HowTo restore GRUB with install CD

[Karl Goetz]

Hi list

Although I spoke with mhz on IRC and was told to add this direct to the
wiki, I thought it should be sent to the list for checking.
(particularly as I'm not going to be able to make any changes for a
while[1]).

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows is the
page it would be added to, as  an alternative to the (imo silly) method
of using the live CD for recovery.


HOW TO:
Rescue GRUB (the GRand Unified Boot loader), using the Ubuntu install CD
ROM.

Enter your computers BIOS to check computer can boot from CD ROM.

If you can boot from CD, insert CD ROM into drive.

Exit the BIOS (if needed save your settings to make sure the computer
boots from the CD ROM).

When the Ubuntu splash screen comes up with the `boot:` prompt, type in
`rescue` and press enter.

Choose your language, location (country) and then keyboard layout as if
you were doing a fresh install.

Enter a host name, or leave it with the default (Ubuntu).

At this stage you are presented with a screen where you can select which
partition is your root partition (there is a list of the partitions on
your hard drive, so you are required to know which partition number
Ubuntu is on). This will be /dev/discs/disc0/part? , where the ? is a
partition number.

you are then presented with a command prompt (a hash).

type `# grub-install /dev/hda2` (this assumes your ubuntu's root is hda2).

I didn't have a computer with breezy free, so I used another box
(running puppy Linux). because of this I cant test what happens if it
doesn't work (puppy doesn't have grub-install), or test unmounting and
mounting new partitions.)


[1]
I am off interstate for a month, before heading off to LinuxConfAU. As a
result I will only have intermittent Internet access, so I wont be able
to take part in discussion /comments/ critisisms.

-- 
Karl Goetz
The buck stops there -> $