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My laptop: HP Probook 450 G2 (i5, 16GB, SSD). Using UEFI/GPT

I've had dual-boot on this laptop for a very long time, switching between Ubuntu, to Linux-Mint, Fedora, and now Ubuntu again.
Now, for some reason, after installing Ubuntu&grub I get a blank screen on startup.

It's important to say - grub is working.
If I press enter on that blank screen, Ubuntu will open. If I press down+down+enter, then Windows will open up. Just no UI appears.

What I've tried:

  • update-grub & update-grub2

  • Setting "GRUB_GFXMODE=1280x720" on config, following by update-grub.

I couldn't find any existing post that regards this issue.

Thanks and any help would be much appreciated.

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  • Comment out your changes to GRUB_GFXMODE, and then sudo update-grub, then reboot.
    – heynnema
    May 4, 2020 at 13:49

3 Answers 3

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Try to open as root the file /etc/default/grub and find the following variables:

  • GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT
  • GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE

if GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT exists, comment it with a #

Also, set GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu (maybe it is currently set in your machine as "hidden")

After saving the file, run sudo upgrade-grub

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  • Thanks for the help. HIDDEN field did not exist. I did have the STYLE on hidden, but after changing it and update-grub the problem persists May 4, 2020 at 21:46
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First of all try sudo update-grub2 && reboot.

Then you could try grub2 reinstalling:

sudo apt purge grub2-common grub-common grub-pc grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-pc-bin

chosing Yes to remove grub files

sudo apt install grub2-common grub-common grub-pc grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-pc-bin

chosing /dev/sda or whatever device with efi partition

I've tested it on virtual machine and it started after grub reinstalling. But that was a BIOS, not EFI configuration.

If something will go not as expected, you could restore it using these instructions.

Try also to change splash image in case if your background color and text color are the same.

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  • Thank you. I have tried following these steps. after removing and reinstalling by these exact commands, I have reached the same point as before. Blank screen of working grub May 4, 2020 at 21:53
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I eventually got it working.
Steps used to get the graphics finally working:

  • Reinstalling grub using Gryu's answer
  • Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu instead of hidden as in Lorenz Keel's answer
  • Setting GRUB_GFXMODE to a different resolution, found by choosing resolution on Ubuntu settings
  • grub-update

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure the first 2 steps are necessary.
I'd recommend first checking for the correct resolution for your screen. mine was 1366X768.

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