Ubuntu
grub2 package

fix grub boot UBUNTU or Win7 without reinstall?

Asked by Earl

I did reinstall Win7 and it booted up without dual boot. Then I reinstalled UBUNTU by installing it over the old install with saving setting, then installing it again with the erase function. Each time no dual boot menu, but UBUNTU loads.

I want to learn how to fix it without reinstalls (hopefully through a grub update that auto probes and adds the existing OSes).

HDD: Seagate ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB
Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
OS:
- ubuntu-11.10-desktop-amd64
- win7x64

fdisk -l returns:
Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000da891

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 206847 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 206848 409602047 204697600 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4 409604094 1953523711 771959809 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1441525760 1953523711 255998976 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 604917760 1441523711 418302976 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 409604096 588144639 89270272 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 588146688 604911615 8382464 82 Linux swap / Solaris

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Ubuntu grub2 Edit question
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Solved by:
delance
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Revision history for this message
Ubfan (ubfan1) said : 		#1

Running the command in a terminal:
sudo update-grub
should fix the grub boot choices, but I'm not sure why this didn't happen when you installed.

Revision history for this message
Earl (earl-iastate) said : 		#2

Thanks, I tried "update-grub" terminal gets the following result...

Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
done

afterwards I select shutdown... and choose restart... it goes to the initial boot screen then says loading a os and goes black until a minute or so then ubuntu login screen appears, no options for choosing oses allowed

Revision history for this message
Ubfan (ubfan1) said : 		#3

A default install should have a 10 second delay before booting Ubuntu. This is an entry in the file /etc/grub.
If only one OS is seen, the grub screen will be skipped, but it looks like you do see both ubuntu and windows from your grub install. You may force the grub screen to display by holding down the shift (or tab) key right after the post screen. Then select the os with the arrow keys, and type enter.

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Best delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#4

In fact, I think you have a multiboot menu. But this one is not displayed.
In file /etc/default/grub, you will find a line with:
   #GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480
Remove the "#" in the file and run again
   sudo update-grub

Revision history for this message
Earl (earl-iastate) said : 		#5

thanks much too all, I've discovered that the boot menu is transmitted to my hdmi but I'm using the screen fed by the dvi cable. I haven't tried delance's response yet, will that divert the menu to the DVI?

Revision history for this message
Earl (earl-iastate) said : 		#6

I just tried the delance's response and it solved everything... THANKS

Revision history for this message
Earl (earl-iastate) said : 		#7

Thanks delance, that solved my question.