Ubuntu – Can’t find Ubuntu 12.04 on boot menu

12.04bootdual-bootmenu

So I installed Ubuntu 12.04 alongside Windows XP on my netbook via a usb (since it doesn't have a DVD/CD drive).

At the end of the installation, I got an error saying the bootloader couldn't be installed, but I selected the hard drive and everything seemed ok.

However, whenever I turn on the computer, it goes straight to Windows XP. And when I go to the OS selection screen during startup, Ubuntu is not there.

I heard that you can fix this problem through booting up Ubuntu again with the flash drive. However, when I boot through the flash drive, it gives me the options of trying without installing, installing, etc.

I really have no idea where to go from here, can anyone please help out?
Thanks!

Best Answer

I had the same experience as the OP with two main differences:
1) Desktop machine with two physical HDDs.
2) Windows XP was installed on the first HDD.

Instead of messing with the boot loader, all I had to do was change the order of the drives listed in the BIOS so that #1 was the HDD with Ubuntu installed, and #2 was the WinXP drive.

After doing so I was presented with the linux version of the boot selector, and could choose Ubuntu or WinXP as I had originally desired.

I'm not sure if this will apply to the original question, but it may be useful for others.

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Ubuntu – Installed Ubuntu 12.04 and no Menu on boot!

Maybe there is a Windows recovery environment (just maybe) and you chose that place as the place to install GBUB.

Whatever reason, follow these steps to restore GRUB.

Keep in mind that it doesn't overwrite the MBR, instead it adds a GRUB entry to the windows Bootloader.

Source

Download Easybcd here. It's a tool that can edit the windows bootloader and it is a very popular program along Windows-Ubuntu users.
Open EasyBCD.
Go to "Add new entry"> Linux/BSD and then select GRUB2 from the dropdown menu. Name the entry whatever you want, like "I love linux" or "Ubuntu GRUB".

enter image description here

That's it! You should see a GRUB entry in the Windows boot menu when you reboot. Select it and choose "Ubuntu generic . . . . . .pae" from the GRUB menu(if the installation failed then you might not see it).

Good Luck!

Ubuntu – Windows 7 and Ubuntu 13.04 dual boot, GRUB menu not showing

Boot up a live usb and try to repair the bootloader with these commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install boot-repair

After installing 'boot-repair' launch this program from dash by searching for the term and click its icon to launch it.

If this doesn't work then boot into Windows 7, download and install a freeware called 'EasyBCD' (latest version is 2.2)

After installing this tool, select 'add new entry' column and install grub under the Linux tab.

Sorry I'm on my phone now so I can't add links and pictures to the post. I'll surely edit this post today when I get to the house

Hope this helps.

Best Answer

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Ubuntu – Installed Ubuntu 12.04 and no Menu on boot!

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