A Small Problem With Kubuntu After Installing Ubuntu 12.04 on Another HDD

[capt-zero]

I've been trying out other distros off and on ever since I was introduced to Linux a couple of months ago. While I love Kubuntu, I thought it only fair to give some others a tryout. My system is an Emachine 3300+ with an AMD semipron processor running at 2 ghz with 1 gb memory and two IDE drives, a 160gb and a 40 gb respectively. I have Windows XT and Ubuntu 12.04 installed on the larger drive and Kubuntu 12.04 on the smaller. I have been using Kubuntu as my primary OS. I installed Ubuntu today on my large drive and after installing, I developed some problems with the 3d effects on my Kubuntu desktop. I've managed to work these out, however, but I've also developed an issue with grub2 configuration. I have the Grub2 bootloader installed into my 'Settings' Startup file, but since the Ubuntu install my grub file has reverted to the drab default black letters with the gray backround. I've lost my custom wallpaper and fonts that I setup in the bootloader. I've gone back into my settings several times trying to reset them without any luck. I've also tried running 'sudo update-grub' in the CLI after and it hasn't helped. Any ideas?

Thanx,
capt-zero

[SteveRiley]

Try installing the package kde-config-grub2. This adds a nice GUI-based GRUB configuration utility to System Settings | Startup and Shutdown.

[capt-zero]

SteveRiley,

Yes, I guess I didn't make it clear. That was the Grub2 bootloader I was refering to. I had the settings there set to a nice wallpaper and fonts, but after installing Ubuntu 12.04 it scrambled the settings. When I change them there, the changes don't take. I was hoping there was a general default setting that had to be disabled first somewhere. I will try removing the KDE-config-grub2 and reinstalling and see if that helps.

Thanx.
capt-zero

[james147]

Have you tried changing the settings on the ubuntu 12.04 install? its likely that the last install also reinstalled grub so that the grub settings are taken from the latest install not your original one.

[dibl]

When you installed Ubuntu, it looks like you installed grub (i.e. the grub that was previously installed was overwritten), and the grub configuration files in Ubuntu are now what you see when you boot the computer. In the Kubuntu filesystem, your grub configuration files are in all likelihood unchanged. It might be the case that simply reinstalling grub (to whichever MBR is controlling your boot) from a running Kubuntu session will put it back the way it was.

[SteveRiley]

I will try removing the KDE-config-grub2 and reinstalling and see if that helps.

Sorry, my bad. kde-config-grub2 does not install GRUB. It's simply a GUI-based mechanism for configuring GRUB's appearance, among other things. I was offering that as a suggestion for easily returning your GRUB to the appearance you wanted.

[capt-zero]

Steve and Dibl,

Thanks, you guys set me on the right course. As Dibl mentioned, apparently Ubuntu overwrote the grub2 file with it's own and would ignore anything comming from Kubuntu. To solve, I did a 'sudo apt-get remove grub-pc' to uninstall the file entirely, then did a 'sudo apt-get install grub-pc' to reinstall. I went to my Grub2 Bootloader in settings menu and set it up with something garish to be easy to spot. Did a update/upgrade then restarted and everything's back to normal. Thanks a lot guys.

Thanx,
capt-zero

[dibl]

To prevent that problem the next time you install another Linux OS, at the point in the installation process when it indicates it will install grub, you want to find the option that lets you install grub "to the partition", rather than "to the MBR". Most distributions that I have installed give a reasonable indication about this step, and let you change it to prevent the MBR being overwritten.

[james147]

To prevent that problem the next time you install another Linux OS, at the point in the installation process when it indicates it will install grub, you want to find the option that lets you install grub "to the partition", rather than "to the MBR". Most distributions that I have installed give a reasonable indication about this step, and let you change it to prevent the MBR being overwritten.

Or better yet skip the installation of grub to anywhere and just run grub-update from the original install, it should pick up the new os and add it to the boot menu. There is usually little point installing grub to a partition.

[oshunluvr]

In the past I maintained a separate grub partition to prevent these sorts of problems. With the current state of grub, I don't really have any problems restoring it if I jack it up so I no longer bother.

As far as James' point; it's valid, but the amount of space wasted is so small as to render the point moot.

Unfortunatly, the Ubuntu team is going the way of the MS users world and slowly removing options from the users grasp - like having the option NOT to install grub at all! That is the best option for this case IMO.

[capt-zero]

Exactly, oshunlvr. I don't remember being given the choice whether to install a grub file or not. I believe the install was completely automatic after disk options.

capt-zero