📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
GRUB menu does not display, preventing selection of alternate kernels or OS entries.
Environment & Reproduction
System boots directly or fails to show expected boot options after updates.
Root Cause Analysis
Modified timeout settings, broken grub.cfg generation, or UEFI boot entry inconsistencies.
Quick Triage
Attempt Shift or Esc during boot and verify firmware boot order entries.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Check /etc/default/grub, run grub-mkconfig preview, and inspect EFI boot manager entries.
Solution – Primary Fix
Correct GRUB defaults, regenerate grub.cfg, and reinstall bootloader components if required.
Still having issues? Our IT Solutions & Services team can diagnose and resolve this for you. Get in touch for a free consultation.
Solution – Alternative Approaches
Use live media plus chroot to repair EFI entries and restore dual-boot configuration.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
GRUB menu appears consistently and boots selected kernel or operating system correctly.
Rollback Plan
Revert GRUB configuration backups and restore previous EFI boot entry ordering.
Prevention & Hardening
Keep boot config backups and avoid untested manual edits in production systems.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Related to initramfs boot failures, UUID mismatches, and UEFI NVRAM entry loss.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
View all Ubuntu 20.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
Consult GRUB and Ubuntu boot repair guidance for UEFI and legacy BIOS modes.
Need Expert Help?
If you cannot resolve this yourself, our team offers hands-on Server Management, Managed IT Services, and flexible Support Plans. Contact us today — we respond within one business day.
