Fresh Linux Mint 14, No GRUB.

[jamedfor]

Hi All, I hope this is not a redundant post or common issue, but I couldn't solve my issue myself or by searching other threads and google.

Yesterday I installed Windows 8 on a small partition, followed by Linux Mint 14 MATE on another small partition with plans to make the rest of the space shared. However, I never got a GRUB menu at startup! I tried following the instructions on the GRUB info page from google by doing something like:

# grub-install /dev/sda

but I don't really know my way around GRUB, and when I rebooted I just got the grub prompt that looked like

grub>

and I couldn't get out. I used the install USB I used to run Mint from USB, from which I did something like:

install -d /mnt/mount !!to create a mount point
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/mount !!sda1 is the Mint partition
grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/mount sda

This got me back where I started, and I don't want to risk losing computer access again, so I came for help! any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!
-John

[dannyboy79]

might i suggest downloading and using a program called "boot repair". i haven't used it but I see many who have success with it in fixing grub issues and such. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

[jamedfor]

Thanks for the tip dannyboy!

That got me a GRUB menu, though unfortunately it only includes Mint, there is no Windows 8. Is there another quick fix to this too?


EDIT: Nevermind, this looks pretty easy. I'll give it a go!

-John

[ubume2]

From your usb disk after it boots to desktop

Go to a terminal

do sudo fdisk -l

so you can determine the linux partition you want to create grub in.

Then from the command line

$ sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt

Mine is sda5. yours is likely different

 sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
sudo chroot /mnt

Now you are in the partition you need to create a grub in.

#grub-install /dev/sda               **mine is sda. yours may be different
#update-grub

After you update grub you should get a list. It should include Windows

You are not done.

#exit
$sudo umount /mnt/sys
$sudo umount /mnt/proc
$sudo umount /mnt/dev
$sudo umount /mnt

Then reboot, remove the USB device. You should see a grub menu with Linux Mint & Windows.

[jamedfor]

ubume, I tried your method and I just installed the grub on /dev/sda. after updating the grub the list returned looks like:

Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic

the initrd item doesn't look like windows... any suggestions? I haven't done the unmounting part yet.

[oldfred]

Moved to Other OS.

Post link to BootInfo report that Boot-Repair creates.

ubume2's grub reinstall is the full chroot method which can be used when the two line mount & install method does not work.

But usually Boot-Repair just fixes things.

[jamedfor]

oldfred, thanks for reminding me to post the log from boot-repair:

http://paste2.org/p/2569606

there's an error about a cat something that may be the problem, I've seen errors about cat before.

Also, the ~22000 lines of invalid argument errors may indicate somethings wrong

-John

[ubume2]

ubume, I tried your method and I just installed the grub on /dev/sda. after updating the grub the list returned looks like:

Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-17-generic

the initrd item doesn't look like windows... any suggestions? I haven't done the unmounting part yet.

Well, could be something about Windows 8.

From command line sudo chmod +x /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober.

Then sudo update-grub.


If you don't see Windows generated after you press the update-grub command, there is a problem. I haven't had any problem with Win 7 grub item being generated. I've used the method described in post 4 with Linux Mint, and have had no problems.

[oldfred]

Only because you have not used all the primary partitions could you use fixparts to convert.
It probably would be better to reinstall. Then you can totally reorganize partitions.

But especially with Windows 8 I would also want another NTFS shared data partition. Windows 8 is always hibernated, just in different levels. Turning off hibernation helps a little, but you still should not write into the Windows system partition. Best to set as read only.

Since linux is ok with logical partitions I would try to make a lot of drive extended for logical partitions.

WARNING for Windows 8 Dual-Booters
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1953674
It defaults shutdown to a hybrid hibernation/off state for fast boot
http://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-enab...p-in-windows-8
But then files may be corrupted similar to Windows 7 Hibernation:
http://ubuntu-with-wubi.blogspot.ca/...rid-sleep.html
http://superuser.com/questions/14472...te-w-dual-boot