Moved Unallocated Windows Recovery Partition: Linux Mint Dual-Booted Computer Shows Grub Recovery Screen
In this article, we will discuss the issue of a Linux Mint dual-booted computer that shows the Grub recovery screen after moving the unallocated Windows Recovery partition. This issue can occur when a user has a computer with both Windows 10 and Linux Mint installed on it, using the Master Boot Record (MBR) scheme. The Windows Recovery partition is typically left unallocated during the installation of Linux Mint, but if it is moved, it can cause the computer to display the Grub recovery screen instead of the usual boot menu.
Understanding the Grub Recovery Screen
The Grub recovery screen is a command-line interface that allows users to troubleshoot and repair issues with the Grub bootloader. Grub is a bootloader that is commonly used in Linux distributions, and it is responsible for loading the operating system kernel and initramfs. When the Grub recovery screen appears, it means that Grub is having trouble booting the operating system, and it is requesting user input to diagnose and fix the issue.
Moved Unallocated Windows Recovery Partition
The Windows Recovery partition is a small partition on the hard drive that contains the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). WinRE is a set of tools that can be used to repair Windows installations, including fixing boot issues. When installing Linux Mint alongside Windows 10, the Windows Recovery partition is typically left unallocated, as it is not necessary for the Linux Mint installation. However, if the partition is moved, it can cause issues with the Grub bootloader.
Fixing the Issue
To fix the issue of the Grub recovery screen appearing after moving the unallocated Windows Recovery partition, the user can try the following steps:
- Boot the computer using a Live USB or DVD of Linux Mint.
- Open a terminal window.
- Identify the partition where Linux Mint is installed. This can be done using the
lsblkorfdiskcommand. - Mount the root partition of Linux Mint to the
/mntdirectory using themountcommand. - Mount any other necessary partitions, such as the boot or home partition, to their respective directories under
/mnt. - Chroot into the Linux Mint installation using the
chrootcommand. - Reinstall the Grub bootloader to the MBR using the
grub-installcommand. For example:# grub-install /dev/sdaReplace
/dev/sdawith the correct disk device. - Update the Grub configuration using the
update-grubcommand. - Exit the chroot environment and reboot the computer.
Moving the unallocated Windows Recovery partition on a Linux Mint dual-booted computer can cause the Grub recovery screen to appear. By following the steps outlined in this article, users can fix the issue and restore the normal boot menu. It is important to be cautious when moving partitions, as it can lead to data loss or other issues if not done correctly.