Comments on Repair Linux boot failures in GRUB 2 rescue mode

After I type insmod normal it says error:file not found. What did I do wrong?

use "ls <drive>/"

You can snoop around and see where your boot directory resides.

can U write the command  ? 

 I had to do this for insmod normal to work

set prefix=(hd0,1)/boot/grub

After I type insmod normal I get:

error: invalid arch-independent ELF magic.

What does this mean and can it be fixed.

You lost me after the 'set' command.  What is the "information required"?  After the 'ls' command you say to set to the correct value.  What is the correct value?  Also, what is 'my own drive name'?

I appreciate you posting this procedure but could you post it for a much dumber audience.  Thanks.

if you need a "dumber" explainer, then you shouldn't be using linux, or simply just reinstall your OS, or take your PC or laptop to a computer repair shop and they'll have it running for you.

Getting this:

ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ sudo update-grub/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: failed to get canonical path of `/cow'.ubuntu@ubuntu:/$ sudo grub-install /dev/sda3Installing for i386-pc platform.grub-install: error: failed to get canonical path of `/cow'.

Type insmod show no module specified

Great webpage. I didn't know anything about Linix, but with your commands till: insmod normal normal

I could start up my Qimo kids linux again and with the update grub config file en reinstallation of grub, my windows Xp and Linux is working again. Thank you very much

after windows install it went to grub emergency, nothing worked, with the LS or Set commands, i thought my partitions were screwed.

Then i ran the following as a last resort from the howtogeek page and it worked

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair boot-repair

then open boot-repair and repair disk

Hi, help... . I was in Windows Vista, trying to merge partitions because after getting updates for Ubuntu, the machine would take me to the usual login screen, but only showed black and white stripes on screen. But wouldn't bring my Ubuntu desktop back up.

I rebooted, and grub rescue mode,

grub rescue    

is displayed, however I'm not able to use any of the commands that I'm aware of from Ubuntu forums, and I am sorely very inexperienced as my machine has run for nearly four years without any problems at all.

Thanks man, I was totally stuck this was my first install of Linux.

None of the partitions have the filesystem. What do I do?

thanks ..... finally almost was going to reformat that saved me as always good contributions last look and look until I found you because all pointed to / boot / grub that was the downside has a 10 ... x10 .......... ...............

it's not working in boss linux

using open suse tumbweed  windows boot was removed by an up grade wth out any information to that regard so after some time and with my udual decorum i deleted the entire system after grub2 refused to reconise a cd install of win 7 , befor i inves any time in hunting down thoses responcable for the removal of win compateably in grib 2 and resoundly giving them a thrashing  how do  to get gurb2 out of the way an add joy was to find it also seems to have changed the ever faithful ,save me , system inderpendant the bios  from reconising the win 7 boot cd  open suse/grub   your  a socapath

The graphical way. Insert your Ubuntu CD, reboot your computer and set it to boot from CD in the BIOS and boot into a live session. You can also use a LiveUSB if you have created one in the past.

Hi Gurujyot_singh!

Thanks a lot for this post! I have a server running Debian 8 with qmail/tinydns (qmailrocks) and roundcube. After a simple upgrade, I decided to restart the machine and what surprise! It stops at this grub2 screen. It freezes any belly, isn't it? I was on lucky because I found this post and the services are used only on work time and this step was done at night. So, I could fix it on time!

 Again, thanks a lot for this post because it is very simple and clear to read and understand! You wrote like a boss! Forgive me about my english..

grub rescue>set prefix=(hd0,msdos1)/boot/grub

This returns a "could not read or write outside of disk 'hd0'

what is this? thanks!

Just had this problem, tried all these recommended set commands; set prefix=bla bla bla, even tried booting from a usb device, nothing worked. So I thought the hard drive was knackered opened up the desktop case,pushed the hardrive power supply and data cables in a bit. Closed the case and powered the desktop backup and to my surprise, the desktop booted up successfully.

Hello,

I can see no date on this page and suppose it is not obsolete.

I am currently trying to use my previous dual boot disk (Debian 8 / Windows 8.1 64 bits)  through USB in  a new computer with Windows 10 only. Is it possible? Windows 10 only shows me the Debian 8 entry (not the Windows 8.1) and if I choose it I just get the grub rescue prompt with no idea as to what to do.

Any hint?

problem is that "linux /boot/vmlinuz-......-generic root=/dev/sd.. ro"

still gets me "attempt to read or weite outside od disk 'hd2'

Just want to give you a thousand high fives

I have an old Atom PC. I tried some of the suggestions but I only got "error: file /grub/i386-pc/linux.mod not found". As an afterthought, I just removed hdd connections and put them back. It booted normally. Earlier, I was thinking that the prblem might be due to docker installation.

Have you tried booting from USB and not from the normal hard drive? You probably need to install grub to the USB drive.

After entering the Command insmod normal no such partition

I had the same problem and everything i tried wasn't working so I installed linux as manufacturer and did what's wrote above. Now it's working perfectly but pay attention it is going to wipe all other OS that are installed

Hello, I am not a pro, in fact I do not know a lot about linux and I am kinda lost in the tutorial. My output for set command does not look like the one in tut and do not know what to use in set root and set prefix

Can somebody help someone like me, who does not know much ?Thank you

hi again, here is the output

grub>set gives the following output:

prefix=(lvmid/Qubc15-ukdT-ECmL-Jq3F-6bvx-1pZV-9nAfxg/OWWPMi-l1DL-CuWL-iWmS-3vNO-2Aty-4eByHo)/boot/grub

root=lvmid/Qubc15-ukdT-ECmL-Jq3F-6bvx-1pZV-9nAfxg/OWWPMi-l1DL-CuWL-iWmS-3vNO-2Aty-4eByHo

grub>ls gives the following output:

(hd0) (hd0,msdos1) (lvm/mint--vg-swap_1) (lvm/mint--vg-root)

hi again, here is the output

grub>set gives the following output:

prefix=(lvmid/Qubc15-ukdT-ECmL-Jq3F-6bvx-1pZV-9nAfxg/OWWPMi-l1DL-CuWL-iWmS-3vNO-2Aty-4eByHo)/boot/grub

root=lvmid/Qubc15-ukdT-ECmL-Jq3F-6bvx-1pZV-9nAfxg/OWWPMi-l1DL-CuWL-iWmS-3vNO-2Aty-4eByHo

grub>ls gives the following output:

(hd0) (hd0,msdos1) (lvm/mint--vg-swap_1) (lvm/mint--vg-root)

I have also tried this : I downloaded and created a live USB with the same Linux that was installed (Mint 19.3 XFCE 64 bit) and booted with it. Then I launche an utility that I have found in Mint called Boot Repair and I followed the instructions. Everything seemed OK, but at the very end I got a message telling me that something is wrong. I tried to do the Boot repair again but now it gives an error since the very beginning. The only thing I am not sure about is that when I did it the firs time, one of the steps was for me to choose where to reinstall the grub and I have chosen from the list the very first item which was something called sda and looked like my hard disk. The second item was sda0, or something like this and I wander if I maybe did not choose the good one. Thank you

I have a problem with grub2 : ERROR:grub_file_filters not found What can I do with this prompt? grub.cfg is in (hd0,msdos1)/grub2 grub rescue> set root=hd0,msdos1 prefix=(hd0,msdos1)/grub2 grub rescue> ??? Thanks in advanced Filippos

This tutorial works great overall.  However, one step that's got me stumped is this.  In your final command above (sudo grub-install /dev/sdX), how does one find which drive is your root drive.  I'm dual booting with Windows 10 installed first (if this matters).  I'm also using an NVMe drive.  I assume my command will look like:

$: sudo grub-install /dev/nvme0n1pX

But I have no clue how to determine which X is the correct partition path.  While in the grub command line (which is where I land when I boot up the machine), I find that the grub is located in (hd0,gpt5)/boot/grub/.  Does this mean X is 5 in the above grub-install command?

Any help is much appreciated.

Sincerely,~~archery~~

I used Rescatux live usb to fix bootloader issue. Works like a charm.

Ihave some Problems. First sorry for MS Bad English.Khane lesende English in sool Mord than 40 years ago.

My problems: Every time after typing the orders Ahonen, i get several answers by PC. Sometimes ehe Snyder days directory is encrypted, sometimes no such directoy Ort sometimes unknown filesysretm.in Dach Gase the word error before. Please can you hell me RTL Solveig the Problem?

Just installed Linux MINT x64 Cinnamon 20.1 and after reboot I get an error: attemp to read or write outside of disk `hd0'.

PC is a HP xw4400 BIOS 2.07 (no UEFI) so Grub should not use UEFI as a boot loader.

partitons: (hd0) (hd0,msdos5) (hd0,msdos1) with msdos5 the file system where /boot/ contains efi/ grub/ and System.map-5.4.0-58-generic config-5.4.0-58-generic vmlinuz-5.4.0-58-generic initrd.img-5.4.0-58-generic vmlinuz initrd.img.old initrd.img

I've also tried Linux MINT 21.1 Cinnamon, the installation USB boots and the PC is stable it's only after install/rebooting the error happens and I end up in grub> 

A fix or directions on how to get the install to not use EFI please.