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Here's my problem: I have a dual boot installation of Ubuntu 13.10 and Windows 8.1 on my laptop and I get the grub menu only when I shutdown and boot again MANUALLY. If I try to simply reboot from Linux or from Windows, my computer directly loads on Windows.

Isn't that strange? Does anyone know how to fix it?

2 Answers 2

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Open the file etc/default/grub and search for the entry GRUB_TIMEOUT then set its value to -1. This will ensure that the GRUB menu will be shown always and you have to choose which OS to boot from. Then update the grub sudo update-grub and reboot.

sudo gedit /etc/grub/default
GRUB_TIMEOUT=-1
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

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  • i didn't had any /etc/default/grub file.What can i do? Jan 16, 2014 at 5:40
  • Then I'll do what you state in your answer :) . But you know you should have it
    – Maythux
    Jan 16, 2014 at 5:41
  • i provide the solution which may or maynot works.As according to your answer,there was no etc/default/grub file in my pc. Jan 16, 2014 at 5:46
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Some systems work better to register grub/shim from inside Windows - for those that keep resetting Windows as default

Grub not showing on startup for Windows 8.1 Ubuntu 13.10 Dual boot

From Windows:

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\grubx64.efi

https://coderwall.com/p/vfyqkg

UEFI NVRAM boot entries are cached in the BCD store BCD has 1:1 mappings for some UEFI global variables Any time {fwbootmgr} is manipulated, NVRAM is automatically updated

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  • How did you know that the windows installed in UEFI mode? Jan 16, 2014 at 16:15
  • Did not for sure. Almost all Windows 8 systems especially laptops,seem to be pre-installed, so must be UEFI and the issue is common for UEFI systems.
    – oldfred
    Jan 16, 2014 at 18:06
  • Thank you for this answer. And yes it is UEFI I didn't mention it because I thought it came automatically with all Windows 8 laptops. But after the troubles with grub's installation, I re-installed Ubuntu and it works again with the initial behavior (grub showing only on manual boot). I think I'm going to work with that rather than try another action that might mess things again.
    – user236356
    Jan 19, 2014 at 17:17
  • Then my answer may be wrong as you could be booting Ubuntu in BIOS mode and Windows in UEFI mode?
    – oldfred
    Jan 19, 2014 at 17:22
  • Can't say for sure, what I know is that the following command: [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "Session EFI" || echo "Session non-EFI" returns a positive answer (Session EFI). Another strange thing is that if I boot into Windows and desactivate the fast startup option then it gets worse: Grub doesn't show at all anymore...
    – user236356
    Jan 19, 2014 at 18:19

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