[SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-20 17:16:49

I have a triple-boot, Ubuntu + Arch + Windows.

First OS was Ubuntu, so my bootloader (GRUB) is there.
I want to change it to my GRUB version at Arch Linux partition.

That way I can erase my Ubuntu and move my partition to there.

Can somebody help me, please?

Last edited by pdrocaldeira (2016-01-21 16:10:42)

ewaller · 2016-01-20 17:29:23

Have you worked through this article?

You can replace the one that is there with the one from Arch. Is this an MBR or a UEFI system?

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-20 17:41:25

I've tried "Install to disk" from this article.

But when I try to run this

grub-install --recheck --target=i386-pc /dev/sda

I get:

Installing for i386-pc platform.
grub-install: error: cannot open directory `/boot/grub/i386-pc': No such file or directory.

Should I try "Install to partition" topic? MBR system.

Thanks!

navi_se · 2016-01-20 18:04:22

Post your

# fdisk -l

for starters.

Also, navigate to the /boot folder when you are running arch and post the output of

 $ ls *

.

If empty, mount the ubuntu filesystem and post the content of the /mnt/boot folder there.

 lsblk -f

The error message you receive comes from not having the folder (the installer won't make the folder if it is not present).
Also, you should back up the /boot folder (most likely the one on the ubuntu filesystem) containing kernels (as well as any other important data)

Last edited by navi_se (2016-01-20 18:20:47)

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-20 18:16:08

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 931.5 GiB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x0cf58457

Device     Boot      Start        End   Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sda1             2048  262146579 262144532   125G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2        262148096  799019007 536870912   256G 83 Linux
/dev/sda3  *     799019008 1061163007 262144000   125G  7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4       1061163008 1953523711 892360704 425.5G 83 Linux

/boot ls

grub
initramfs-linux.img vmlinuz-linux
initramfs-linux-fallback.img
syslinux

/boot lsblk -f:
NAME FSTYPE LABEL UUID MOUNTPOINT
sda
├─sda1 ext4 10b8d24a-9939-4f74-a919-1501adee41ba
├─sda2 ext4 Arch 6505ef47-dfee-4fc7-beb9-fb4ec3ea7b41 /
├─sda3 ntfs Windows 330C31692647582E
└─sda4 ext4 Backup 7c50225d-77b4-4b79-ae10-33fad2ca11fa

navi_se · 2016-01-20 18:56:33

navi_se wrote:

Post your
Also, navigate to the /boot folder when you are running arch and post the output of
 $ ls * 
.
If empty, mount the ubuntu filesystem and post the content of the /mnt/boot folder there.

Notice the star after the ls command. Look if there is a grub.cfg file in there somewhere. I suspect no (as it will likely be located in ubuntu). You can have a look at it by doing

# mount -v /dev/sdax /mnt

and have a look at the /mnt/boot there.

Anyway, I believe the right procedure is to just

 # mkdir /boot/grub/i386-pc

and then re run your command for grub-install.

You are advised to back-up BEFORE.

Then remember to run grub-mkconfig as specified in the wiki. Avoid rebooting after that and post the output of the command as well as the resulting grub.cfg file.

Last edited by navi_se (2016-01-20 18:57:04)

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-20 19:22:27

Oh, sorry, I didn't notice it before.

Here it is (ls *):

initramfs-linux-fallback.img  initramfs-linux.img  vmlinuz-linux

grub:
grub.cfg  grub.cfg.example

syslinux:
syslinux.cfg

I've had a look at this cfg, on Arch Linux. It's outdated for sure. It has just two menu entries, I have a lot.

This is my grub.cfg (Arch) right now: http://pastebin.com/EZCLjgpL (I'm using pastebin just to not create a 'text wall' here)

This is my grub.cfg (Ubuntu/Current): http://pastebin.com/XPQRWTC4

I've created i386-pc folder but now it asks for another folder.

Installing for i386-pc platform.
grub-install: error: cannot open directory `/boot/grub/locale': No such file or directory.

In my Ubuntu boot folder I have locale and all. Should I just copy what I have on Ubuntu and paste in Arch Linux and run grub-install? Or is it better just create all folders it's asking and re run grub-install?

EDIT:

So I've created locale folder I and ran grub-install again. I did not reboot, my 'new' grub.cfg looks exactly like the older.

Last edited by pdrocaldeira (2016-01-20 19:31:28)

navi_se · 2016-01-20 20:15:07

Than I'd take that you are good to go, let us know if it plays alright (and make sure it is the new one that is being loaded, also have a key ready if the system doesn't boot).

Question: where you running grub-install as a regular user or using sudo? I believe it is one case where you wanna go full root and use

su

.

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-20 20:30:23

I'm using sudo, it's required.

I'll reboot right now, crossing my fingers hahaha.

navi_se · 2016-01-20 21:49:02

I guess this doesn't bode well...

pdrocaldeira · 2016-01-21 13:27:28

So, actually it didn't went so well...but it worked!

I'm using grub.cfg from Arch Linux. It was broken, wrong UUID, but I fix'd it with a live usb.

Now my problem is to make grub detect Windows and Ubuntu but that's another problem.

Thanks you @navi_se!

navi_se · 2016-01-21 14:02:49

Install

 os-prober

and run grub-mkconfig again to detect other OSes as documented in the wiki.

Glad to be of help don't forget to mark the thread as solved.

Last edited by navi_se (2016-01-21 15:55:12)

Arch Linux

#1 2016-01-20 17:16:49

[SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#2 2016-01-20 17:29:23

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#3 2016-01-20 17:41:25

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#4 2016-01-20 18:04:22

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#5 2016-01-20 18:16:08

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#6 2016-01-20 18:56:33

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#7 2016-01-20 19:22:27

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#8 2016-01-20 20:15:07

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#9 2016-01-20 20:30:23

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#10 2016-01-20 21:49:02

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#11 2016-01-21 13:27:28

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

#12 2016-01-21 14:02:49

Re: [SOLVED] Change Bootloader from Ubuntu to Arch Linux

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