How to Fix ‘Grub Rescue’ Prompt for Ubuntu

After I have installed dual-booting Windows 7 with Ubuntu 12.10, my laptop stuck on grub rescue screen and cannot continue to boot screen. Actually after I installed Ubuntu I want to install Windows 8 and then compare them and determine which is the best. But I must delay to compare them and try to solve grub rescue problem.If you see the same problem with image below, I will tell you how to solve grub rescue problem.

I try to find the solution in every search engine like Google, Yahoo, etc. Finally I found this site and I can solved grub rescue problem. In my own word, if you have installed Ubuntu 12.10 you must have Ubuntu 12.10 Live CD to solve grub rescue problem.

1. We cannot access Ubuntu OS through normal boot process because we have grub rescue problem, so you need to boot from CD. Change the BIOS boot order, choose CD/DVD if you use Ubuntu CD or USB Flashfisk/FD if you use flashdrive. Then boot into Ubuntu Live CD
2. Open Terminal, type sudo fdisk -l and then determine which partition Ubuntu has been installed, e.g in sda7
3. Type these on Terminal to mount Ubuntu partition

   sudo mkdir /mnt/temp 
   sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt/temp  # Example: sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/temp

4. Then type these

   for i in /dev /dev/pts /proc /sys; do sudo mount -B $i /mnt/temp$i;  done
   sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/temp/etc/resolv.conf  # May be required to connect to the Internet.
   sudo chroot /mnt/temp

   If the command run successfully, the terminal prompt would include ‘root’ (root@ubuntu:/#). Don’t panic, it indicates that you are in chroot environment.

5. Connect to the internet, then you have to type these to get necessary Grub packages

   sudo apt-get update

6. The next command will purge Grub installation. Read the warning, tab to highlight YES and press Enter

   apt-get purge grub grub-pc grub-common

7. Reinstall Grub packages.
   • You will be given the opportunity to add extra kernel options to the kernel line. If you don’t know, you probably don’t need them ; TAB to highlight “<OK>” and press ENTER.
   • Read the installation notes. TAB to “<OK>” to continue.
   • When presented with the device option, use the UP/DN keys to select the correct drive (sdX).
     • Make sure the installation drive [*] /dev/sdX has an asterisk next to it ( example: [*] /dev/sda ). If it doesn’t, highlight it and press the SPACE bar to select it.
     • Do not select a partition ( example: [ ] /dev/sda5 , etc).
   • TAB to “<OK>” and press ENTER. When it has finishing the installation, you should have Grub 2 installed.

   apt-get install grub-common grub-pc

8. Update Grub2 files

   update-grub 

9. Exit the chroot environment

   exit

10. Unmount what you previously mounted

    for i in /dev/pts /dev /proc /sys; do sudo umount /mnt/temp$i ; don

11. Reboot.

Then you can boot normally and you can access Ubuntu without using live CD.

Grub rescue problem is very annoying problem. But after read this post and practice it I hope you can solve grub rescue problem 🙂

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