Unable to boot to the Linux

[Ashokkumar]

Hi,

I was using the Linux and Windows 7 dual boot with out any issue. Infact I was using only Linux a lot now a days it is a very good operating system.

But all of a sudden, Linux Mint is not booting. I generally used to get two options for selecting Linux Mint and Windows 7(where the Linux Mint would be default) only when I have to go to Windows 7 I have to select it and hit enter, if not it used to go directly to Linux Mint. But now it is not showing any options, it directly goes to the Windows 7. I checked with Windows 7 settings, to if dual boot option is disabled. There also it was showing only Windows 7.

I tried to use the Linux Mint CD to see if partitions are deleted or still there. When I boot to the Desktop screen of Linux Mint. I could see all the partitions of Linux still exists.

Please help.....

[bigj231]

It sounds like the windows bootloader overwrote GRUB. You can either use the Live CD and reinstall GRUB, or you can try the Ubuntu boot repair CD. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

[Ashokkumar]

Thank you for the reply.

But I actually have the Linux Mint Installation CD. Boot-repair is requesting me to have the Internet connection, which I don't have.

So it would be great if you could just give me that command to reinstall the Grub using the Linux Mint disc, on the Terminal.

thanks again...!

[bigj231]

A quick Google search led me to this http://www.noobslab.com/2012/10/installrecover-grub-from-linux-live-cd.html. Since you don't have an internet connection (remind me how you're posting to an internet forum?) I'll humor you. From the above site:

First of all Boot your Linux Live CD/USB then open Terminal and enter following commands:
This command for root permissions:

sudo -i

Check the drives number in Partition Manager :

sudo fdisk -l

Now select your Linux installed drive and change the number in following commands (Only change 'x' with your drive number) and change (sda) with your hard drive it can be (sdb, sdc, etc) you can see this in Partition Manager:

sudo mount /dev/sdax /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sdax /mnt/boot
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev/

This command will change mnt directory to root permissions:

sudo chroot /mnt

Now grub install command and Change 'a' in "sda" with your hard drive where you want to install grub, check in Partition Manager:

grub-install /dev/sda

Now installation finished, Enter following commands to unmount (If these two command doesn't work, then leave them):

sudo umount /mnt/dev
sudo umount /mnt

Now reboot your pc:

sudo reboot

Your grub is back. That's it.
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All credit to author, not my work, not responsible for anything you do wrong, yadda yadda yadda.

[Ashokkumar]

Thanks..............

I will try that today, and would let you know the status....I have the Internet connection at office, but not at home.

Honesly I was thinking to install Linux 14 on my office computer, but I may not get the permission to do that...

[bigj231]

That makes sense then.
I carried a 4GB Live USB with a seperate data partition for a while. It was really nice for fixing other people's computers. They shouldn't give you too much flak for using something like that. Especially since it doesn't change anything unless you do something dumb. (repartitioning the wrong drive comes to mind...)

[Ashokkumar]

Well what you said is absolutely correct. If we have a Live USB that helps us a lot.

Unfortunately, as I am complete Dumbo with Linux Mint. I did not want to mess with it as I got two operating systems. I did not want to reinstall both.

After typing the command mint ~ # sudo fdisk -l I got the following I did not knew how to proceed.

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 / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x23316f74

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 206847 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 206848 1339121663 669457408 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3 1339121664 1543919615 102398976 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4 1543923710 1953523711 204800001 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
Partition 4 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda5 1543923712 1573218303 14647296 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1573220352 1577123839 1951744 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 1577125888 1953523711 188198912 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 8015 MB, 8015314944 bytes
43 heads, 42 sectors/track, 8668 cylinders, total 15654912 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: 0x42daa4e6

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 8064 15654911 7823424 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

[bigj231]

/dev/sda5 1543923712 1573218303 14647296 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1573220352 1577123839 1951744 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 1577125888 1953523711 188198912 83 Linux

If your "/" partition is /dev/sda5, then use that for the instructions. I think it is that since it's a Linux filesystem that's ~15GB. So the commands should be something like:

Code: Select all

sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/boot
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev/

Double check before you do anything though. Otherwise you will make stuff worse.

[Ashokkumar]

No you are scaring me sir.....

If I make things worse that's it. I have to reinstall Windows 7 and Linux again. I was not sure which partition the Linux was installed. Are we not sure whether the commands which you provided would work perfectly. Because I want to back up my Hard drive, if you think internet connection would help I could use the 3G Data card rather than using the commands.

[bigj231]

As I said, figure out which partition is you "/" partition. Boot into a live environment and see which partition your "usr" and "lib" folders are on. It looks to be sda5, but I don't know how you partitioned your system. If you made a 15GB partition for Mint and a 190GB partition for /home, then sda5 is your "/" partition. You can use gparted to check which partitions are which if you set labels. I don't know why the author decided to use fdisk (well, I do, but it's not relevant here.)

I apologize for worrying you. I guess I shouldn't have said "make stuff worse." If you do try sda5 and it doesn't work, then you won't fix or break anything. You'll have to try sda7 instead. I would try sda5 first.
If you tried one of the windows partitions, then it could make your windows install not boot, so make sure to use one of the Linux partitions.

If you want to back up your hard drive (which I would recommend anyway) you can just boot into a live environment and start backing stuff up onto another drive or medium.

[Ashokkumar]

Thank you so much for your help..This is what I like about Linux. Miracles do happen.............

Friday I tried those steps, but no go.

Sunday morning I tried the same thing with a small change.

Grub Install I just tried on SDA with out having any number beside it. It said Installation Successful.

I rebooted the system, and everything is back to normal. I could boot to Linux and Windows 7 no issues.

FYI....This actually happened, because AVast Antivirus deleted the Grub. It has some Scan before the boot up or something. You can Close the case as Resolved.

[bigj231]

Generally we ask that you edit the title of your original post to include (solved).
Glad you figured it out.