Ubuntu
grub2 package

after upgrading to Ubuntu 11.1 dual boot with WinXP I do not get an option for the Windows boot at startup

Asked by Ken Bradbury

I just upgraded to Ubuntu 11.1 from Ubuntu 9, and I am running a dual boot with WinXP. All worked fine until I upgraded but now I do not see the boot options screen on startup - I get a black screen for a few seconds and then it goes into Unbutu, which is working fine. I have checked and the Windows partition is still there. It sounds like my problem is exactly this, as stated in FAQ1677: ----------
"If you don't get boot menu, but a black screen, and that after a few times you get login screen, Grub2 is unable to manage properly current resolution of screen. In this case, run command:
   gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub2
Remove '#' before line defining screen resolution, then run command
   sudo update-grub
and then reboot"
----------
However, when I run the command gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub2 I get the response:
(gksudo:2292): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap", (this is repeated 3 times), and I also get a file editor which is attempting to edit an empty file named grub2.

I have run the sudo update-grub, which sems to run successfully, but still get the same response on restart - a black screen for a few seconds then into Ubuntu. Any ideas?

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Chris
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Best Chris (fabricator4) said : 		#1

Nearly correct, the command to edit the grub2 config file should be:

gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub

don't forget to run update grub after you've saved the file:

sudo update-grub

Don't worry about the error messages; it's just a result of the way gedit is being called. If it bothers you, you can start the editor from the dash. Press <Alt><F2> and when the dash opens with the 'Run a command' box type or past the above line in it and press <enter>.

I like to run grub at 1024x768, but you might be better starting with a lesser resolution.

Chris

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primefalcon (primefalcon) said : 		#2

actually as far as fixing the grub bootloader goes, there is a graphical utility for that now

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows

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Ken Bradbury (krbradbu) said : 		#3

Thanks Chris, that solved my question.

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Ken Bradbury (krbradbu) said : 		#4

On 01/30/2012 01:56 AM, Chris wrote:
> Your question #186242 on grub2 in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+question/186242
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Chris proposed the following answer:
> Nearly correct, the command to edit the grub2 config file should be:
>
> gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub
>
> don't forget to run update grub after you've saved the file:
>
> sudo update-grub
>
> Don't worry about the error messages; it's just a result of the way
> gedit is being called. If it bothers you, you can start the editor from
> the dash. Press<Alt><F2> and when the dash opens with the 'Run a
> command' box type or past the above line in it and press<enter>.
>
> I like to run grub at 1024x768, but you might be better starting with a
> lesser resolution.
>
> Chris
>
 Thanks Chris, I changed to 1024x768 and that works fine now.