

here's my output on the live CD:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000080

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 6989 56139111 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 * 6990 13995 56275695 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 13996 14593 4803435 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 13996 14593 4803403+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ grub
Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For
the first word, TAB lists possible command
completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filname. ]
grub> root (hd0,0)
root (hd0,0)

Error 21: Selected disk does not exist
grub> root (sd0,0)
root (sd0,0)

Error 23: Error while parsing number

From your last post, it looks like you are getting to the Grub prompt (grub>) with the live CD, but I'm confused about the entries you posted after that? When you get to the grub prompt you type: root (hd0,0)##hit the enter key, then type: setup (hd0)##hit the enter key, type: quit ##Hit the enter key. Should be done.

Did you notice that that is exactly what he did??

Darth;
Your second attempt (root (sd0,0)) is invalid---GRUB uses only the hdx,y notation.

For some reason, your /dev/sda1 is not being recognized as hd0,0. You can try hd0,1 or maybe hd1,0

Also try grub's "find" command.

I am not at a computer with GRUB installed, so I can't do any experiments.

GRUB manual here:
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#Top

I'm back with GRUB installed...

Try something like this at the grub prompt:

find /boot/grub/stage1
OR
find /boot/vmlinuz

This will tell you if there are GRUB files or a kernel named vmlinuz anywhere.

You can also mount the partitions as reported by fdisk and poke around there.

Output of your suggestions, pixellany:

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
find /boot/grub/stage1

Error 15: File not found
grub> find /boot/grub/vmlinuz
find /boot/grub/vmlinuz

Error 15: File not found
grub> root (hd0,1)
root (hd0,1)

Error 21: Selected disk does not exist
grub> root (hd1,0)
root (hd1,0)

Error 21: Selected disk does not exist

The contents of /boot/grub on my linux partition:
default installed-version minix_stage1_5 xfs_stage1_5
device.map jfs_stage1_5 reiserfs_stage1_5
e2fs_stage1_5 menu.lst stage1
fat_stage1_5 menu.lst~ stage2

All fixed!

I just had to type 'sudo grub' rather than 'grub' (I could have sworn I tried that before). I feel a little dumb right now. Thanks everyone for helping out.

Don't feel dumb!! This is not the first example of a program that wants root powers, but will sit in stony silence when you try to run it as a mere mortal.

The candidates for dummy include:
the author of the SW.
all the experts that assumed you were running as root, but did not say anything.

Glad to hear you got things working.