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My computer stopped booting up properly due to my hard drive being screwed up so I tried installing an ISO file from my flash drive for Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS. It ended up installing successfully and lasted me 6 months. I was able to save files on my computer, but my flash drive had to be plugged in the whole time or Ubuntu wouldn't boot (even though it had been installed).

Very recently my flash drive got crushed and when I put a new flash drive in with the same ISO file it didn't boot up to my login screen, but pulled up the Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu options. During install it saw the other Ubuntu version and I partitioned the drive so my files and programs wouldn't delete.

Now on startup it still goes to Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu like nothing happened, but on Try Ubuntu there are two drives in the bottom left and one of them has all my files. I don't have access to any of the programs on my main drive. Is there any way I can configure Ubuntu to start on my drive with all my files and programs? It seems to be there.

Edit: It was recommended I try using Boot-Repair. I did this and restarted my comp. On first restart my comp froze. On second restart it loaded back to Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu. Here's the Boot Info Summary.

If I had to guess, as I said in the top of my post, my hard drive is pretty messed up. It's been plagued with an Error parsing PCC subspaces which it stopped saying when my old Ubuntu ISO flash drive wasn't smashed, but it is saying again before Ubuntu starts up now. I have a feeling I can start saving info again only if I delete my partitions and do a hard reset.

Zanna
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Mike Barnes
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2 Answers2

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It seems as though you have a corrupted boot loader. Therefore, follow the instructions on this page (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair) to install and run Boot-Repair. Given that you are comfortable with the live-USB, I would use ‘2nd option: install Boot-Repair in Ubuntu’. Using that program, you should be able to get your computer to properly boot to the installation of Ubuntu that has your files and programs on it without having to use a live-USB every time. If and when you get that working, you should be able to format the partition that has the second, unnecessary installation. (If this doesn’t work, please describe what happened by adding to the end of your question.)

Andrew
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I think the problem is the Grub is installed to your USB drive during your installation process. So without the USB drive that used for installation there's no grub mean no booting. Try to Install the grub to the hard drive as this page (https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1398707)

Danushka herath
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