Can't access Grub Boot Menu...

[asciiman]

Hi everyone-
Running Mint 18.1 with the 4.8.0-58 kernel and a backup 4.8.0-39 kernel.
Single Boot system, just Mint 18.1.

Everything runs fantastic.
Normally, Mint boots right to the Mint logo and up comes my log in screen.
In the past, I have been able to access my Grub boot menu by holding down the left SHIFT key.
I noticed today that it no longer does this.

I liked being able to access another kernel if something gets messed up with my default kernel.
Has something changed?
Thanks for any help on this one.

Allen

[MrEen]

Hi asciiman,

Could the key have an issue? Try using it in a text editor to see if it is working properly.

Also, could it be you're a little late in pressing the key?

And to add more to the mess; your kernels (BOTH) are not patched for the Meltdown/Spectre issues.

[asciiman]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have checked the functionality of the left SHIFT and it works OK.
Regarding the timing of my pressing of the key at boot, I hold SHIFT just after the UEFI/BIOS screen goes away.
If I press ESC after the BIOS screen, I will get a GRUB command line.
That is above my pay grade, so I just 'EXIT' out of there.

It's weird. I have never had any problem with this before.

Are you certain about the kernels not being patched?
I can see where maybe the 4.8.0-39 might not be.
But the .0-58 is the most recent kernel in the 4.8 group within Mint's Update Mgr.

What kernels are patched?

[smurphos]

4.8.0-x went end of life in August 17 - it's final security patch to 4.8.0-58 was on 26/7/17.

Currently, the 4.4 and 4.13 series are supported and getting current security issues patched. 4.4 will be supported until 2021, 4.13 to August 2018 after which 4.15 will take over.

[asciiman]

4.8.0-x went end of life in August 17 - it's final security patch to 4.8.0-58 was on 26/7/17.

Currently, the 4.4 and 4.13 series are supported and getting current security issues patched. 4.4 will be supported until 2021, 4.13 to August 2018 after which 4.15 will take over.

Thanks very much!
OK, so I was just reading this: https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3496
So in the 4.4 series, for example, everything .0-108 and NEWER will be receiving security patches?

[asciiman]

Yeah, just installed the latest 4.4 series kernel, but can't get to my Grub menu...
I could manually modify Grub to display the menu though... hmmm...

[smurphos]

Each 4.4.0.-xxx release is a security patch so you want the latest one - at the time of writing 4.4.0-116. Update Manager should offer further security updates - I'm not sure what level they appear in 18.1 - the levels and update manager had an over-haul in 18.2 and 18.3 to ensure that kernel and security updates are displayed by default irrespective of level. I'm guessing you don't see them or you would have been prompted to upgrade from 4.8 long ago.

For grub access on every boot try editing your default grub

sudo nano /etc/default/grub to open the default grub in terminal based text editor nano.

Edit the line GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT="0" to read #GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT="0"

Ctrl-O then Y then Ctrl X to save the file and exit nano.

sudo update-grub