Problems With GRUB & Reinstalling Linux
If you have a multi-boot computer, you might experience problems with GRUB, or GRand Unified Bootloader, if one of your partitions is Windows. You don't have to reinstall an operating system to fix the problem. Instead, you can often resolve the issue by reinstalling a Linux partition.
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GRUB
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GRUB is a bootloader that can work with almost any operating system. When you start your computer, GRUB is the first thing that loads. If your computer only has one bootable partition, GRUB automatically starts the operating system on that partition. If you have more than one bootable partition, GRUB loads a list of operating systems on your computer and lets you choose which one to boot. Most Linux distributions use GRUB as the default bootloader.
Dual Boot Problems With Windows
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When you set up a dual boot computer with Windows and a Linux distribution, the first step is to use the Linux installation disk to partition the hard drive. Since you already have the Linux installation disk in your computer, you might be tempted to install the Linux distribution first; if you do, GRUB will install. However, when you later install Windows, the Windows installation will configure your computer to run the Windows Boot Manager instead of GRUB. When you start your computer, you will not have the option to boot into Linux presented to you, and Windows will start by default. Fix the problem by erasing the Linux partition and reinstalling GRUB.
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Reinstalling GRUB
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To reinstall GRUB on your dual boot computer, you need to boot into the Linux installation disk again. Don't install the operating system; instead, choose the option to run the operating system from the disk. At the desktop, open a terminal. For Debian-based distributions, type "sudo grub" and press "Enter." On other distributions, replace "sudo" with "su -c." Type "root (hd0,0)" and press "Enter," type "setup (hd0)" and press "Enter," then type "Exit" and press "Enter." If you did not originally install GRUB on the first partition on the first hard drive on your computer, enter the appropriate locations instead of "hd0." If you aren't sure where you've installed GRUB, the first partition is the default location. GRUB loads when you restart your computer.
Other GRUB Problems
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You can run into other problems with GRUB, including missing operating systems, sloppy menus and more. You can usually fix most problems by reinstalling Linux. However, it's best to search for information on your specific problem and then fix GRUB accordingly. Normally, you just need to edit a configuration file, but the exact solution depends on the problem. Reinstalling an operating system should be your last resort.
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