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I intended to restore my grub using live usb stick. I wanted to do this because I couldn't fix the grub rescue error after following so many solutions to the problem. Now I have only blinking cursor on my screen.
I am using HP Pavillion m6 Notebook PC with ubuntu 18.04. I also have ubuntu 18.04 on the live usb. My question is that there is no option for boot repair when I boot the system from the live usb. I can see only option for installation. If I continue with the installation is there any chances of getting my files back? If that is not possible please what is the way out.
when you boot and get to the first screen can you get to a second console with ctrl-alt-f2 or one of the other f-keys?
and log in, I think the username will be ubiquity, live ubunutu, something like that and no password.
Last edited by colorpurple21859; 07-05-2020 at 10:44 PM.
Basically at grub boot menu select 'recovery', then 'remount', then 'drop to root'. That leaves you with the system running as root user (DANGEROUS) but allows you to make changes if you know what needs changing.
If that isn't feasible you can try reinstalling grub. There are a number of sites with instructions, some easier than others, but the instructions I use are
Code:
1. Boot an installation live CD/DVD/USB, preferably the one used to install your primary Linux system
(Ubuntu, Mint, . . . .).
2. Using gparted, parted, fdisk or whatever works, identify the disk partition containing the /boot of the
system installed from the CD, or at least the system you want to be primary/default. This is necessary
because the information for booting is still there, the boot loader simply can’t find it or is using a
screwed up one. If gparted is not available and you want it you may be able to install it for the moment although you will lose it as soon as you reboot.
3. Mount that partition somewhere in the live system, for example /mnt.
4. sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sdX
sdX being the device (sda, sdb, whatever) containing the partition.
5. Reboot.
6. sudo update-grub
7. Reboot. It should now show all systems and can boot into any of them. By altering the grub menu
according to the version being used now you should be able to change the default system and perhaps
even the order of the listing and perhaps the wording.
If that doesn't work then go back to the first and get logged in as root. From there create a partition you can use to backup or save all that you don't want to lose. Remember you don't have to back up things you can easily get from repositories, just irreplacible or hard to replace things. This actually would be best on removable media but a separate partition will work. Then go through the reinstallation being sure the installer will NOT use the entire disk, i.e. 'something else' and adjust the partitions so you can install to a new, clean partition. If successful this leaves you with two copies of you old stuff - one on your old system partition that you can mount to /mnt or some other directory and access the files of the backup you made. You can overwrite your old system if you must because you have the backup. Remember you only need a relatively small partition for installation. Once up and running you can edit partitions and enlarge the new, running partition as necessary. All you are trying to do at this point is get a good system running.
What is name of ubuntu iso your are using? The login name should match the ubuntu iso name, ie: ubuntu-mate iso username will be ubunt-mate or maybe ubuntumate
login: ubuntu
password: press enter key
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