Multiboot Config - Can't select OS to boot; GRUB displays Error and boots last selection

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello everyone

I have an issue that I need help with.

Setup:
Fresh install of Opensuse 13.1 x64 with KDE and dual booting with Windows 8 (non UEFI) with GRUB written to MBR.
Everything was working, I was able to boot into both Opensuse and Windows from the GRUB menu.

Issue:
While at the Opensuse KDE desktop, I selected to reboot into Windows (clicked on Logout, then long clicked Reboot and selected Windows from the dropdown). My PC rebooted and Windows started. From then on whenever I start/restart my PC the GRUB menu doesn’t appear and I boot into Windows.

While booting I see on the screen:

GRUB
Error: <something>

The error flashes so fast that I can’t read what is printed.

I’ve tried pressing ESC and E while booting hoping that maybe I could edit the GRUB menu but have been unsuccessful.
I’ve searched the forum hoping to find and answer or a clue, but to be honest I’m not sure what terms I should be searching for.

Would someone be able to help so I can again access Opensuse and Windows.

Thanks for your time!

2

I have the same problem … did you solve it ? and how?>:(

3

If Windows 8.x be sure that fast start is turned off in Windows and be sure to shut down correctly.
Can you boot to Windows vi the UEFI menu? (F10 I think in most case)

If not Windows 8x then the above does not apply

4

On what kind of filesystem/partition is your /boot?
This happens when grub2 cannot write to it for some reason. Apparently grub2 cannot write to btrfs and LVM/RAID partitions at the moment.

To fix it, you could boot from a LiveCD/USB and remove the file /boot/grub2/grubenv.

See also Access Denied .

5

i shut down windows correctly but no way and when i press f10 i get a boot menu so when i select booting into opensuse it boots windows instead

6

i think you are right cause /boot is in a btrfs partition
but how to remove that file with livecd ? and can i use rescue cd instead?

7

Yes, you can use the rescue cd as well.
Mount your root partition (or the /boot partition if it is separate), and then just delete the file (boot/)grub2/grubenv.

Let’s say your /boot is on the root partition and this is /dev/sda1, you would have to do this then:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
rm /mnt/boot/grub2/grubenv

or if /boot is a separate partition called /devb/sda2:

mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
rm /mnt/grub2/grubenv

Or, if you are using the rescue cd, just use the graphical file manager. This should mount the partition automatically when you open it.

8

I had a somehow same problem but it seems though u r facing a different situation because u mentioned the ‘‘brfs’’ , i am not sure but maybe u should try this:
Under windows select settings->troubleshooting-> Boot from Opensuse. When suse starts, reinstall grub from yast.

9

Just to make sure that everybody understood what gogalthorp was talking about:
please read Linux and Windows 8: Fast Startup puts data at risk - The H Open: News and Features

Greets to everyone here
Mike

10

You don’t have to reinstall grub2 in this case. Just remove the file /boot/grub2/grubenv as I wrote.

I’m not sure if reinstalling grub2 would even help, I don’t know if that would remove the file…