Cannot boot if USB drive with grub install is removed

Newbie1

Fast question, just finished reading Rescatux page.
Since my computer is older than 2020 which Rescatux 0.73 is Apr. 2020
Should i use Rescatux 0.30.2 Nov. 2012 instead?

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 Quick hint, when replying to someone use the Reply button that appears when you hover your mouse over their message. That way they will get a notification that you have asked a question.
OK, on with the problem. The latest version (0.74) should be fine to use, it still deals with GRUB and is very similar to the older versions but with some improvements. ~~There is also a SuperGrub2 Disk program selection table to make things clearer that is another option and makes makes some sensible recommendations.~~ EDIT this entry was to access a broken boot system not to repair it.
Lots of information on that site and also when you use the boot disc. The answer is (almost) always there but a degree of knowledge about what you are doing makes the whole thing much easier on the nerves. If possible it is always a good idea to back up any critical files you have onto separate storage just in case.

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS

Before I got your reply.
I used .3

It failed.
I took photos of the screen and want to show you but when I use the upload button here it comes back with oops try again.
Can you tell me how I can get my pictures here to show you what happen?

The previous screenshots was easy because I was in mint OS and took screenshots there.

On the rescux live cd I don’t know how to do it so I just use my phone to take pictures of my computer.

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 The upload command may be dependant on where your picture is stored on the PC, try moving it to your Downloads folder and then try again from there.
As an expansion of the instructions from @stekte you will need to type sudo update-grub and then enter your password to do this. I hope this works for you.

Newbie1 I used .3
It failed.

Failed to do what? Failed to boot? Failed to fix it? There are so many choices here that I don't know where to start.
Start by downloading this version of rescatux which should be version V0.74. The website is a little confusing and links keep taking you away from the software that you need. The link I have provided is the same as the one provided on the rescatux website but it takes a bit of finding.

At some point we might also have to look at how you are setting up your USB media. There is a software called Ventoy that allows you to simply copy the iso directly to the USB without rewriting the whole thing each time. Multiple isos can be copied on to the drive allowing a choice of OS's at boot tiime.

stekte

From the terminal as root the command
update-grub
should rewrite the mbr. If your solus usb is inserted that command will read the /boot directory from usb and will include solus in the new menu (os-prober must be installed for this to work).

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS

i used Rescatux 0.74 Grub repair and it fix the problem.
i think it wrote the USB grub onto the HD. because i see the Solus logo next to my user name.
Regardless i can boot from HD without plugging in the USB into my Mint OS on the HD.
But a new problem happens.
When i plug the USB in , it does not let me choose Solus to boot.
It just goes into Mint OS from the HD.

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS

By the way i did take a picture on my cell phone before i did a full Solus install on the USB.
As shown.
I guess i should have choose sdd for the install and i would not have the problem i had?

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS

i may have too soon.
i have been using my computer boot up from HD without the USB but it just crash and the screen goes black and the cursor don"t work.

This may happen maybe 10 mins of use then it just goes black and hangup.
i power off reboot no problem use the computer and then evntually maybe half a hour of use it goes black again.

it did it 3 times so definitley something wrong.

i went into systems and screenshot crashes .
Hopefully you can explain to me what it say.

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 When i plug the USB in , it does not let me choose Solus to boot.
It just goes into Mint OS from the HD.

During the first install of Solus your boot information got written to your USB. The easiest fix here is to back up any important files you have on the USB and then wipe it, then reinstall the boot media program from scratch.

Newbie1 I guess i should have choose sdd for the install and i would not have the problem i had?

Yes. That would have helped you a lot.

Newbie1 i have been using my computer boot up from HD without the USB but it just crash and the screen goes black and the cursor don"t work.

Could you please post the results of running inxi -b in the terminal. The output can be saved as text so no screenshot is required.

Newbie1

i meant i may have spoken too soon saying my problem was fixed

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS

Hi,
i decided to just do a fresh install of Solus OS onto my HD.
This also fix my boot loader problem . I then use a older version of full install Mint on a flash drive that was properly created for booting.
The Mint work perfectly booting up and running from flash drive.

But i still have a problem with Solus having the screen going black after awhile of inactivity.
if i press the power button it comes back.

i try to fix it with the settting by having screen never going off but after awhile when i come back to laptop it is black screen.

i ran your inxi -b command but d'ont know how to save to text so just copy everything from terminal here.
unknown@unknown-solus ~ $ script
Script started, output log file is 'typescript'.
unknown@unknown-solus ~ $ inxi -b
System:
Host: unknown-solus Kernel: 6.12.12-313.current arch: x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: Budgie v: 10.9.2 Distro: Solus 4.7 endurance
Machine:
Type: Portable System: Dell product: Inspiron 1121 v: A01
serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: Dell model: 0K039P v: A01 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Dell
v: A01 date: 11/15/2010
Battery:
ID-1: BAT1 charge: 9.5 Wh (100.0%) condition: 9.5/56.0 Wh (16.9%)
CPU:
Info: dual core Intel Core i3 U 330 [MT MCP] speed (MHz): avg: 1197
min/max: 666/1199
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
Device-2: Syntek Integrated Webcam driver: uvcvideo type: USB
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6 driver:
gpu: i915 resolution: 1366x768_60Hz
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 2.1 vendor: intel mesa v: 24.3.4
renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics (ILK)
Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Network:
Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet driver: atl1c
Device-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 [Kilmer Peak]
driver: iwlwifi
Device-3: Dell Gobi 2000 Wireless Modem (QDL mode) driver: qcserial
type: USB
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 232.89 GiB used: 9.24 GiB (4.0%)
Info:
Memory: total: 4 GiB note: est. available: 3.63 GiB used: 2.16 GiB (59.5%)
Processes: 234 Uptime: 1h 14m Shell: Bash inxi: 3.3.37
unknown@unknown-solus ~ $

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 Unfortunately Solus Budgie is not what I run so I am less likely to be useful for this issue. It is well worth a look round the forum though, I think there was an issue with not being able to prevent Automatic Suspend on Budgie that was discussed a short while back.
Looking at your specs, I noticed that your battery is pretty much worn out which could contribute to unreliable performance and random shutdowns.

Edit: This was the one I was thinking of, unresolved so far but worth knowing that someone else has a similar problem.

stocc

@Newbie1 it looks as though your computer is going into automatic suspend after a period of inactivity. Have you tried disabling that?

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS
My boot install problem was fixed like i say in earlier post when i just install Solus onto my Hard Drive and it created a new boot loader for my laptop.

Since then i have created a full install of Mint on flash drive this time making sure to tell program to install boot loader on the flash
drive itself and not the Hard Drive.

I repeat this again on another flash drive with Ubuntu full install and everything is running and booting correctly.

But obverved somethings:
1) i used sandisk usb 3.0 fit flash drive no problem but sandisk usb 3.2 1st gen fit flash drive all ways fail
I assume this has to do with the architure of the chips themselves
2) Sandisk usb 3.0 fit according to package read up to 150MB
Sandisk usb 3.2 read 130MB
so that's crazy i thought usb 3,2 was suppose to be faster.

3)When i boot from the flash drive it gives me the option to boot the installed OS Mint or the Hard Drive Solus
4) the Hard Drive boot by itself with no flash drive attach just shows Solus which is what alway had the native OS before i destroyed it ,

Anyway i want to Thank You in particular for your help and everyone else who responded with advice.

sorry did'nt get back earlier had to take care of things.

Axios

Turn off automatic power save and it prob go away but battery needs replaced
I have mine set with auto (on) and power button to shut down
never had any problems.
But i have had screen go black at low battery level and if i plug charger in right away everything
comes back as nothing had happened.
So its prob sensing battery in someway
If it has removable battery remove it.

BuzzPCSOS

Axios Well spotted! Was looking at all this on my phone and missed that one. Well done!

Newbie1

Axios

I tried your fix and everything is working.
Thanks

Axios

I do know people have lives and how things go on posting
But I do encourage people to post their results back for the help of the forum the results alot time can help
others no matter how simple or complex the issue was.
Rather than have the thread fall into the blackhole.
(Just a observation)

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 You seem to want to run multiple OSs on one PC. These days this is not always an easy path to follow. Could I suggest that it might be worth just installing the one OS and then adding additional ones to virtual drives using something like Oracle VirtualBox.
Install and add yourself to the user group
sudo eopkg install virtualbox-current sudo usermod -aG vboxusers $USER
Reboot and you are ready to install your first virtual machine. A excellent tutorial by @WetGeek is featured here.

Newbie1

BuzzPCSOS
Yes, i used to run multiple OS on my old newbook with 32 Bits via flash drives and they ran great.
But now my netbook has been really render to ancient becauese the stopping of almost all Linux OS support.
SO i was running Mint 20 Mate on my old 64bit laptop via a flash drive and then installed Mint 22 XCFE on my internal drive for better long term support.
That's when i started installing Solus on the flash drive and screw up my laptop anyway now the laptop is fixed.
And i have Solus on Hard Drive and latest Ubuntu and Mint on 2 diferent flash drives.
I will definitely give the Virtual Box a try. I know about but have never try to run OS that way.
Unfortuntly i am a creature of what work stay with it lol, but now i will try Virttual Box.

Also why is flash drive multi booting not that prevalent?
Is it because of UFEI in all new computers.

BuzzPCSOS

Newbie1 I think UEFI certainly makes multi booting more difficult. There are ways to get a boot menu but the easiest way is to use the hot key provided by UEFI BIOS (? sorry it's late, can't remember the proper name) to access the boot select menu in the same way that you would select a USB device to boot from. Usually an F(number) key but not always. It isn't elegant or universal and running a virtual OS is easier to manage in my opinion. Depends what you want to use your alternative OS for.
I'm sure someone will correct me on some of this. I don't multi boot because it all looked too difficult with a chance of hosing all of your installed OS's each time you install a new one or update any of them. Again, in my opinion.