After I got my computer back, Windows decided it would have another try
at stopping me. It told me that my release of Win10 was no longer
receiving updates, and I should install a more recent release! If it is
Win10, the original boot disk should work.

So Windows wouldn't let me use my computer until the upgrade was done.
(This was one -but only one- of the reasons why a certified Microsoft
tech switched to Linux.) The operation extended over two days, and left
me with a computer that wouldn't boot into anything except a Grub2
rescue prompt.

So, whereto next? I could have tried from the rescue prompt, so long as
I knew what I was doing. The System Rescue disk is very good for
routine repairs, but it too is for more informed users. The "Super Grub
Boot Disk" would have got me a working desktop, but that is all.

Then I learned about the (free) Boot Repair disk from SourceForge:

http://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair-cd/home

It runs on Ubuntu, and is probably intended for Windows users, but the
Linux forums sing its praises as well. It starts automatically, and
invites me to download the latest version, not yet released.

Then I all that I had to do was sit back and give the disk its head. It
runs a series of tests to find my problem, then applies an appropriate
fix. This time, it reinstalled Grub2, giving me a standard Ubuntu boot
menu within minutes. It sent a log file to the Ubuntu pastebin.

MY VERDICT: It fills a gap not covered by the other resources I
mentioned, and is a worthwhile addition to my toolkit.

Doug.

Op Thu, 23 Sep 2021 18:24:52 +1000, schreef Doug Laidlaw:

> After I got my computer back, Windows decided it would have another try
> at stopping me. It told me that my release of Win10 was no longer
> receiving updates, and I should install a more recent release! If it is
> Win10, the original boot disk should work.
>
> So Windows wouldn't let me use my computer until the upgrade was done.
> (This was one -but only one- of the reasons why a certified Microsoft
> tech switched to Linux.) The operation extended over two days, and left
> me with a computer that wouldn't boot into anything except a Grub2
> rescue prompt.
>
> So, whereto next? I could have tried from the rescue prompt, so long as
> I knew what I was doing. The System Rescue disk is very good for
> routine repairs, but it too is for more informed users. The "Super Grub
> Boot Disk" would have got me a working desktop, but that is all.
>
> Then I learned about the (free) Boot Repair disk from SourceForge:
>
> http://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair-cd/home
>
> It runs on Ubuntu, and is probably intended for Windows users, but the
> Linux forums sing its praises as well. It starts automatically, and
> invites me to download the latest version, not yet released.
>
> Then I all that I had to do was sit back and give the disk its head. It
> runs a series of tests to find my problem, then applies an appropriate
> fix. This time, it reinstalled Grub2, giving me a standard Ubuntu boot
> menu within minutes. It sent a log file to the Ubuntu pastebin.
>
> MY VERDICT: It fills a gap not covered by the other resources I
> mentioned, and is a worthwhile addition to my toolkit.
>
> Doug.

Since you posted in an mageia group: booting the mageia install DVD or
USB, let you do a rescue session, including re-installing the bootloader
for the OS's it detects on the HD.

Herman Viaene

On 24/9/21 21:43, Herman Viaene wrote:
> Since you posted in an mageia group: booting the mageia install DVD or
> USB, let you do a rescue session, including re-installing the bootloader
> for the OS's it detects on the HD.
>
> Herman Viaene
>
That is fine for you gurus, Herman, but for a semi-novice like me, it is
all done for you. In this case, I was having trouble making sense of
the interaction between Windows 10 and Linux. I had already tried
reinstalling Grub2 from an ordinary root prompt.

Op Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:30:08 +1100, schreef Doug Laidlaw:

> On 24/9/21 21:43, Herman Viaene wrote:
>> Since you posted in an mageia group: booting the mageia install DVD or
>> USB, let you do a rescue session, including re-installing the
>> bootloader for the OS's it detects on the HD.
>>
>> Herman Viaene
>>
> That is fine for you gurus, Herman, but for a semi-novice like me, it is
> all done for you. In this case, I was having trouble making sense of
> the interaction between Windows 10 and Linux. I had already tried
> reinstalling Grub2 from an ordinary root prompt.

Well, I think you're a bit mistaken here. As a "guru" I refrained
completely with meddling myself with grub2. The rescue mode of the
installation DVD does it quite nicely for you. It will tell you which
OS's it finds on your HD, and which to recover. Pick Mageia and all
should be well.

Herman Viaene