Ubuntu

grub doesn't load on Windows 8.1/Ubuntu 14.04 dual system

Asked by Saul Lubkin

I have a Lenovo Windows 8.1 computer. I coaxed it into allowing me to boot from a DVD, and booted an install Ubuntu 14.04 DVD. I installed Ubuntu 14.04 alongside Windows 8.1 (giving Ubuntu a much larger partition than Windows), expecting to get a dual boot system -- one which, when started, would load grub, which would allow me to choose which OS to boot. Installation of Ubuntu went as expected. I reached the point where installation asks me to remove the DVD, and reboot.

I did: Grub did not load. Instead, the computer loaded windows without asking.

How can I fix things to make grub load instead of going to windows?

Help much appreciated,

  -- Saul

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Revision history for this message
Rusty Shackleford (shackleford071250) said : 		#1

Try fixing grub using a Boot Repair disk: see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

Revision history for this message
Saul Lubkin (saul-lubkin) said : 		#2

Hi Rusty!

Thanks for your suggestion! I tried it, created a boot-repair-disk, and used it. It ook a long time to repair the system -- but after it finished, there was no noticeable difference in behavior: When I rebooted the system, it automatically went to windows -- not grub.

So, I'm still having the same problem.

I'm re-installing Ubuntu 14.04 again; hoping the it might work this time?

I continue to have no idea of why grub is not installed in a way that will get it recognized on bootup.

Help much appreciated.

  -- Saul

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#3

What is the output of boot repair?
You can upload the information to http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/ and paste the link that you get into this question document.

Revision history for this message
Saul Lubkin (saul-lubkin) said : 		#4

Hi Manfred!

Thanks for your input!

The dual boot problem is entirely solved. This is how I did it: I
re-installed Ubuntu 14.04 to the Ubuntu partition, and installed
boot-repair-disk on the Ubuntu partition:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:/yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair

However, the command "boot-repair" produced only error messages.

So I rebooted (into Windows, with the Ubuntu 14.04 DVD inserted), used
windows to boot the DVD, and chose to "try Ubuntu". I thenbrough up a
terminal, and typed

sudo boot-repair -- and the boot-repair window came up; I clicked on
"Recommended Repair", and, when boot-repair finished, I copied the URL
displayed, as requested. I also copied the recommended "bcdedit" Windows
command to the piece of paper.

I rebooted, and sure enough was returned to windows. I executed the
recommended bcdedit command in a windows admin command window.

The command completed successfully.

I then rebooted, and was happy to see that I went directly into the Grub
menu, with "Ubuntu" being the default OS (Windows was also listed).

I am happily sending you this email from my now fully functional new Ubuntu
14.02 instasllation.

[?]

  -- Saul

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 3:01 PM, Manfred Hampl <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #268337 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/268337
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> What is the output of boot repair?
> You can upload the information to http://pastebin.ubuntu.com/ and paste
> the link that you get into this question document.
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/268337
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
Saul Lubkin (saul-lubkin) said : 		#5

This solved my problem