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I have installed first Kubuntu (sda3), then installed Ubuntu (sda4) and finally Linux Mint (sda5) on the same SSD (back to back). I want to remove Linux Mint from the disk and from the grub menu. But since I have installed Linux Mint as final, grub customization works only on Mint.

I plan to remove sda5 partition but I am afraid if I lose the grub menu. How can I safely remove Linux Mint (sda5) and get control of the grub menu to Ubuntu (sda4)?

Thank you in advance.

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    Make sure one OS you're going to keep owns the boot process (grub-install /dev/sda for example to make it take ownership), then from that OS remove the unwanted partition & you're done. If the first step is missed (making another OS own boot process), you'll end up with grub rescue as the Mint's grub is broken, so have whichever you want to own the process take over boot (make it's grub active).
    – guiverc
    Apr 29, 2021 at 17:53
  • So to make "ubuntu" own boot process (which is in sda4) should I run the command "sudo grub-install /dev/sda4"? and after that, I remove the mint partition on ubuntu?
    – deeptionary
    Apr 29, 2021 at 17:58
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    You can boot to a live session and use OS uninstaller. askubuntu.com/a/167785/124466
    – Archisman Panigrahi
    Apr 29, 2021 at 18:06
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    You don't install grub to a partition, but to the device. ie. your command will not help, you need to use /dev/sda as per my comment, as the MBR is the first 512 bytes (first sector) of the drive; it's reserved for that purpose, and there is only one (regardless of how many partitions you have; it's before them). The grub-install command just installs the MBR into place.. update-grub can be used after removing the Mint partition to have it re-scan, notice Mint is gone & have correct menu options (grub menu is stored in /boot/grub/) but that'll occur on next kernel upgrade anyway...
    – guiverc
    Apr 29, 2021 at 18:15

1 Answer 1

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Boot into Ubuntu, reinstall grub (maybe sudo update-grub is enough), remove the Linux Mint partition and run sudo update-grub.

Also, don't worry. Just make a Live USB before doing any change. You will always be able to set things straight again, in one of the bad cases by doing a so called chroot. I would actually encourage you to fail and try to fix it, you will learn a lot.

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  • It has worked. Thanks a lot.
    – deeptionary
    Apr 29, 2021 at 18:27
  • Also, check out grub-customizer. It gives you a GUI for fixing and adjusting all things grub. It's in the standard repos these days.
    – Joe
    May 5, 2021 at 22:09

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