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tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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[SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

After 'pacman -Syu', grub was upgraded from  2.00.5086-1 to 1:2.00.1282.g5ae5c54-1.
Rebooting my system, grub says

error: symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found. 

and it goes to rescue mode.

On the rescue mode,  I tried to insmod normal.mod. But grub says the same message as above, and fails to load the module. How can I boot my Arch?

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-08 11:08:34)

fettouhi

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Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Yesterday there was an update of grub2 in the Arch repos. I installed it on my 64 bit machine. Then I decided I wanted update grub in the GPT partition I've made originally so I simply did as I have done several time before when grub2 has been updated:

grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda

but it through an error saying gpt.mod is missing, so I did

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

which also fails for some reason, complaining about a syntax error. Now grub is busted and I can't boot into my installation. Grub loads but throws an error stating "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found" and throws me into grub rescue. What did I do wrong? My setup consists 2 500 MB drives with 4 partitions on it boot, swap, root and home. I'm using software RAID where boot is RAID 1 and home and root are RAID 0. How can I get the machine just to boot once so that i can back up my stuff because I want to reinstall anyway. The installation is now 4 years old almost and has carried over from an older machine.

jasonwryan

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From: .nz

Registered: 2009-05-09

Posts: 30,424

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Merging with the earlier thread...

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fettouhi

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Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

@tattsan: Have you tried downgrading grub back to the previous version?

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

@fettouhi: Yes. I downgraded grub to the previous version (2.00.5086-1), and I could repair the boot loader.

As for new version,
/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  contains the symbol  grub_real_boot_time, but
/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  does not.
On rescue mode, I could not load the modules eather.

Not all modules are broken.  For example: mmap.mod,  relocator.mod,  reboot.mod
are loadable, so I could reboot the boot loader

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-07 14:48:04)

fettouhi

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Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

@fettouhi: Yes. I downgraded grub to the previous version (2.00.5086-1), and I could repair the boot loader.

As for new version,
/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  contains the symbol  grub_real_boot_time, but
/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  does not.
On rescue mode, I could not load the modules eather.

Not all modules are broken.  For example: mmap.mod,  relocator.mod,  reboot.mod
are loadable, so I could reboot the boot loader

So you typed simply

insmod (hdX,Y)/grub/i386-pc/reboot.mod

instead normal.mod? How did you load the kernel, e.g. what you type after that?

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

I did not load linux kernel from that broken grub.  'reboot' command works,
and PC restarts, but you'll faced with rescue mode of grub again

(workaround)
So I boot up my PC using installation CD, mount HDD, chroot, downgrade
grub package, and repair the loader installed on /dev/sda.

Can this be said as solved?

fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Did the same thing and I'm up and running again. But it seems like this package is broken or has a bug at least have you filed a bug report?

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

For a bug report, I want to check its reproducibility, but I have no time for it yet.

aatoma

Member

Registered: 2013-01-22

Posts: 29

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Hi All,

I'm having troubles with this upgrade too (I'm on x86_64 dual booting Arch and Windows).
If I upgrade from 2.00.5086-1 to 1:2.00.1282.g5ae5c54-1 I get a crazy (32GB RAM here)

out of memory error

when running

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

downgrading solves the issue.

My /etc/default/grub is rather normal

GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="Arch"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="resume=/dev/sda3"

# Preload both GPT and MBR modules so that they are not missed
GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_gpt part_msdos"

# Uncomment to enable Hidden Menu, and optionally hide the timeout count
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=5
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true

# Uncomment to use basic console
GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT=console

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal
#GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=auto

# Uncomment to allow the kernel use the same resolution used by grub
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

# Uncomment if you want GRUB to pass to the Linux kernel the old parameter 
# format "root=/dev/xxx" instead of "root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/xxx" 
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY=true

# Uncomment and set to the desired menu colors.  Used by normal and wallpaper 
# modes only.  Entries specified as foreground/background.
#GRUB_COLOR_NORMAL="light-blue/black"
#GRUB_COLOR_HIGHLIGHT="light-cyan/blue"

# Uncomment one of them for the gfx desired, a image background or a gfxtheme
GRUB_BACKGROUND="/usr/share/wallpapers/Elarun/contents/images/2560x1600.png"
#GRUB_THEME="/path/to/gfxtheme"

# Uncomment to get a beep at GRUB start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT="true"

Should we keep the two issues in the same thread?

Regards.
Antonio.

progandy

Member

Registered: 2012-05-17

Posts: 5,263

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

As for new version,
/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  contains the symbol  grub_real_boot_time, but
/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  does not.
On rescue mode, I could not load the modules eather.

It could be that the update path is broken, but grub itself works. Maybe try to move /boot/grub to /boot/grub-backup, then reinstall the grub package and call grub-install. If the boot works delete the backup.

Last edited by progandy (2013-12-08 09:17:14)

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tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

[SOLUTION]

It could be that the update path is broken, but grub itself works. Maybe try to move /boot/grub to /boot/grub-backup, then reinstall the grub package and call grub-install. If the boot works delete the backup.

You are right! Thank you progandy!!
I moved old /boot/grub to /boot/grub-backup, and remake /boot/grub/grub.cfg,  and called grub-install. Then right modules are installed in /boot/grub/i386-pc, and grub could load the module normal.mod when boot.

When I met this trouble, grub-install failed to update modules for some reason. I couln't reproduce the situation, so I don't know what caused that failure.

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-08 11:23:45)

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Should we keep the two issues in the same thread?

Your problem is discussed in https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/37904.
It's a bug, and there is a workaround for it.

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-08 15:33:32)

fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

As for new version,
/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  contains the symbol  grub_real_boot_time, but
/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod  does not.
On rescue mode, I could not load the modules eather.

It could be that the update path is broken, but grub itself works. Maybe try to move /boot/grub to /boot/grub-backup, then reinstall the grub package and call grub-install. If the boot works delete the backup.

I'm not sure what you mean. If I update grub from 2.00.5086-1 to 1:2.00.1282.g5ae5c54-1 and do

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

I get the error

error: out of memory.
error: syntax error.
error: Incorrect command.
error: syntax error.
Syntax error at line 190
Syntax errors are detected in generated GRUB config file.
Ensure that there are no errors in /etc/default/grub
and /etc/grub.d/* files or please file a bug report with
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.new file attached.done

and running

grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda
grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sdb

gives me an error saying gpt.mod is missing.

So how do I update grub without braking it?

karol

Archivist

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 25,440

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Did you try to disable submenu by adding "GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y" to /etc/default/grub and regenerate grub.cfg?
https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/37904

fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Did you try to disable submenu by adding "GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y" to /etc/default/grub and regenerate grub.cfg?
https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/37904

Yes I tried that now

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

runs correctly but

grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda
grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sdb

both fail with the error that gpt.mod is missing.

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Try

mv /boot/grub  /boot/grub-backup
mkdir /boot/grub

and

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda

and so on.

fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Try

mv /boot/grub  /boot/grub-backup
mkdir /boot/grub

and

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda

and so on.

I did all that and with the new grub grub-install fails with gpt.mod missing.

tattsan

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

I did all that and with the new grub grub-install fails with gpt.mod missing.

That problem is discussed in https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/38053 .

So many bugs in this version!

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-09 01:24:51)

cfr

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From: Cymru

Registered: 2011-11-27

Posts: 7,148

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

By the way, if you have a backup of your old config file, you can just replace the config file and it will work.

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fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

By the way, if you have a backup of your old config file, you can just replace the config file and it will work.

I've tried also with my old grub.cfg and it still fails.

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

I did all that and with the new grub grub-install fails with gpt.mod missing.

What is the result of  'grep  -r  gpt  /boot/grub/* | grep -v ^Binary'  ? Mine is as bellow.

# grep -r gpt /boot/grub/* | grep -v ^Binary
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.example:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/i386-pc/command.lst:gptsync: gptsync
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:part_gpt:
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:ldm: part_gpt diskfilter part_msdos
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:gptsync: disk
/boot/grub/i386-pc/partmap.lst:part_gpt

There's  'insmod part_gpt'  in grub.cfg,  but no   'insmod gpt' .

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

And in /etc/default/grub , there's a line bellow:

GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES="part_gpt  part_msdos"

This line is inserted to grub.cfg by /etc/grub.d/00_header script as 'insmod gpt_part' and so on.

Last edited by tattsan (2013-12-09 09:41:32)

fettouhi

Member

Registered: 2007-05-07

Posts: 754

Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

I did all that and with the new grub grub-install fails with gpt.mod missing.

What is the result of  'grep  -r  gpt  /boot/grub/* | grep -v ^Binary'  ? Mine is as bellow.

# grep -r gpt /boot/grub/* | grep -v ^Binary
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.example:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/i386-pc/command.lst:gptsync: gptsync
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:part_gpt:
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:ldm: part_gpt diskfilter part_msdos
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:gptsync: disk
/boot/grub/i386-pc/partmap.lst:part_gpt

There's  'insmod part_gpt'  in grub.cfg,  but no   'insmod gpt' .

Here is my output.

[root@andre ~]# grep  -r  gpt  /boot/grub/* | grep -v ^Binary
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:    insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:    insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:    insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg:    insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:     insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:     insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:     insmod part_gpt
/boot/grub/grub.cfg.backup:     insmod part_gpt
Binær fil /boot/grub/i386-pc/part_gpt.mod stemmer
/boot/grub/i386-pc/partmap.lst:part_gpt
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:part_gpt:
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:ldm: part_gpt diskfilter part_msdos
/boot/grub/i386-pc/moddep.lst:gptsync:
Binær fil /boot/grub/i386-pc/ldm.mod stemmer
/boot/grub/i386-pc/command.lst:gptsync: gptsync
Binær fil /boot/grub/i386-pc/gptsync.mod stemmer
Binær fil /boot/grub/themes/starfield/starfield.png stemmer

tattsan

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Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

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Re: [SOLVED] Grub says "symbol 'grub_real_boot_time' not found."

Hmm...
And with what options is grub-mkimage called ( from grub-install ) ?

grub-install --directory=/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot --recheck --debug /dev/sda   |& grep mkimage