Fixing GRUB error: unknown filesystem, grub rescue
If you have dual boot system ubuntu and windows and you get this error unknown filesystem you would want to recover your windows first priority. You need to start your computer with extranal Ubuntu live CD or USB (if not sure see my other tutorial Creating a bootable USB stick… ).
once you run ubuntu then you need to open commandline (Ctrl + Alt + t) you need to be root to access root type:
sudo su
Then type following commands successively
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
Once done will open the boot-repair windows with two options choose the first option ( need to be patient it will take time).Restart computer without the CD or USB and see if it fixes the problem if not then run you live ubuntu again and type’gksu boot-repair’ in the commandline. It will popup the window again and choose the second option. Restart and see if it fixes the problem if not follow the link here for further help.
Hikmatune 
i required the command of “grub rescue>” is asking and i am not having CD drive.Please help me?
Hey, you need a 1GB usb stick, download the ubuntu from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and use USB installer (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/).
Thanks
Hi, I have the same problem.
With ubuntu installed on USB, not boot, black screen remains.
And if you just boot from the disc appears “grub rescue>”
help!
Hi Gerick,
Follow my other tutorial Creating a bootable usb stick… . Once you have created the USB load the Ubuntu from the USB then try following the instructions on this post.
Let me know if it helps.
Thanks
thanks!
it work with LuninuX OS 12.10
i made a usb stick with ubuntu…. but, doesnt work….
the laptop cannot boot from usb or CD/DVD….
i think the grub is broken and lets not start any alternative boot
when in grup rescue> ls
show me all partition fine… for example ls(hd0,1), see my files but cannot boot for recovery or make fresh install
please help
Hi Gerick,
May I have your laptop model? Unless it is too old otherwise it should start with USB. You can go to BIOS and set the boot priority it is nothing to do with the Grup. Your computer should have the BIOS without the presence of an operating system.
Thanks
when i type the above commands it prompts an error that “Error : need a repository as argument” .. what to do now ..
It usually happens if you run the two commands together.
Try these three commends separately.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
If still didn’t work you need to run this command:
sudo apt-get install ppa-purge
Then try the above again…
Still no luck, let me what is your Ubuntu version.
Hi hikmatune,
i also has the same problem.it shows lik tis.
error: unknown filesystem
grub rescue >
as i dont no anything abt linux pls help me in a easy way.. i dont hav a ubuntu in cd or usb drive could u pls tel me a simple way to solve tis problem????
Hi Vish,
I am sorry but creating a live Ubuntu USB or CD is the easiest option. Please follow my other post (https://hikmatune.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/creating-a-bootable-usb-stick-and-starting-your-computer-with-the-usb/) to create the USB or CD.
Hi hikmatune,
pls, tel me whether i hav to instal ubuntu live usb or i can use boot repair software???
hikmatune,
i also has the same problem.it shows like this.
error: unknown filesystem
grub rescue >
But my problem is that i have formatted the hard disk which was hosting the ubuntu.
pls I would like to know if what u suggestin to the others can work in my case or i need a diff
method.
Please i need your help. Thanks
Hi John, If you have formatted the whole hard drive this will not work for you. In order to get important data from your formatted drive you would need to use recovery softwares like photorec. Otherwise you can freshly install new ubuntu. Hope I have answer you query.
I cannot boot into my windows…so how can i use this photorec
Also i have installed a new ubuntu on the hard disk but i am still getting the error still
thank you
great!!! thanks!! you save me!!!.. i was really worry, cause i installed recently my OS.. 🙂
same problem here. I have windows 7 and ubuntu 12.04
error: unknown filesystem
grub rescue>
solutions are unsuccessful
I have tried
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair && boot-repair
but it does not work
I have tried
sudo apt-get install ppa-purge
but does not work still
please provide me a solution. My life depends on my laptop
Hi Kishan,
Could you post the output from sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair and sudo apt-get update?
Thanks,
canot find PPA: ‘ ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair’.
please check that ppa name or format is correct
Hi Rakesh, Please see my reply to Anand above. Thanks
unknow file system eroor how solve
Thank you sooooooo much! you saved my computer 🙂
Am using windows 8 and linux and after partioning my hard disk thats when it started to ask about grub rescue and unknown file system…what do I do?
thanks dear …
its totally works for me…
but got a Q for u …
when i reboot, my pc run window 7 os …
its not screen with dual boot menu …
is that normal?
if i reboot again, did the menu shows up?
Hi Kate, If you read the description you will find this approach fixes Windows OS. You would require to re-install Linux OS. Thanks
Hi!
I have Ubuntu installed on Win8. Ubuntu ran quite smoothly for few days, after which, it gave the ‘unknown file system grub rescue>’ error.
Can you please tell me how to fix it?
Note: I made seperate partition from Win8, ran Ubuntu from USB, and then installed in that partition.
I also made all the necessary swap area/ root partitions.
Hi rishiraj,
Follow this tutorial you should be able to recover your Win8 and reinstall Ubuntu. You would need to create a bootable Ubuntu USB stick or CD click here. Once you create the USB or CD boot the computer from the USB/CD. You wouldn’t need to install Ubuntu again just start using the live Ubuntu and follow the instruction on this tutorial.
grub loading welcome to grub error : unknown file system entering rescue mode. grub rescue
plz help me this s recogzinsed for USB not CD Drive
@hari do you have dual boot or just Ubuntu? You should be able to repair grub after creating a USB bootable Ubuntu disk click here. Once you run your computer using the newly created bootable USB stick type these commands in Terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repairsudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install boot-repair
A windows will appear go to advance make sure Reinstall GRUB is selected. This should fix your Ubuntu. If everything fails you should be able to recover your files and reinstall Ubuntu.
How much time does it take ? It has been more than 40minuts
@vinay it shouldn’t take that long. Do you get any error?
Thank You Dude! Worked Perfectly for me.
Hi,
my laptop has dual boot, (windows 7 & linux). I have deleted the Linux os partition. on rebooting my system, Just getting the following commands
Welcome to grub
No such partition
, i cant go further from that using the above commands.
is there any other way?
@Gopala you would need to create a bootable CD or USB stick following my other post click here. Once you successfully start your computer using the bootable media you should be able to follow this tutorial to fix the issue.
Please help me Sam program…..
I am having the laptop given by UP govt. I deleted the volume from Windows 7 and made a new one.
Now on restart its showing Unknown filesystem. grub rescue>
Following your suggestion I started computer with LiveCD Ubuntu 11.10.
Now the problem is that this LiveCD is showing :
BusyBox v1.17.1 ………….
(initramfs) mount : mounting /dev/loop0 on //filesystem.squashfs failed: Input/Output error
Can not mount /dev/loop0 (/cdrom/casper/filesystem.squashfs) on //filesystem.squashfs
Please Help !!!!!
@Rohan It seems that your laptop does not support the new version of Ubuntu please try loading older version of Ubuntu on to the CD and try again. Click here for older versions of Ubuntu.
hi hikmatune,
i was using LinuxMint 10 alongside of wondows7…now i cant access either windows or linux.
i have the following problem in my Dell inspiron N4030n laptop. Error shown as below –
error : unknown filesystem
grab rescue> _
how can i recover my windows7 since i have some important data’s in my pc.
Even I got the same error…”unknown file system … > grub rescue>”…
Simply insert ur windows 7 dvd and boot ur laptop from d dvd…..
Then it asks weather u want to INSTALL or UPDATE.. click on install…
And then a list of drives is displayed to ask on which drive u wanna install windows 7….
Click on d drive u dint previously install windows 7 or ubuntu….
Now the installation process will begin…
Once the installation is complete , restart ur system…… there will be a prompt asking u to choose ur operating system at the beginning I.e at boot time…. then choose whichever o.s u require……..!
Thanks Hik..it worked for me
Hello,
I also have a similar issue, have gone through your post and done boot-repair..it said installation completed but i am back with the same grub rescue prompt.
Actually i have windows 8 and ubuntu12.04 dual boot and I was trying to upgrade to windows 8.1
Please help…
@Chinmoyee
It only works with grub if you were using LILO or other boot loader it will not work. Make sure you go through all the information provided in the post I have given second option and finally referred reader to Ubuntu Boot-repair website. If there is a specific error message I will be able to help but if you are not getting anything I would say you are doing something wrong.
I am getting an error for “ppa” what should i do?
@pooja Please provide more information I can’t help if I don’t know how are you getting this error. Check your internet connection. You would need internet connection to download the required packages.
cannot add ppa.Please check name or format is correct. I am getting this error please help
Thanks in advance
@utkaarsh When does the error happen? What live distribution of Linux are you using? Check you are connected to the internet and you can run apt-get update without any error.
in laptop its show unknown sudo. then wht i do?
@Rajat if you are running live Ubuntu from a flash drive the command “sudo su” shouldn’t throw an error. What Linux distribution are you using?
Thank You… It worked for me…
🙂
Please send information in error.unknow file system
@shiva follow this tutorial should fix the problem.
Does the above process works for Linux Mint 16 along side with Windows 8 on a Lenovo U510 model aswell?
@Kkumar if you have GRUB installed as bootloader it should work.
i have windows 7 error:unknown filesystem entering rescue mode what i do plz plz plz tell me
@sathesh follow this tutorial create a bootable Linux image (I have only tested on Ubuntu) this should fix the problem.
I am trying to install Ubuntu 12.5 LTS version in Apple Mac Pro Workstation. It is not installed. It shows only blink message on screen. Pls send information for the same.
Thanks.
can you have another command that not giving any error like (if i write sudo comm. the nit gives error–> unknown command ‘sudo’)….
@sandip I am not sure what are you trying to do. If you type “sudo su” will log you in as root you wouldn’t need to type sudo any more, if this is what you would like!
thanx dear… it really worked… but there is no need to get updates… i did it without getting updates…
i have a problém while installing windows xp from pendrive ……the problém is when i restart to install then it shows ‘bootmgr is missing’ press ctrl alt del to restart and when i do that it restarts and shows CRUB_ and after that i cannot continue to install ……..what is the problém and what should i do……..pls pls pls pls pls help mě pls…….
@Ronak Porja your pendrive may not be bootable use (winflash utility to create windows bootable pendrive). Also please make sure you have setup the system to boot from the pendrive first usually you can press F12 when the system boots up.
Not sure if this thread is still active..but here’s hoping.
Basically, I had Win XP and Linux Mint Maya installed on my Toshiba Laptop and both were working fine until yesterday, when I tampered with the partition setup by mistake, resulting in my corrupting the Grub loader program.
Now I’m getting the same “Grub error: unknown filesystem” message as everyone else here.
I’ve followed the steps you’ve listed here to the letter, but nothing seems to work. I’m currently getting the following..
“it@it:~$ gksu boot-repair
The program ‘gksu’ is currently not installed. You can install it by typing:
sudo apt-get install gksu
it@it:~$ sudo apt-get install gksu
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Unable to locate package gksu
it@it:~$ sudo apt-get install ppa-purge
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Unable to locate package ppa-purge
it@it:~$ sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://It saucy InRelease
Ign cdrom://It saucy/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://It saucy/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://It saucy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://It saucy/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy InRelease
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security InRelease
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates InRelease
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security Release.gpg [933 B]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy Release.gpg [933 B]
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security Release [49.6 kB]
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates Release.gpg [933 B]
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy Release [49.6 kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/main i386 Packages [110 kB]
Get:7 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates Release [49.6 kB]
Get:8 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/main i386 Packages [1,238 kB]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/restricted i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/main Translation-en [61.0 kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/restricted Translation-en [14 B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com saucy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:12 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/restricted i386 Packages [9,688 B]
Get:13 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/main Translation-en [711 kB]
Get:14 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/restricted Translation-en [2,686 B]
Get:15 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/main i386 Packages [229 kB]
Get:16 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/restricted i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:17 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/main Translation-en [110 kB]
Get:18 http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/restricted Translation-en [14 B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Fetched 2,623 kB in 19s (136 kB/s)
Reading package lists… Done
it@it:~$ sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair &&boot-repair
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Unable to locate package boot-repair
it@it:~$”
Any advice or help you can offer would be really appreciated.
Dan
@Dan sorry for the delay. You have to first add the repository. You are missing the first command “sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair”. Just Use sudo don’t need to install gksu if you have sudo available.
hi
I have the problem when i am trying to boot from the cd it’s still showing the same error unknown file system even after setting it to boot first cd. I am having only one os! Plz help
@dhruv it seems that your CD is not bootable use my other tutorial to create a bootable USB or CD here.
i am having ubuntu 14.04
i got a better solution first download boot repair disk and run the run the repair.durung repair go to that partition manager and unallocate in then create a new partition (single one) then boot the windows wirh usb -recommended then enjoy
Awesome. You saved my life. Zillion thanks to you .
🙂
thanks dude. It helped me
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and
bloggers made good content as you did, the web
will be much more useful than ever before.
hi i’am using windows 8.1 and ubuntu it shows unknown file system, grub rescue and when i ran it using bootable device and type the following command sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair, then it shows cannot add ppa: ‘ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
please check that ppa name or format is correct
Hi Anand,
After the first command
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repairrunsudo apt-get update. If still doesn’t work then you need to edit file in your favorite editorvi /etc/apt/source.list.d/yannubuntu-boot-repair-saucy.listand add this line of codedeb http://ppa.launchpad.net/yannubuntu/boot-repair/ubuntu saucy main(Note you can change the release name according to your Ubuntu version e.g. raring, quantal, precise but not Trusty(package doesn’t exist yet)) . Then save the file and runsudo apt-get update. Please let me know if still not able to fix.Hi Hikmatune,
I installed ubuntu(This installation also in the previous ubuntu drive only )rather than using live ubuntu using usb. There are no files are deleted from win8.
Now it was directly opening ubuntu but not windows 8 without showing GRUB. Give me the best way to get my genuine windows back.
Please, thanks in advance and waiting for ur reply.
its showin
W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/yannubuntu/boot-repair/ubuntu/dists/trusty/main/binary-i386/Packages 404 Not Found
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
while executing third command…..can anybody help me….its urgent thankz in advance
Hi bravensmart, Please see my reply to Anand above. Thanks
Hi Hikmatune,
I installed ubuntu(This installation also in the previous ubuntu drive only )rather than using live ubuntu using usb. There are no files are deleted from win8.
Now it was directly opening ubuntu but not windows 8 without showing GRUB. Give me the best way to get my genuine windows back.
Please, thanks in advance and waiting for ur reply.
Hey I’ve this problem of unknown filesystem while I am booting my pc . It enters in a grub rescue mode. Then I type the commands
set prefix= ( hd0,msdos9)/boot/grub
set root=(hd0,msdos9)/boot/grub
insmod normal
normal
After typing these commands it boots normally but on rebooting it again enter into rescue mode. I am not able to solve it permanently. Can you help me.? I have a dual boot of linux kali and windows 8.
Plz help me out.
it worked perfectly for me on windows 8.1 Acer Laptop, ubuntu 14.01, need internet connection on. Restored windows system…
Thanks a lott
i have tried the apt-get method, but then it shows :
“dpkg: error processing package man-db (–configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1”
it shows a dpkg error.
I have windows 7 and I installed ubuntu 14.04 “alongside” my windows; it made a separate drive.
Hey guys!
I run Windows 7 and wanted to install Ubuntu precise 12.04 as second OS. And later on, I found out I had 4 partitions instead of 2. Obviously made a mistake when partitioning the drive. I used the disk manager to delete the unused partition. I restarted the laptop and BAM! The grub rescue problem. I tried all thee solutions listed above, nothing solved the problem. Then I thought about reinstalling my Ubuntu OS, and everything is fine now. Both windows and Ubuntu boot the right way now. Luckily I didn’t have no files in Ubuntu so all my data has not been affected.
Hope this will help you guys.
Thanks.
[…] Fixing GRUB error: unknown filesystem, grub rescue | Hikmatune – Hi, I have the same problem. With ubuntu installed on USB, not boot, black screen remains. And if you just boot from the disc appears “grub rescue>”… […]
I dint have a dual boot I only had Ubuntu installed now I wanted to remove the ubuntu and install windows 7 but the grub loading error 17 keeps on showing up not allowing the alset up to continue
my computer hd is in read only file system and when i boot using a usb-live cd its unable to mount the internal hd and I am stuck at grub rescue
I install duel boot Ubuntu 14.04 and windows 7 unfortunately I formet the drive which located Ubuntu and got an error :unknown file system entering a rescue mode .and I lost my bios password so I cant setting bios can I back windows 7 or Ubuntu ?plz help me
Thank you, buddy. It worked just fine 🙂
Thank you very much. You save me!!!
hey it shows me
root@ubuntu:/home/ubuntu# sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
E: Unable to locate package boot-repair
plz help me its argent
I do I fix that when I switch on my system which was having both win 7 and Ubuntu and now it shows that Error unknown file system
Grab
i am getting the error unknown file system grub risk.
i have a bootable windows 7 pendrive .i tried to install it .but the only getting the windows logo. . .plese help ,
Hi Adharsh, recreate your Windows 7 USB drive or try to test it on another machine if possible. Thanks
Hello sir i have the windows 7 govt laptop i delete the linux and another one os but i dont know what is it and after open my laptop i cant open to do the process which shows that the grub error what can i do?pls give the solution sir and my laptop doesnt have the option of any cd port
Hi Gayathri, Use my other post (https://hikmatune.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/creating-a-bootable-usb-stick-and-starting-your-computer-with-the-usb/) to create a USB stick then try to recover your machine. Thanks