Restoring dual-boot GRUB from “start_image() returned Volume Corrupt” after Windows Update messes with it
Windows being jealous of other operating systems is a tale as old as time and November 2024 is no different. I’ve written about how to recover a LUKS-encrypted Ubuntu after something happens to /boot already, and this solution is very similar.
Windows will probably also refuse to boot after this kerfuffle happens, but is easily restored by pressing F2 (or F10 or F12, whatever takes you to BIOS), choosing the Windows partition manually from there, and entering your Bitlocker recovery key. I keep mine in my Google Drive. (what? Windows is for games)
To get your Ubuntu (or what have you) back without starting from scratch, arcane incantations need to be flung.
First, boot from a Live USB and choose to ‘Try Ubuntu’ (better also select your local language so they keyboard makes sense). sudo fdisk -l in the terminal, and you will see something like:
Then throw together an ephemeral Linux and let it remake GRUB:
If all goes well you’ll see your familiar OS selection screen again next restart. I guess a permanent solution would be to lock Windows up in a virtual machine, but this will probably mean bad overhead for the gaming at the very least.
ChatGPT initially recommended yannubuntu/boot-repair, but after some back-and-forth, we arrived at this.
