[Boot-Repair] Graphical tool to repair the PC boot in one click

[oldfred]

Moved to own threads so we do not mix up answers and users can post as solved - assuming we can fix it.
Please post in specific threads.

edvinm moved to his own thread
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2098418
ezraw already has his own thread
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2098386

[oldfred]

Moved DavidKirkby to his own thread in the server area.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2099557

[ivotkl]

I can see and use Ubuntu partition, XP gave me blinking cursor. But, I get nothing when doing Boot Repair.

Any news?

$ sudo grub-install /dev/sda5
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR.  This is a BAD idea..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: if you really want blocklists, use --force.

My thread about this is: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12431669

[YannBuntu]

@all:
it appears that renaming the *.efi files into *.bkp works on some computers, but does not work on some others. Example: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...1&postcount=16

To workaround this, i will make B-R restore the bkp files when some *.bkp files are detected. This way:

the user will get access to GRUB after using the Recommended Repair. In the GRUB menu, he will get some "Windows UEFI" entries.
---> if the "Windows UEFI" entries boot Windows, then perfect.
---> if they don't, then the user will need to run the Recommended Repair a 2nd time. Then, reboot the pc. If the GRUB menu appears, the "Windows UEFI" entries should boot Windows correctly. Or if the pc boots directly to Windows, the user will need to set up the UEFI (~BIOS) to make it boot the "Ubuntu" entry (or /EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi file).


As always, don't hesitate to comment/suggest.

[ivotkl]

Thank you very much. As it was a fresh install, it was practically efortless to do it again.

[YannBuntu]

UPDATED how to use Boot-Repair on UEFI systems:

Remarks:
- this procedure is valid for version >3.197ppa15 of Boot-Repair. For older versions, please follow this.
- if you use a live disc of Boot-Repair-Disk or Ubuntu-Secure-Remix, update Boot-Repair before each use by connecting internet then typing: sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install boot-sav boot-repair

STEP 1) run the "Recommended Repair" of Boot-Repair, then reboot the PC. The GRUB menu will appear with access to Ubuntu, and generally a "Windows UEFI" entry that boots Windows without any problem. But on some systems, this entry won't boot Windows. In this case, continue the next steps:
STEP 2) if your PC has/had Windows8 preinstalled, go into the BIOS, and, if possible, disable the SecureBoot and the QuickBoot.
STEP 3) Then (update Boot-Repair and) run the Recommended Repair of Boot-Repair a 2nd time. Write on a paper the URL (paste.ubuntu.com/XXXXXX/) that will appear. Then reboot the PC.
STEP 4) If the BIOS hadn't been changed (it is setup to boot on /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi or /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi ), this will directly boot Windows. In this case, set up the BIOS so that it boots on the Ubuntu entry (/efi/ubuntu/grubx64.efi), then reboot the pc.
STEP 5) The GRUB menu will appear, with access to Ubuntu and a "Windows UEFI" entry.
STEP 6) If any problem, please create a new thread indicating your issue and the URL you wrote on your paper. Eg, if you still can't boot Windows via GRUB, but that you can boot Windows directly via the Windows entry of the BIOS, then it is probably a security of Windows that doesn't like to be booted via GRUB , in this case we can't do anything, and you need to setup your BIOS each time you want to boot another OS.

[offgridguy]

Just wanted to add my thanks to YannBuntu for boot repair, a very useful tool.

[kansasnoob]

I just received a notification from Gert Hulselmans about testing a new version of the boot info script. It just so happens that I'm doing some Lubuntu iso testing today for "cadence testing" so I thought I might as well submit my results via PM.

Is any else here testing it?

The hardware I'll be testing on is generally old, just old style BIOS

And I've been out of the grub boot curve for a while, so I'm officially a dummy again.

[oldfred]

@Kansasnoob,
I am running 12.04 with most of your suggestions on fallback/gnome panel configuration as my main system and will probably stay with it for a while. More about spouse complaining about too many changes than any other reason.
But I have 12.10 & 13.04 installed still with Unity.
So I ran bootinfoscript on all three and responded to Gert. Only error I got was with mawk and I already have gawk installed in 12.04 so it gave no error.
Script seemed to report grub2 2.00 fine in all three systems, but I have a lot of old installs so my results are very long in all three cases, but different numbers of lines in each. One system did not automount flash drive with parts of an install.

[YannBuntu]

@kansasnoob: yes, I tested it and saw no problem. 3 new features:
1) mawk1.3.4 support.
2) display of more Windows efi files.
3) detection of Windows8.

I added 1) and 3) in Boot-Repair's PPA yesterday. 2) was already in B-R since November.

Using mawk1.3.4 (instead of gawk currently) would speed up the script, so it would be nice to have it included in Debian(/Ubuntu) repositories, we can push for this by commenting http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=554167