OK, yesterday I posted this in two of the forums at Ubuntuforums.org. 51 reads but no answers. I hope this forum is more responsive because I'm totally clueless as how to proceed. I'm a complete Linux/Ubuntu novice. Recently installed the Ubuntu (Hardy 8.04) virtual appliance from Parallels on my MacBook Pro running Parallels Desktop 3.0. It took some fiddling around to finally install Parallels tools and fix the screen resolution but I eventually succeeded. Everything was running great and I was enjoying exploring Ubuntu, even managed to download and install a scientific program that was not available in the Ubuntu repositories. Two days ago, the update icon appeared with a long list of recommended updates. I ran this and several hours later, it said that the following three files could not be downloaded and updated. evolution-common 2.22.3.1-0 libhal-storage 1_0.5.11~rc2-1 linux restricted modules 2.6.24-23-generic_2.6.24.16-23.56_:386.deb The update program then gave me the option to update these three again. I clicked run and it all seem to go ok. After the update, the system behaved normally. I shut it down about 2 hours after the update. The next morning, when I tried to start ubuntu it fails with the following message. _______________ Starting up ... [ 971.188264] ACPI: Unable to load the System Description Tables Loading, please wait ... Check root= bootarg cat /proc/cmdline or missing modules, devices: cat /proc/modules is /dev ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/2b791d3e-905c-4a23-9e4f-6e3e53177daf does not exist. Dropping to a shell! BusyBox v1.1.3 (Debian 1:1.1.3-5ubuntu12) Built-in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands. (initramfs) _______________ I have no idea how to proceed at this point other than to reinstall the Ubuntu virtual machine from scratch. Any advice would be appreciated.
Same problem I just did the same update and have the same identical error: ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/2b791d3e-905c-4a23-9e4f-6e3e53177daf does not exist. Dropping to a shell! I can't even launch Ubuntu now. The only difference in my situation is that I didn't get any errors about files I couldn't update. As far as I know, all files were updated successfully. How do I get my previously working Ubuntu to launch?
Hi Jacqueline, I wish I had the answer for you but, as you can see, no one replied here. I also posted in three forums at Ubuntuforums.org, only one reply there and his advice didn't work. I just started from scratch. Deleted the Ubuntu virtual machine, reinstalled from the original file downloaded from Parallels. I then made a backup of the working installation. Again, Ubuntu recommended running update and I got a similar result - ubuntu fails to download all the packages. At this point, I just decided not to proceed with the upgrade. Very annoying to try using ubuntu and having that update message sitting at the top of the screen. I was just interested in taking a quick look at a Linux OS to see what the buzz was all about. So far, I haven't found anything there that I can't do in Mac OS X or under X11. I think I'll just stick with Mac OS.
Unfortunately I need to open a file in Linux. I don't know much about Linux. My old installation worked but I was unable to install Parallel Tools -- there was no "Continue" button in the dialog. I figured I needed some libraries, so I ran the upgrade, and the Continue button appeared, which did allow me to install the tools. Then it asked for a reboot, at which point the VM wouldn't run any more. The reason I thought I needed the tools is because file sharing isn't working and the file I need to open is on my Mac. I don't particularly need the upgrade to Ubuntu but I do need to share a folder with the Mac. I don't know how to do that, and I assumed I needed Parallel Tools. But I can't install the tools without the upgrade, and I can't run Ubuntu if I do it. So I'm stuck. Does anyone know if I need Parallel Tools to share a folder? How do I get a file from the Mac side to Ubuntu? Frustrating.
Parallels 3 does not offer file sharing support for Linux VMs, including Ubuntu. It does offer this for Windows. Parallels Tools gives you better control over the mouse (it just switches to mac when you move out of the Ubuntu window) and the ability to dynamically resize the window. I had to run the installer twice to get it to work. There are several other threads in the forum about this issue. I have a MobileMe account with an iDisk so I just transfer files by connecting to the iDisk with firefox in Ubuntu. Not elegant but it works. You could also simply email it to yourself at another account and connect to that account using firefox in Ubuntu. There's also the old standby of copying it to a CD. The Ubuntu VM under Parallels can access your CD drive on your Mac. I'm not certain but I think Parallels 4 offers file sharing support for Linux VMs.
Thanks for the reply. I should have mentioned that I'm running Parallels 4 and ideally I'd like to get it working with shared folders. I never thought of using an iDisk, but that's a very good idea. I'll try that. I wish this were easier. The forums here seem to indicate that not only are many people running Ubuntu 8.1, but some have moved on to even newer versions. Would be nice if a kind soul would post a newer version of the Ubuntu VM here -- double credit if they'd install the tools for us.
Spoke too soon Okay, I tried again starting from scratch. Downloaded the Ubuntu VM from Parallels here (Hardy 8.04). Reinstalled. This time it *would* allow me to install the tools and it rebooted sucessfully. Because I'm using Parallels 4, the shared folder appeared and I can access my Mac drive. Success! I don't know what was different about my first attempt, except that it was a converted version 3 hard drive. I wonder if that was it. I completely deleted that (it wouldn't boot now anyway) and re-made a new drive this time, which did work. So I'm back in business I guess, though very hesitant to try an upgrade now.
