14.04 on Macbook Pro always boots to GRUB prompt

I have a fresh installation of Ubuntu 14.04 on a Macbook Pro. I've also already tried reinstallting that Ubuntu another time. It's a single-boot system, i.e. I have no other operating systems installed.

Each time I start it, it boots to the GRUB prompt. Here all I have to do is to load the correct config:

configfile (hd2,gpt1)/EFI/grub/grub.cfg

This command starts the system without any further problems. How can I make GRUB start from this config automatically, i.e. without booting to prompt? I've already tried running update-grub and grub-install /dev/sda. They finish without errors, but don't make any change.


Here is some further information, in case its relevant:

  • mount | grep boot

    /dev/sda1 on /boot/efi type vfat (rw)
  • sudo parted -l

    Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54503 (scsi)
    Disk /dev/sda: 320GB
    Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
    Partition Table: gpt
    Number Start End Size File system Name Flags 1 1049kB 538MB 537MB fat32 boot 2 538MB 316GB 315GB ext4 3 316GB 320GB 4150MB linux-swap(v1)
  • sudo efibootmgr

    BootCurrent: 0000
    Timeout: 5 seconds
    BootOrder: 0000
    Boot0000* grub
    Boot0080*
    Boot0081* Mac OS X
    Boot0082*
    BootFFFF*

1 Answer

After hours of headache, I stumbled over this forum post. Interestingly, the situation explained their is quite contrary to mine:

The problem is at least partially fixed. When dumped to the grub shell the "set" command is useful. It clearly showed the prefix as being set to "(hd0,gpt1)/boot/grub". This folder and the stub grub.cfg did not exist and instead the stub grub.cfg was in the /EFI/ubuntu folder in the EFI partition instead. I manually created /boot/grub/ in the EFI partition and copied the stub grub.cfg into it and that was all she took.

For me however, the prefix was .../efi/ubuntu but it should be efu/grub. To me, it really looks like this is an Ubuntu bug. The proper fix for this issue would be to change the prefix, but I also have no idea where it is coming form. TL;DR: So instead, as a work-around, I copied /boot/efi/EFI/grub to /boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu and voilà.

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password

Post as a guest

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

You Might Also Like