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View Full Version : [ubuntu] 14.04: update broke GRUB; boot-repair does not work



john.errington
April 21st, 2014, 08:11 AM
I tried both these approaches

http://www.howtogeek.com/114884/how-to-repair-grub2-when-ubuntu-wont-boot/
neither works.

yannubuntu says "unable to locate package"

fdisk -l identifies my Linux partition as /dev/sda5

so I do
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo grub-install –-boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda5

and
file system ext2 doesnt support embedding.
..
will not proceed with blocklists.

My hardware: ASROCK ALIVE NF7G mobo with Athlon 64 X2 5000+; NVIDIA Geforce 7050 on board; 4G RAM, 120G free on hard drive
currently running XP SP3


Can I just reinstall from the live USB?

squakie
April 21st, 2014, 08:17 AM
Ah, I believe the unable to locate package error is the same one I had, and it is because when the ppa is loaded and you are running 14.04 (trusty) there ends up not being a trusty ppa for now. You have to change it to saucy. oldfred pointed this out to me and gave me the instructions for fixing this:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2216051&p=12986335#post12986335


You'll notice the commands they posted there are prefixed with a number (32, 33, etc.) - don't put those numbers on the lines - just enter the text.

Bashing-om
April 21st, 2014, 07:53 PM
john.errington; Hi !

In addition to squakie's advise, I notice:


sudo grub-install –-boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda5


Generally it is not recommended to install grub to a partition, but to the MBR of the hard drive (sda in this case).
Else, change the mount point ->
command for separate boot partition


sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/boot
again not a recommended practice.

There is


more than one path to an end

john.errington
April 23rd, 2014, 08:04 AM
Thanks to you both for your help. Hope you can help some more.
"Can I just reinstall from the live USB?"
The answer it seems is YES.. and it fixed GRUB!
.. but broke UBUNTU.
None of the recovery options work.

WHY is there no recovery option to UNINSTALL? so I can start again clean?
As GRUB is on the MBR can I simply delete the partitions UBUNTU is on, to leave some empty space, then reinstall?
I REALLY dont want to lose the Windows partitions.

oldfred
April 23rd, 2014, 04:28 PM
You can always use your Windows repair CD or flash drive to run the fixMBR commands.

How to restore the Ubuntu/XP/Vista/7 bootloader
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestoreUbuntu/XP/Vista/7Bootloader

The author of Boot-Repair has this on the Boot-Repair liveCD. Or just use Boot-Repair to install a Windows type boot loader to the MBR.

An easy way [OS-Uninstaller] Safely remove Windows, Ubuntu... in 1 clic !
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1769489
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OS-Uninstaller

john.errington
April 24th, 2014, 08:14 AM
Thanks OldFred.
Dont get me wrong, I have loads of respect for you, I'm just frustrated with 14.04LTS
An easy way [OS-Uninstaller] Safely remove Windows, Ubuntu... in 1 click !

1 click! I typed into terminal til my wrists were sore -

"Boot-Repair does not have a trusty version, but saucy version works, so you have to lie to system."
then I get "gksudo is not installed"
"you can install it by typing sudo apt-get install gksu"
so I type
sudo apt-get install gksu
and I get "unable to locate package gksu"

Then I find
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OS-Uninstaller
"Download Linux-Secure-Remix (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LinuxSecureRemix), and burn the image on a DVD, or create a live-USB (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick). Boot on it, then launch OS-Uninstaller from the bottom-left menu."
"Linux Secure Remix (ex- Ubuntu Secure Remix) is a slightly improved Ubuntu disk designed especially to install Ubuntu in dual-boot with Windows"
GREAT!
and after some investigation I find its NOT 14.04.

I made an UBUNTU boot repair disk. And ran it. And eventually - it wants me to type stuff into a terminal window!

Finally I dug out a windows XP SP3 OS and used recovery console. Typed SIX CHARACTERS - FIXMBR. Sorted. But why did I have to do that?

Worst of all, once I GET ubuntu OFF my PC
I face having to go through all this again, because I really want to get 14.04 running on my PC. and its having issues with the graphics.


Can you tell me OldFred,
I'd love to get 14.04 running on my system,
My hardware: ASROCK ALIVE NF7G mobo with Athlon 64 X2 5000+; NVIDIA Geforce 7050 on board; 4G RAM, 120G free on hard drive
There seem to be problems with the AMD chips and NVIDIA graphics?
Is this likely to be sorted in a future release of 14.04, 'cos on my system
its not stable enough to do updates from the installed package.

oldfred
April 24th, 2014, 04:19 PM
With nVidia you have to use nomodeset or else you just get a black screen.

And it depends on whether installing in UEFI or BIOS boot mode which way you add nomodeset to boot.

With UEFI you get a grub menu like you would after install and have to manually add nomodeset.
With BIOS you have to hit any key when accessibility tiny icons keyboard & person are at bottom of screen then f6 and choose nomodeset.

At grub menu you can use e for edit, scroll to linux line and replace quiet splash with nomodeset.
How to set NOMODESET and other kernel boot options in grub2 - both BIOS liveCD & grub first boot ( also UEFI with grub)
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1613132
Possible boot options suggested by ubfan1
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2184839&p=12871710#post12871710
Installer BIOS screens shown
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions