Changing the Linux boot partition

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Changing the Linux boot partition

I have multiple Linux installations on the same drive:

  • /sda1 = Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit
  • /sda5 = Ubuntu 13.04 16-bit
  • /sda6 = Xubuntu 12.04 64-bit
  • /sda7 = Xubuntu 12.04 64-bit
  • /sda9 = Mint 12 64-bit


As I installed different versions, so whichever I installed last appeared at the top of the GRUB menu and became the default.

To change this, boot from the partition you want as the default (in my case /sda7 for Xubuntu 11.10) and go into the terminal and enter: 

sudo grub-install /dev/sda7

where you substitute whichever partition you want in place of the "sda7".

If that gives you a load of old bunny like this 

/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partitionless disk or to a partition.  This is a BAD idea..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.

you will find advice telling you to use 

sudo grub-install --force /dev/sda7

and if that leaves you tearing your hair out because the grub-install command used to work and now doesn't (as happened to me when I installed Xubuntu 13.04 which uses grub2 on a system where I wanted to go back to the 12.04 partition which uses grub), try this: 

grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda7

with /mnt/boot being the mounted partition for your boot directory.


Alternatively: boot into the Linux you want grub to run from then 

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

followed by 

sudo update-grub
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