I booted Ubuntu 12.04 LTS from a LiveUSB, and then selected the option to Install Ubuntu to my hard drive. I allowed the installer to partition it, giving Ubuntu 50GB and leaving Windows 7 with 200GB. However, when I boot, It still boot straight into Windows. The only way to access GRUB is by booting from the LiveUSB, although this can then be removed.
How do I access the GRUB menu without using the USB?
What you need to do is run Ubuntu from LiveCD or LiveUSB and install boot-repair. To install boot-repair, open up a terminal and type the following:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
boot-repair will automatically launch, if is doesn't, launch it via Dash. Make sure to select recommended repair to repair and get grub back.
Reboot and grub will be back on boot.
Open the terminal and run this command:
sudo gedit /etc/default/grub
ADD comment line (add "#"):
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
It must look like this (by default)
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
Update your GRUB with this comand:
sudo update-grub
Reboot your system and you will see how the system will now stop at the GRUB2 boot screen.
As I've mentioned here:
Assuming you installed your Ubuntu system alongside Windows (by booting from a CD/DVD or USB flash drive and running the installer), and not inside Windows (with the Wubi installer), this problem can almost always be solved easily by reinstalling GRUB2 to the Master Boot Record, using any of these methods.
