alloc magic is broken, GRUB loading problem

[Yoru3]

Help!

I have a problem with GRUB loading…
on my ASUS 4211 Netbook. I've been using it without fault for a long time now, and ungraded to 2.8 a while back without problems.

On this accusation I had turned the unit on, and due to other things going on, I left it running for two days without any user interaction. All well ventilated etc. Then finally I decided to shut it down, via the menu and normal shut down selection. But before I did, I clicked on the task bar Software Updates Available, which I've set to daily checks. I normally go though the update process, entering password etc. but on this occasion, for the first time I decided to click on the Remind Me Later option.

When I turn on again, I now get the following on the screen,

alloc magic is broken at 0x43fff0: 10002312
Aborted. Press any key to exit.
Then after space bar press
Intel UNDI, PXE-2.1 (build 082)
For Realtek RTL8101E/8102E PCI-E Ethernet Controller v1.06 (080222)
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM.

Boot Failure
Press any key to continue

Which after another space bar loops back to the alloc message again.
I see on the Web there are messages about GRUB bugs, but not sure how this may relate to Linux Lite. I also did a search on this site for alloc magic is broken, but not there.

Now I could do a fresh reinstall, with all the setting ups that are required, but then I'd loose some data files, which I'd prefer not to do.

Problem is I'm still a relative Linux novice, particularly at the low level stuff.

Is there a way I can get into the system, without destroying it?

Thanks in advance.

[Yoru3]

Sorry about my minor Disdexya

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

Interesting if you Google for "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable"
You seem to find lots of references to Windows/BIOS boot order.

It seems like the Notebook is try to boot from a network connection, which in certain set-ups is possible.

First things to check,
Check your BIOS for Boot order/sequence, make sure your disk is the first in boot order.
Disable Network/PXE boot if possible, or move to end of list.

[Yoru3]

Checked the boot order. It was set to Hard Disk first.

I have now disabled all boot options except 1. Hard Disk and 2. CD/DVD

I now just get

alloc magic is broken at 0x43fff0: 10002312
Aborted. Press any key to exit.

Which loops after space bar.

Could it be that the GRUB mechanism got corrupted somehow as part of a pre-update, which I effectively aborted by selecting Remind Me Later?

I've heard there might be a GRUB repair .iso around that I can boot from CD/DVD or USB, is that relevant for Linux Lite.

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

A quick Google for "alloc magic is broken at" give's 2 common themes:
1. Memory issues
2. Grub Issues

The simplest one to check first, given it wont boot is "memory"
Boot your LL Live USB stick,
Use one of the memory test's see if that finds anything.?

[Yoru3]

Wirezfree,

Thanks for the response, and sorry about being slow to get back. Just a few thing going on.
Hope to get back to this Friday when I'll try a DVD Live boot and follow this through.

[Wirezfree]

no problem..GL

[Yoru3]

Looks like it's a random hardware failure.

I downloaded LL2.8 and made a new DVD, but even after selecting CD/DVD boot first, it gives the same alloc error message.

I have a second ASUS 4211 netbook, and the DVD seems to boot up fine on that, albeit very slow of course.

I'm hoping that it's just the memory card, and rather than risk my second machine with a swap out, which requires another case disassembly, on an old machine, I'll get a new memory card and try it on the defective machine, which will be worth a try. So there will be a slight delay before I finish the thread.

I've also got an eMachinse em350 series (NAV51) Netbook; think I'll put LL2.8 on that as well.

[Wirezfree]

O.K...