Boot Repair Ubuntu

Boot repair Ubuntu is a general tool for repairing the issues of frequent boot we may trigger in Ubuntu like if we cannot boot Ubuntu operating system after installing Windows operating system or other distributions of Linux, or if we cannot boot Windows operating system after installing Ubuntu operating system, or if GRUB isn't shown anymore, a few upgrades can break GRUB, etc.

In Ubuntu, boot repair enables us to fix these types of issues using a normal click which can restore access to the OSes that we had installed before this issue.

Also, boot repair has various advanced options for backing up boot sectors, table partitions, creating a Boot-Info (for getting help by forum or email), or changing the default parameters of repair: add kernel options, configure GRUB, restore an MBR (Windows-compatible), modify the default operating system, purge GRUB, describe the disk in which GRUB must be installed, repair the broken file system, etc.

Boot repair will establish a Pastebin link of Ubuntu for us to distribute that permits experienced members to check what is wrong with our boot for the goal of helping the IRC and forum members help us recognize issues with our boot setup. The Pastebin of Ubuntu is not searchable or indexable easily, and the goal of the tool that establishes the Boot-Info page is meant to be a helpful solution to the issue.

Neither the intention is to violate our privacy nor it is meant to make us a target. But this tool is entirely focused on those new users of Ubuntu who wish to get past the issues of their booting and easily using Linux. If we would like to, we may opt out of every internet usage completely including the generation of Pastebin link by checking the section of Advanced Options.

Note: Boot repair is licensed upon GNU-GPL and it is free software.

Advantages of boot-repair

Some of the main advantages of using boot-repair are mentioned below:

• Reliable (400.000 users/year)
• Safe (automatic backups)
• Helpful (the summary of Boot-Info for getting help by our favorite forum or email)
• Free (licensed under open-source GPL)
• Easy to use (can be repaired in one click)
• Can delete access to Windows (Windows10, Windows8, Winodws7, Vista, XP).
• Can delete access to Arch Linux, OpenSuse, Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, and others.
• Can delete access to any operating system (Linux, macOS, Windows, etc) if our PC includes Arch Linux, OpenSuse, Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu, Debian, or derivatives.
• Options for easily re-installing bootloader of GRUB1/GRUB2 (by default OS, kernel options, unhide, purge, etc).
• Can repair boot if we have an error message, i.e., "GRUB Recovery".
• Can repair boot of MBR-locked OEM computer when the actual boot sectors have been saved via Clean-Ubiquity.

What is GRUB?

GNU GRUB is a package of bootloaders from the project of GNU. It is a reference implementation of the Multiboot Specification of the Free Software Foundation which facilitates a user the selection for booting one of more than one OS installed on a system or choose a particular configuration of kernel available on a specific partition of the operating system.

GNU GRUB was designed with a package known as the Grand Unified Bootloader (based on Grand Unified Theory). Predominantly, it is used for many Unix-like systems. The GNU OS applies GNU GRUB as a bootloader, as implement most Solaris OS on x86 systems and LINUX distributions, beginning with the release of Solaris 10 1/06.

There is also a term called GRUB 2. GRUB 2 can be defined as the default manager and bootloader since the 9.10 version of Ubuntu (Karmic Koala). GRUB 2 either automatically sends the control to the Kernel of the operating system or represents a menu and then awaits the input of the user.

GRUB 2 can also be described as a descendant of GRUB (short for GRand Unified Bootloader). Also, it has been fully rewritten to facilitate the user significantly high performance and flexibility. GRUB 2 is freely available software in the market.

Introduction to Boot-Info

A Boot-Info can be described as the diagnosis report that supports finding anomalies in our computer or boot parameters. It's not a backup, it is a type of "instant picture of our system". Often, we will be asked for indicating our Boot-Info to support people who know the problem in the Ubuntu forums.

Two methods are suggested to easily make this report:

• Using an Ubuntu disc (needs an Internet connection and Ubuntu disc)
• Or using a Boot-Repair-Disk (it is the easiest way if we often make the reports of Boot-Info or if the system to diagnose doesn't have an Internet connection)

Some of the important key points of Boot-Info are mentioned below:

• The Boot-Info can be specified as an instant image of our primary system parameters. Neither, it modifies the boot nor the files of the system. We can redo this process any time we wish.
• If the internet connection is not connected at the time of this process, the tool will not represent the URL. However, it will show the report of the Boot-Info within a text viewer (it is less convenient as compared to an URL because we will need to copy and paste the data of this file over the forums). If we can, connect to an internet connection after that redo the process for getting an URL.
• If forgot for noting down the URL then redo the process.
• People will just need to open the URL in the web browser to check the report content once we indicated an URL to someone.
• The Boot-Info report is more specific as compared to the one we can obtain by Boot-Info-Script.
• The Boot-Info bottom is indicated the repair type which will be implemented if we select the button, i.e., Recommended Repair of the Boot-Repair utility.
• Boot-Repair will implement the operations of these repairs if we select Recommended Repair. Then it will show a complete Boot-Info including the repair log as well (which permits to find some issues that will not be found by the standard Boot-Info).
• Don't modify the Boot-Repair Advanced Options if we haven't invited to.

Boot repair can:

• Repair any broken file system
• Restore an MBR (Windows-compatible)
• Modify the OS (default) in GRUB
• Add the options of kernel
• Configure the bootloader of GRUB
• Install the bootloader of GRUB
• Backing up device boot sectors
• Backing up partition tables
• And many others
• We can now install boot-repair using the following command:

Now, we need to press y and after that click the Enter button to proceed.

Backup partition table using boot-repair

We can back up our partition table with the help of boot repair. It's important because if our partition table somehow gets corrupted, we will be able for recovering the partitions and also get our data back. We might lose all our data otherwise.

We need to just press on the button, i.e., Backup partition tables, boot sectors and logs for backing up our partition tables.

We need to choose a location in which we wish to save the data of our partition and press on the Save option.

We should find a message when the partition table is saved. Just press on OK.

We should now be able to see a zip file inside the directory that we chose earlier.

Repair file systems using boot-repair

Our file systems might get infected at times and Ubuntu would not be able to solve it on boot automatically. It might result in many boot failures. We can fix our file system using Boot Repair.

We only need to check an option, i.e., Repair file systems in the tab, i.e., Main options, and then press on the Apply option.

It should take a few minutes to repair our file system and solve the problems of the boot. We should be capable of booting into our installed OSes as usual again when it is done.

Modifying GRUB location using boot-repair

We can define where GRUB has been installed on our hard drive with the Boot Repair advanced options. If we have more than one hard drive that is installed on our system that has installed GRUB, then we might wish to fix which hard drives we wish to repair here.

For modifying the location of GRUB, we need to go to the tab, i.e., GRUB location of boot repair. Now choose the partition of the hard drive from a drop-down menu, i.e., OS to boot by default. Also, choose the partition of the hard drive which is applied as EFI System Partition from a drop-down menu, i.e., Separate /boot/efi partition if we are applying a UEFI-based motherboard.

Modifying the options of GRUB using boot-repair

Also, we can change several options of GRUB using a tab, i.e., GRUB options of Boot Repair.

Getting boot-repair

First option: a disk having Boot-Repair

One of the easiest ways for using Boot-Repair is to establish a disk including the tool (e.g., a disk automatically starting Boot-Repair, Boot-Repair-Disk) and boot over it.

Note: It is suggested to install an ISO over live-USB (e.g., via a Universal USB Installer, LiliUSB, or Unet Bootin). Don't burn it over a DVD if our system has Windows 8 operating system pre-installed, or if our boot is in the mode of EFI.

Second option: installing Boot-Repair on Ubuntu

1. Either from our installed session of Ubuntu (if we can access it) or from live-session of Ubuntu (boot our system on a live-USB or live-CD of Ubuntu, then select "Try Ubuntu".
2. Link to the Internet
3. Open the terminal then enter a few commands which are mentioned below (click enter after every line):

Applying boot-repair

Suggested repair

1. We can launch the boot repair using either:
   1. By entering 'boot-repair' in our terminal
   2. Or by the Dash (the logo of Ubuntu on the top-left side of the screen)
2. After that, select the button, i.e., "Recommended repair". Note down the URL that is illustrated on a paper when the repair is completed. Then, reboot and see if we recovered access to over operating systems.
3. Refer the URL to users who help us by forum or email if the repair didn't succeed.

Warning: The settings (default) are those that are applied by the "Recommended Repair". Modifying them might worsen our problem. Do not change them before establishing a Boot-Info URL, and prompting for advice in Ubuntu forums Installation and Upgrades or Absolute Beginners Section.

Recovering Ubuntu after install Windows

This article specifies how to recover or restore the boot-loader after installing Windows operating system. A few reasons for repairing our boot loader may contain installing Windows operating system after we have installed Ubuntu, removing or adding a hard drive, or modifying the settings of the hard drive.

Important: This article doesn't help if we had installed Ubuntu in Windows (by the Wubi installer).

With the Ubuntu CD (Suggested)

Using the graphical way

1. We need to insert our Ubuntu CD, restart our system, and set it for booting from CD inside the BIOS and boot within a live session. Also, we can use any LiveUSB if we have made one in the past.
2. After that install and execute boot-repair
3. Select "Recommended Repair".
4. Now restart our computer. The usual boot menu of GRUB should occur. While booting, we need to hold the left shift key if it doesn't. We will be able to select between Windows and Ubuntu.

Using the terminal way

We need to open our terminal. As of the 11.10 version and 11.04 version of Ubuntu, it could be implemented by opening a Unity Dash (we can select the logo of Ubuntu inside the top panel or we can also use the Windows key on our keyboard) and entering in "Terminal", and pressing what comes up.

We can do it by going to the Applications > Accessories > Terminal on the previous versions. Alternatively, we can apply the shortcut of the keyboard, i.e., Ctrl+Alt+T.

With the Ubuntu alternate CD

• Boot our computer with the Ubuntu alternate CD.
• If the Ubuntu splash screen appears with the boat: ask, input in rescue, and click enter.
• Select the location (country), language, and then the layout of the keyboard because if we were doing a new install.
• Type the name of the host or leave it with the Ubuntu default.
• We are represented with the screen in which we can choose which partition is our root partition at this stage (there is a partition list on our hard drive, so we are needed to understand which Ubuntu number of partitions is on). It would be the dev/discs/discY/partX, in which the X specifies a partition number and Y specifies the drive number.