Grub Repair in Dual Boot (Windows/Linux) Systems
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What will happen, when you are using the Dual boot in your PC as windows and Linux are side by side on single HDD and you have formatted your Windows OS and installed once again?
Yes…you are right. If you
format your PC you will surely face the problem. That is you will lose
your Linux boot option (GRUB) in the boot menu.
So, you cannot load or choose the
Linux, even the entire Linux partition is existed on the same HDD.
The
reason for this is, the MBR (Main Boot Record) in dual boot PC which stores the GRUB will be
erased and stored with windows boot (DOS boot) during installation of windows.
Hence, it is showing the windows while booting. Now you have to recover the GRUB
(which shows Linux option too) after re-installation of Windows by installing it on MBR of your HDD.
Here you can go through the steps to resolve the
problem and to restore the GRUB at MBR, so that you can get the GRUB back and
can choose the OS that you wish (Windows/Linux) at boot.
Note: In my case I had the problem with XP/Ubuntu, so I
am using the Ubuntu live cd.
- Get the Ubuntu Live cd / Bootable USB with Ubuntu live.
- Boot your PC with Ubuntu live CD / USB and it will lead you to the Ubuntu live desktop.
- Now open the Terminal ( press Alt+Ctrl+T or Applications > Accessories > Terminal) )
- In the terminal type the following commands
o
To
check the Linux installed partition type the following command
sudo fdisk -l
the result is like below
after finding the appropriate partition on which LINUX was installed (like sda2 or sda3 or sda4
or sdb3 etc.), remember
that. You can also use the Gparted GUI application to find the Linux partition.
GParted – available through System
> Administration > GParted on the Ubuntu Live CD.
o
Now
type the following
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
sudo mount --bind
/dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount
--bind
/proc /mnt/proc
Note:
in my case my Linux OS was installed on sda2 so change the sda2 in the above
command according to your's.
o
Now
chroot the /mnt directory by typing the
following command
sudo chroot /mnt
o
After
chroot the /mnt folder install the GRUB by typing the following commands (type below commands as it is)
grub-install /dev/sda
grub-install --recheck /dev/sda
if
it ask you for force option then give
grub-install --recheck
sda --force
o
If
everything went right without any errors , then update the GRUB by typing
update-grub
o
After
GRUB update exit from the chroot by typing the command
exit
o
Now
unmount all the directories those are previously mounted
sudo umount
/mnt/dev
sudo umount /mnt/proc
sudo
umount /mnt
Now reboot the PC from HDD (Remove CD/USB). If you
find the both Windows option and Linux then no problem, otherwise lo-gin to the
Linux and type the following command in terminal.
sudo update-grub
Now it will adds the windows boot menu option.
That’s it, from the next boot onwards you can choose your choice of OS.
Thank You
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1 comment :
very good tips. thank you
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