Somebody tie my hands, please! Grub problem again [Solved]

[andymx]

[Notes to self: Somebody should tie my hands... I must stop messing about... Never again... Stick to the basics...]

It all started when I saw that Ventoy had an update. I booted to Windows and updated my flash drive accordingly.
On booting the computer I happened to see that the "old" mx entry in boot options which is disabled was still there. Foolishly I decided to delete it. Guess what? I deleted the wrong MX entry!
I managed to repair Grub after booting from my Ventoy-installed MX Linux iso. Something was done right because now I can boot to MX. Howeer, the Grub entries ae missing the Windows boot option. I tried sudo grub-update and I get this:

Code: Select all

Generating grub configuration file ...
Found theme: /boot/grub/themes/linen/theme.txt
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
Found mtest-64.efi image: /boot/uefi-mt/mtest-64.efi
Adding boot menu entry for EFI firmware configuration
done

My QSI:

Code: Select all

Snapshot created on: 20231002_0912
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-12-amd64 [6.1.52-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
    init=/lib/systemd/systemd
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23_x64 Libretto October 02  2023 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Convertible System: Dell product: Inspiron 5482 v: N/A serial: <superuser required>
    Chassis: type: 31 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dell model: 0JGVW4 v: A00 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Dell v: 2.18.0
    date: 11/11/2022
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 39.1 Wh (100.0%) condition: 39.1/42.0 Wh (93.1%) volts: 12.5 min: 11.4
    model: BYD DELL FW8KR87 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: full
  Device-1: apple_mfi_fastcharge model: N/A serial: N/A charge: N/A status: N/A
  Device-2: hid-0018:04F3:2751.0002-battery model: ELAN2097:00 04F3:2751 serial: N/A charge: N/A
    status: N/A
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-8565U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Whiskey Lake gen: core 8 level: v3
    note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x8E (142) stepping: 0xB (11)
    microcode: 0xF4
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 tpc: 2 threads: 8 smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB
    desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 900 min/max: 400/4600 scaling: driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave
    cores: 1: 900 2: 900 3: 900 4: 900 5: 900 6: 900 7: 900 8: 900 bogomips: 31999
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling mitigation: Microcode
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: retbleed mitigation: IBRS
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: IBRS, IBPB: conditional, STIBP: conditional, RSB filling,
    PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel WhiskeyLake-U GT2 [UHD Graphics 620] vendor: Dell Inspiron 5482 driver: i915
    v: kernel arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20 ports: active: HDMI-A-1 off: eDP-1
    empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:3ea0 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Realtek Integrated_Webcam_HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-6:9
    chip-ID: 0bda:5521 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x286mm (20.00x11.26") s-diag: 583mm (22.95")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: primary model: BenQ GW2480 serial: <filter> built: 2018
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 93 gamma: 1.2 size: 527x296mm (20.75x11.65") diag: 604mm (23.8")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: eDP-1 note: disabled model: AU Optronics 0x453d built: 2018 res: 1920x1080 dpi: 158
    gamma: 1.2 size: 309x174mm (12.17x6.85") diag: 355mm (14") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1920x1080
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 620 (WHL GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Point-LP High Definition Audio vendor: Dell Inspiron 5482
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_skl,snd_sof_pci_intel_cnl bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:9dc8 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-12-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Point-LP CNVi [Wireless-AC] driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl
    bus-ID: 00:14.3 chip-ID: 8086:9df0 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: ASIX AX88179 Gigabit Ethernet type: USB driver: ax88179_178a bus-ID: 2-1:2
    chip-ID: 0b95:1790 class-ID: ff00 serial: <filter>
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: eth1 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth 9460/9560 Jefferson Peak (JfP) type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 1-10:12 chip-ID: 8087:0aaa class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.1
    sub-v: 100 hci-v: 5.1 rev: 100
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:4 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch sniff link-mode: peripheral accept
    service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 20.47 TiB used: 2.49 TiB (12.1%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Kingston model: SNV2S250G size: 232.89 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: ELFK0S.6 temp: 31.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 type: USB model: External USB3.0 size: 238.47 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0204 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 type: USB model: External USB 3.0 size: 3.64 TiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0104 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 type: USB model: EZRZ-00Z5HB0 size: 1.82 TiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: HDD rpm: 31354 serial: <filter> rev: 80.0 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD40EMAZ-11LW3B0
    size: 3.64 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    rev: 1030 scheme: GPT
  ID-6: /dev/sde maj-min: 8:64 type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD40NDZW-11MR8S1
    size: 3.64 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    rev: 1018 scheme: GPT
  ID-7: /dev/sdf maj-min: 8:80 type: USB model: TO Exter nal USB 3.0 size: 3.64 TiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0104 scheme: GPT
  ID-8: /dev/sdg maj-min: 8:96 type: USB vendor: Seagate model: ST4000DM000-1F2168 size: 3.64 TiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 4096 B type: HDD rpm: 5900 serial: <filter> rev: 0202
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 232.22 GiB size: 227.52 GiB (97.97%) used: 31.33 GiB (13.8%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 256 MiB size: 252 MiB (98.46%) used: 414 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0 C pch: 47.0 C mobo: 46.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 2571
Repos:
  Packages: 2172 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2166 libs: 1107 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 6
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/mx/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list
    1: deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plex-mx.list
    1: deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sonarr.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/sonarr.gpg] https://apt.sonarr.tv/debian buster main
Info:
  Processes: 296 Uptime: 11m wakeups: 10 Memory: 7.43 GiB used: 2.7 GiB (36.3%) Init: systemd
  v: 252 target: graphical (5) default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

Grub continues not to show Windows as a boot option.
How can I add it back?

Sidenote: If I restart the laptop by exiting Windows I get the dreaded grub rescue prompt.

[MadMax]

This looks suspiciously like the same problem like here: viewtopic.php?f=104&p=747260#p747260

OS prober might be disabled and not looking for other operating systems.

[andymx]

OS prober might be disabled and not looking for other operating systems.

Thanks. I'll check. Not at home now, but I'll check as soon as possible.

[asqwerth]

It's usually

sudo update-grub

not grub-update

What happens if you try the first command above?

[andymx]

I wrote it wrongly. It's sudo update-grub and the output is as shown in my first post.

[andymx]

This looks suspiciously like the same problem like here: viewtopic.php?f=104&p=747260#p747260

OS prober might be disabled and not looking for other operating systems.

Well, that worked like this! My setting was #GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false, that is it had been commented out. I removed the # and run sudo update-grub. This time it found the Windows boot loader after a few seconds. I booted into Windows with no issues.

The only remaining irritation is that if I restart Windows I get the awful grub rescue prompt. If I then press the power button the laptop switches off and when I switch it on I get the usual GRUB screen.

[MadMax]

Nice!

Maybe Windows messes with the bootloader in some way by restarting? If a cold boot works, it should be configured right overall.

[andymx]

Well, I had another problem. I don't know if the sequence of events was important, but after restarting I entered Windows again, restarted, had the usual problem of facing the grub rescue prompt, restarted the laptop again and then I noticed that I had two copies of the start options in the Grub Advanced section. I don't know what caused the duplication, but I then searched about this and I found a program called grub-customizer.

I dared to install it and I removed the duplicate entries. So far, so good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I solved this issue. As for the problem when restarting the laptop from Windows, it will stay with me for ever... or until I remove Windows entirely!

[BitterTruth]

You cant try disabling fast start ( or fast boot) in windows. You just unitck a box in windows power options:

https://www.howtogeek.com/856514/how-to ... indows-10/

It'll make sure windows 'releases it's hold' on the boot loader

[BitterTruth]

Good news. Well done. Freedom is addictive :) Don't be afraid to experiment, I say. As long as you have backups of course. That's the beauty of linux. And it's only natural to make mistakes since we've never been able to configure this much under Windows, so it's all new (fun & addictive).

You can try disabling fast start ( or fast boot) in windows. You just unitck a box in windows power options:

https://www.howtogeek.com/856514/how-to ... indows-10/

It'll make sure windows 'releases it's hold' on the boot loader