Grub Rescue prompt after 12.10 upgrade

[FloydPink]

Dual boot HP desktop that had Windows 7 and Ubuntu 12.04 working fine until yesterday. Upgraded to 12.10 and the grub install gave an error of not being able to write to the boot sector. It looks like the situation is similar to the one in this bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/1053793).

Here is the pastebin from an unsuccessful boot-repair - http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/1290132/

Not booting at all now and goes back to grub rescue all the time.

Can someone help so that the system shall start booting again?

[TheFuzz4]

I just fixed mine. I ended up having to use the terminal method of repairing it. I followed the guide from here http://www.howtogeek.com/114884/how-to-repair-grub2-when-ubuntu-wont-boot/

Just scroll down to the terminal section of it. Its not that bad. I have a different issue now though where neither my USB or network will work on the 3.5 kernel so I'm currently on the 3.2-31 kernel until I can figure out what else went wrong during my upgrade. I hope that this helps you get your system back up and running.

[FloydPink]

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately that also didn't help me. Here is the log of what I tried: http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/1290276/

[FloydPink]

After struggling for more than a day, uninstalled Ubuntu from this desktop !

[TheFuzz4]

Did you just reinstall it? Or did you go with a different distro? I am starting my migration over to the Ubuntu Remix. Its still Ubuntu just no Unity :) Its all Gnome

[YannBuntu]

According to your Boot-Repair log, you have this error when installing GRUB:

/usr/sbin/grub-bios-setup: warning: this LDM has no Embedding Partition; embedding won't be possible.
/usr/sbin/grub-bios-setup: error: embedding is not possible, but this is required for RAID and LVM install.

You can mark yourself "affected" by this bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/1061255

As a workaround, you can install GRUB Legacy:
run Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options --> tick the "GRUB Legacy" option --> Apply.

[ZoLToR]

As a workaround, you can install GRUB Legacy:
run Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options --> tick the "GRUB Legacy" option --> Apply.
It workaround didn't helped me. I received error message with advise to setup grub in separate boot partition. :(
Boot-info script http://paste.ubuntu.com/1305754/

[YannBuntu]

ok.
So for the moment, you can restore direct access to Windows:
1) backup your documents if not done yet
2) Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> tick "Restore MBR" --> Apply ,
3) tell me the new URL that will appear,
4) reboot the pc and tell me what you observe.

tell i 'll tell you how to create a separate /boot.

[ZoLToR]

I restored acces to windows with bootable flash drive with win7 distributive, so I can't do this action now, sorry:


3) tell me the new URL that will appear,

Now I have only one OS with windows bootloader and I can't access to installed ubuntu... I will be searching information in google on weekend.


i 'll tell you how to create a separate /boot.

I don't want to do this. Maybe some way exists how to install old grub into MBR from bootable flash drive for example?
I tried to install LinuxMint 13 with KDE a few weeks ago and nothing problems was with it GRUB

[YannBuntu]

LinuxMint 13 with KDE a few weeks ago and nothing problems was with it GRUB

AFAIK, Mint13 uses GRUB1.99 (same as Ubuntu12.04), so the problem may come from:
- either GRUB2.00 (included in Ubuntu12.10)
- or the location of your boot files (in this case you will need a /boot at the start of the disk)


Maybe some way exists how to install old grub into MBR from bootable flash drive for example?

If you want to try GRUB Legacy, you can run Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options --> tick "GRUB Legacy" --> Apply.

[ZoLToR]

If you want to try GRUB Legacy, you can run Boot-Repair --> Advanced options --> GRUB options --> tick "GRUB Legacy" --> Apply.
I wrote before that it's operation finished with error at me.

Found workaround in installing burg. Instructions (for exapmle, Ubuntu installed on /dev/sda5):
1. Load from LiveCD image.
2. Type command:


sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
3. Add burg repository:


sudo apt-add-repository "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/bean123ch/burg/ubuntu lucid main"
4. And update:


sudo apt-get update
5. Install burg


sudo apt-get install burg
6. In appearing questions press ENTER every time. If you will be asked for confirm to remove your current GRUB, click on "Yes" for removing GRUB2.
7. Install burg to HDD:


sudo burg-install --boot-directory=/mnt /dev/sda
If after step 7 in terminal appeared message "Installation finished, no errors occured" (or similar, don't remember), then continue. Else - this workaround not for you :(
8. Reboot computer.
9. In grub console type comand:


set root=(hd0,5)/boot/burg
and press ENTER.
10.


linux /boot/vmlin
press TAB - for complete comand and after it append it with this:


root=/dev/sda5
In result you must enter something like this:


linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.6.18-194.ubuntu root=/dev/sda5and press ENTER.
11. Enter this comand:


initrd /boot/initrd
then press TAB for completing comand and ENTER for it applying.
12. Enter "boot" end press ENTER.
If all is correct you will be boot to your ubuntu. If so, then:
13. Repeat steps 3-6.
14. Run comand:


sudo burg-install /dev/sda
15. ?????
16. Profit.

This helped for me. Now I have dual boot windows and Ubuntu. Please, correct me if I somwhere wrong... I'm very want to sleep, deep night now in my country))

[YannBuntu]

@Zoltor: good job :)
I think that BURG too is based on GRUB1.99, so you should definitely report the bug against GRUB2.00 here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+filebug

[amtur_poet]

Edit: Whoops, wrong thread. :P