Having difficulty updating GRUB

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by SuperSapien, Feb 16, 2017.

  1. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    I dual boot Windows 7 and Linux Mint KDE 17.2 from separate hard drives I had my friend install Windows 7 he removed the Linux HDD first before installing Windows but I cant seem to get GRUB to update correctly every time I do I reboot my computer and GRUB doesn't boot up instead it just boots into Windows (its very annoying). How do I fix this problem I know I'm using the correct command sudo update-grub and after enter that command this is what it says:
    Generating grub configuration file ...
    Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-38-generic
    Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-38-generic
    Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-107-generic
    Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-107-generic
    Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
    Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
    No volume groups found
    Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sdb1
    done
     
  2. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

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    Then it's not dual-boot :p (Sorry, I couldn't help myself)

    I suggest you look into the BIOS to see which HDD is the fist one on the list. It's most likely the Windows one.
     
  3. fblais

    fblais Registered Member

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    Try to reinstall grub with "sudo grub-install /dev/sda" or whatever target you use, before updating it.
     
  4. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    I have a custom partitioned installation Root, Swap and Home are all on separate partitions. Yes amarildojr Windows is the first device to boot. But I don't know how to change that.:(
     
  5. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

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  6. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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  7. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

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    You may not perceive this as a solution, but I have 4 Operating Systems on one computer. Combo's of Linux and Windows. I got tired of trying to "manage" the boot situation. My solution, which works flawlessly, is to place /boot (starts linux) on a separate usb flash drive. I use the MBR or UEFI partition on the hard drive to start Windows. Windows starts and updates just fine. When YOU would want to start your linux OS you would insert the usb containing /boot and when it starts you can withdraw the flash. Will update and start flawlessly and will NOT ever interfere with the Windows loader. In my situation this arrangement seems to be a requirement because I have so many OS's (partition based) to control. I feel I have to briefly rant about Windows. As you know it tends to want to fix anything it doesn't understand. Luckily, by NOT having the linux /boot flash inserted while Windows is running, it simply cannot break the loader. Never, ever have an issue with this slick arrangement. I know I could wrestle my way through and "crowbar" a solution where two loaders are on the hard drive. I don't want to fight and worry about what Windows does. This solution is risk free and simple. My .02
     
  8. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    I thought about that before but I want to game on Linux namely City Skylines, plus I have over three thousand wallpapers and that wont fit on a bootable usb flash drive which would only have about four gigs of storage.
     
  9. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

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    Unless I am misunderstanding your post, you definitely misunderstood mine. Your Linux OS would still be on your hard drive. You are only moving /boot (a 500 meg-ish file) to a bootable flash drive. /boot is what is used to start Linux. Once you mount your Linux OS you can remove the flash drive and you are up and running completely on the hard drive. This configuration would allow you to break up your platter space by partitions and you could literally run a unique Linux OS on each of those partitions. You decide the size you need and then set them up. They ALL run independently and they don't see each other at all. If you encrypt them with LUKS it is literally impossible for there to be any "cross chatter" among the partitions. It is a true bare metal OS when any of them are running. Hope this makes sense now, but if not ask away.
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    SuperSapien,

    I'm using that MB on this computer.

    Can you boot each OS at present?
     
  11. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    Kind of I have to engage the boot manager in the UEFI (by pressing the F8 button) then select my Linux HDD from there GRUB boots up and I can select Linux Mint.
     
  12. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    OK. Both OS boot. Are Win7 and Mint both installed in UEFI mode? Strange. I found Win7 very unreliable in UEFI mode.
     
  13. Palancar

    Palancar Registered Member

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    Brian,

    The issue that always concerns me is when Windows updates. Does Windows ever "step on" the bootloader for Linux in your setup? You don't actually say you are running linux, just that you have that MB in operation. I have a few UEFI linux OS's running fine but I am always afraid to mingle the loaders. Anybody wanting to chime in here feel free. We are all trying to learn.
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Palancar,

    On a test computer I have several Windows OS and two Linux OS installed in UEFI mode on HD0. Each OS is independent, contains its own booting files and none of the Windows OS see any other OS. But it's a complicated setup and although impractical, it does work.

    In my main computer I have over 20 OS on HD0. Multiple Windows, Linux, DOS, WinPE. These are installed in MBR mode and are booted by Bootit Bare Metal (BIBM). All OS are independent, don't see each other and don't share booting files. Multi-booting OS installed in MBR mode is a dream. If needed you can have up to 200 primary partitions on each MBR drive. That's more OS than I need.
     
  15. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    I think my only solution is to reinstall Linux Mint, because this whole problem started when I had my friend reinstall Windows 7.
     
  16. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    SuperSapien,

    We can't help much if you don't let us know about your system. Are the OS installed in UEFI mode? Can you boot each OS easily from the BIOS boot menu? What partitions are on each HD? If you disconnect the Linux HD does Win7 boot? If you disconnect the Win7 HD does Linux boot?
     
  17. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    Sorry for the late reply I've been busy. But I'm pretty sure both my Windows HDD and Linux HDD would work on there own because I didn't change any of the UEFI settings before reinstalling Windows 7.
     
  18. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    SuperSapien,

    Good to have you back. There are still several questions you haven't answered.
     
  19. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    I'm pretty sure both OS are installed in UEFI mode. Although I wont be able to remove my HDDs until the weather improves because my place is so dry and staticy. And yes I can boot each OS from the UEFI/BIOS boot menu, but technically not GRUB.
     
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