The bootloader that almost all Linux working programs go along with is called Grub. It’s a easy instrument that may be configured to boot up your Linux distribution, in addition to different working programs all from a menu when your PC begins up.
Grub is a dependable instrument in contrast to different different Linux bootloaders, and for this motive, it has remained a favourite in the group. That stated, it’s not good. For as dependable as it’s, errors can occur, and Grub can break.
The easiest way to put together for when your Grub bootloader takes a flip for the worst is to back up the Linux bootloader to an exterior laborious drive or USB stick.
BIOS Grub – Backing up MBR
Whereas many Linux customers are transitioning to utilizing EFI as the customary, a lot of customers nonetheless use the BIOS model of Grub, as a result of not each laptop can run EFI properly. You probably have a BIOS set up of Linux, your Grub bootloader makes use of Grasp Boot Report. Because of this throughout your Linux OS’s set up, the bootloader was put in in the very first sectors in your laborious drive, moderately than in a folder, like with Grub EFI varients.
The benefit of MBR is that it’s very straightforward to make a whole backup of Grub, by copying the MBR sectors of your Linux set up to a TXT file. To start out the course of, open up a terminal window by urgent Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard. Then, use the lsblk command to establish what your main Linux laborious drive is.
lsblk
Look by means of the printout of the lsblk command in the terminal and discover the partition that has “/” below the mount-point. This command ought to aid you discover what your laborious drive label is. On this instance, the drive label shall be “/dev/sda.”
In the terminal, use the DD command to create a backup of your Grasp Boot Report to a TXT file.
Be aware: it’s essential to change /dwelling/username/ in the command under to the username in your Linux PC! Ensure to additionally change /dev/sda to replicate your precise laborious drive’s label.
dd if=/dev/sda of=/dwelling/username/master-boot-record.txt depend=1 bs=512
The DD instrument will create a backup moderately quick. When it’s accomplished, you’ll have a file in the dwelling listing (~/) labeled “master-boot-record.txt.” Take it and place it on a USB flash drive or USB exterior laborious drive for protected preserving.
Restore MBR backup
Want to restore your MBR backup? Boot into your damaged Linux PC’s system with certainly one of these Grub instruments right here. Then, open up a terminal, join your USB gadget that has the “master-boot-record.txt” file, place the file back into your own home listing (~/), and run the following command.
Be aware: like earlier than, it’s important that you just change /dwelling/username/ and /dev/sda to replicate your username and precise laborious drive’s label.
dd if=/dwelling/username/master-boot-record.txt of=/dev/sda depend=1 bs=512
Backup Grub configurations
These utilizing UEFI Grub received’t find a way to use the DD instrument to back up the Grub bootloader. Fortunately, it’s nonetheless attainable to create a whole backup of your configuration recordsdata, customized boot entries, and so on.
Be aware: if backing up the Grub configuration recordsdata isn’t sufficient, contemplate studying our tutorial about how to create a backup in Clonezilla. It’ll create a whole system backup, together with UEFI Grub, and so on.
To create a whole Grub configuration file backup, begin by making a backup folder in your house listing utilizing the mkdir command.
mkdir -p ~/grub-backup
With the backup folder made in your house listing, we are able to make a replica of the Grub configuration file.
cp /and so on/default/grub ~/grub-backup/
That is the Grub configuration file. Subsequent, copy your Grub bootloader entries from the /and so on/grub.d/ folder.
sudo cp -R /and so on/grub.d/ ~/grub-backup/
From right here, plug in a USB flash drive into your Linux PC. After that, drag the “grub-backup” folder to the drive.
Restore the backup
To revive your Grub configurations and entries to your UEFI Linux PC, plug in your USB flash drive. Then, comply with the step-by-step directions under.
Step 1: Open up your Linux file supervisor, click on on the USB flash drive and place the “grub-backup” folder in your house folder (~/).
Step 2: Launch a terminal window in your Linux PC. Then, use the CD command to transfer into “grub-backup.”
cd grub-backup
Step 3: Restore the “grub” file to /and so on/default/ with the mv command.
sudo mv grub /and so on/default/
Step 4: Restore your Grub bootloader entries to the /and so on/default/grub.d/ folder.
cd ~/grub-backup/grub.d/ sudo mv * /and so on/grub.d/
With the recordsdata restored, replace your Grub system.
Debian/Ubuntu
update-grub
Arch Linux
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
OpenSUSE/Fedora
grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
