Stuck at GRUB command line

This is what I see:

GNU GRUB version 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1
Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible device or file completions.
grub> _

What should I do now?

10

8 Answers

I copied from eli's answer in Unix forum

Cause: boot process can't find the root partition

Solution

Please typelsThis will show all partitions, and then type individual

ls (hd0,1)/
ls (hd0,2)/ 

... and so on, until you find like

(hd0,1)/boot/grub or (hd0,1)/grub

In case of EFI,

(hd0,1)/efi/boot/grub or (hd0,1)/efi/grub... now set the boot parameters accordingly, just type this with your number

set prefix=(hd0,1)/grub
set root=(hd0,1)
insmod linux
insmod normal
normal

now it would boot and please open the Terminal and put this command line

sudo update-grub... it should boot correctly in the next time. If not, you have to go through the steps again. In other case, you might have to repair or install grub again, please look at this article.

My SW: Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16.04 dual boot

HW: HP Pavilion 15t

7

You got a problem with the bootloader. You should initialize kernel. First use command ls, then adjust the following commands according to it. In the place of hd0 write your disk and in 1 write your number.

grub> set root=(hd0,1)
grub> linux /vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
grub> initrd /initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
grub> boot

If you don't know what your version of the kernel is, write:

grub> linux /vmlTab
grub> initrd /inTab

FIRST try only grub> boot

1

Not a permanent fix, but you should be able to continue just by exiting:

grub> exit

This will continue to either the grub menu (if you have a dual boot system) where you can choose which OS you want to boot, or directly to your primary operating system. This is a common problem with dual booting a system with UEFI bootloader.

1

When trying to install ubuntu 20.04.2.0 on hp pavilion I got the same. Used ESC + F9 to launch BIOS boot menu, I found both windows and Ubuntu. Both worked fine.

I ran into this issue today, I have Linux installed alongside windows and I wanted to remove ubuntu and I directly deleted the partition from windows from disk management on windows 10 without actually deleting the grub menu. As a result whenever I rebooted the system I would see that black screen with that the grub terminal.This basicall happens when the system couldn’t find a OS to boot from so it would go into that grub terminal. so what you need to do is modify your boot order.

• boot your system by entering the command “reboot”.
• keep pressing F2 inorder to go into bios, This key varies based on the make of your device in my case I was using a Lenovo ideapad so it would work.
• Once you have the bios menu using the arrow keys go to “boot” section then you need to change the boot order under “EFI” by pressing f5,f6 keys in my case I deleted the ubuntu partition so I moved the windows to top.

• after you change the boot order press f10 to save and exit and your system will boot into your desired OS (windows in my case).

Originally posted here:

FYI, for anyone stumbling upon this post now - I got stuck in grub >, and grub > ls wasn't producing anything.

grub > boot produced:

error: you need to load kernel first

Unplugging the USB mouse and restarting fixed it.

For Ubuntu 21.04, after a boot repair from usb, I got

grub> insmod all_video
grub> insmod linux
grub> linux /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda2
grub> initrd /boot/initrd.img
grub> boot

And. . . Booted!!!

1

grub> ls

Get the data members

grub> ls (hd0,gpt2)/
grub> ls (hd0,gpt2)/boot
grub> set root=(hd0,gpt2)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-20

1