Thanks for asking. You could do it as above but you can simply run this command:
sudo grub-install /dev/sdXI would plug your usb device in so Grub2 can access those files if necessary. I don't think you have to but I haven't used a USB to install.
It would probably be best to update-grub again as well.
I did as you told, but still not able to get my grub working :(. Ubuntu won't boot unless usb drive is plugged in.
Here is the output of boot_info_script (http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/) in case it is helpful.
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010
============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================
=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #9 for /boot/grub.
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb
sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb1: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM
sdb2: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb3: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:
sdb5: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb6: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb6 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb7: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sdb7 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:
sdb8: __________________________________________________ _______________________
File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
sdb9: __________________________________________________ _______________________
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 /boot/grub/core.img
=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================
Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sda: 16.0 GB, 16018046976 bytes
80 heads, 16 sectors/track, 24441 cylinders, total 31285248 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 * 8,064 31,285,247 31,277,184 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Drive: sdb ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___
Disk /dev/sdb: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 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 * 63 83,891,429 83,891,367 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 83,891,430 146,801,969 62,910,540 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb3 146,802,031 312,580,095 165,778,065 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 146,802,033 199,222,064 52,420,032 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6 199,222,128 251,642,159 52,420,032 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb7 251,642,223 285,185,879 33,543,657 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb8 285,186,048 292,528,127 7,342,080 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdb9 292,530,176 312,580,095 20,049,920 83 Linux
blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________
Device UUID TYPE LABEL
/dev/sda1 BAED-2D54 vfat AMMAR PRO
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb1 EA10005710002D5F ntfs
/dev/sdb2 01CB3F90A5498350 ntfs
/dev/sdb3: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdb5 01CB3F90A71F2DB0 ntfs
/dev/sdb6 01CB3F90A8FC0400 ntfs
/dev/sdb7 01CB3F90AB062BE0 ntfs
/dev/sdb8 2911d302-a4da-4f74-94ba-c6e3c0fa9f0a swap
/dev/sdb9 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09 ext4
/dev/sdb: PTTYPE="dos"
============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================
Device Mount_Point Type Options
/dev/sdb9 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda1 /media/AMMAR PRO vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=1000,gid=1000, shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)
================================ sdb1/boot.ini: ================================
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
=========================== sdb9/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 ${boot_once} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
insmod gfxterm
insmod vbe
if terminal_output gfxterm ; then true ; else
# For backward compatibility with versions of terminal.mod that don't
# understand terminal_output
terminal gfxterm
fi
fi
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
set locale_dir=($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 ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic-pae root=UUID=7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.32-24-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-24-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic-pae root=UUID=7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic-pae
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod ext2
set root='(hd1,9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sdb1)" {
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd1,1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ea10005710002d5f
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
=============================== sdb9/etc/fstab: ===============================
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sdb9 during installation
UUID=7145d88a-c063-4b78-bce0-bc4e9d2a8d09 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sdb8 during installation
UUID=2911d302-a4da-4f74-94ba-c6e3c0fa9f0a none swap sw 0 0
=================== sdb9: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================
150.3GB: boot/grub/core.img
154.6GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
150.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic-pae
150.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic-pae
150.8GB: initrd.img
150.8GB: vmlinuz
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================
Unknown BootLoader on sdb3
00000000 ec e8 1f 99 f5 8f b0 7a 23 cf 5d 0f c4 92 17 70 |.......z#.]....p|
00000010 ae 9a 39 52 47 01 b5 db c6 50 97 5f ca dc 62 1d |..9RG....P._..b.|
00000020 95 d1 4f 7f 1d 18 1f a3 92 a5 64 0e 01 d0 58 d1 |..O.......d...X.|
00000030 ee 04 6c 26 ce 8c 3a 83 f1 d8 9d 0e cc 8c 16 f3 |..l&..:.........|
00000040 03 b9 53 d5 c1 63 37 12 7b 51 7a 01 e9 2e fd c4 |..S..c7.{Qz.....|
00000050 d6 2e 18 69 e0 9e 3b 3f 34 1b 1c 5d 20 de 23 c2 |...i..;?4..] .#.|
00000060 bc 4d a0 24 3f 3f 19 5e d5 dd e8 69 22 c8 9b 3a |.M.$??.^...i"..:|
00000070 bf 7a 19 b5 f2 46 c8 f9 67 7f 7d f3 0d f7 08 85 |.z...F..g.}.....|
00000080 e9 b9 d0 2c 12 f5 cc d6 04 aa b6 6e 92 f3 a5 82 |...,.......n....|
00000090 1f 0c b1 3b e0 f0 35 4a e7 a5 fd c4 7c 30 a1 27 |...;..5J....|0.'|
000000a0 38 cb df e0 56 fa cf ff a8 d8 74 54 1a 55 dd 94 |8...V.....tT.U..|
000000b0 67 60 d7 6d b5 a0 b1 c0 5b df 05 19 93 52 04 9d |g`.m....[....R..|
000000c0 02 ae ef 2c e1 12 98 9a 57 48 07 eb 04 8b 99 b2 |...,....WH......|
000000d0 93 5b 20 bd de fb b0 72 18 48 7d 05 b9 56 fe 06 |.[ ....r.H}..V..|
000000e0 97 c9 af 07 8a 0a 76 3e fb f2 c7 17 bf 33 70 de |......v>.....3p.|
000000f0 bd bc bd 1e fe e4 97 ba b9 72 65 37 81 05 2e 9d |.........re7....|
00000100 8c 60 bd 95 07 98 6e ed b2 3d 44 78 30 99 d3 1f |.`....n..=Dx0...|
00000110 d2 40 32 8d 22 8a a6 35 23 1e b0 97 c6 8b 13 51 |.@2."..5#......Q|
00000120 25 9b e6 48 4c 2b 82 3d 74 21 cf a1 2e 3f fb ac |%..HL+.=t!...?..|
00000130 fc 01 e2 9c 23 d0 78 9f 91 3c 03 ae 08 5e e4 ef |....#.x..<...^..|
00000140 7e ab 92 51 6f 8e f4 73 a6 5b 09 ff bc a3 31 69 |~..Qo..s.[....1i|
00000150 e1 9b 9c 28 af 48 81 73 1a 3c 13 ea cd 78 aa f6 |...(.H.s.<...x..|
00000160 78 6d 36 1c 3d 1a 17 18 8c 09 b9 e6 e5 83 9a ac |xm6.=...........|
00000170 10 e2 85 bb 40 bd 0a 69 1c 90 af c7 bc d7 2c 8e |....@..i......,.|
00000180 d2 4b d4 06 96 c3 d7 c7 06 ac b7 c5 77 e5 4b 0e |.K..........w.K.|
00000190 47 6e 29 d2 b0 b5 f0 96 68 03 41 4c a0 67 b2 f3 |Gn).....h.AL.g..|
000001a0 cd a9 6f d7 27 7c f9 4d cd f6 79 a5 9c 65 0d 6c |..o.'|.M..y..e.l|
000001b0 10 26 aa 9e 01 ea 16 d9 aa cc 71 57 1b c5 00 fe |.&........qW....|
000001c0 ff ff 07 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 c0 dd 1f 03 00 fe |................|
000001d0 ff ff 05 fe ff ff c2 dd 1f 03 ff dd 1f 03 00 00 |................|
000001e0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200