Arch Linux

tattsan

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

[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

Member

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

Anarchist

From: .nz

Registered: 2009-05-09

Posts: 30,424

Website

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

Merging with the earlier thread...

---

Arch + dwm   •   Mercurial repos  •   Surfraw

Registered Linux User #482438

fettouhi

Member

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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: 5,247

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)

---

| alias CUTF='LANG=en_XX.UTF-8@POSIX ' |

tattsan

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

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.

---

CLI Paste | How To Ask Questions

Arch Linux | x86_64 | GPT | EFI boot | refind | stub loader | systemd | LVM2 on LUKS
Lenovo x270 | Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7200U CPU @ 2.50GHz | Intel Wireless 8265/8275 | US keyboard w/ Euro | 512G NVMe INTEL SSDPEKKF512G7L

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

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.

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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

Member

Registered: 2013-08-26

Posts: 48

Website

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