Comment 86 for bug 477104

Andy and Jim,

I had this problem on a computer at work a couple of weeks ago. I messed
around with it for a few days, and then decided that I could not afford to
spend weeks trying to make my computer boot properly. I reformatted the hard
drive and installed Ubuntu as the only OS, and it's worked with no problems.
However I completely understand that erasing windows is not an acceptable
option for everybody.

In many cases, I don't mind that updates to userland software get pushed out
without months and months of extensive testing since it means we get new
bits sooner. However, I in this case an update to the boot loader was pushed
which breaks installations that are especially targeted towards users who
are not necessarily as technically savvy. The very market segment that
Ubuntu wants to target has their last experience of the OS being a flashing
black and white screen with an error message.

If Wubi is a supported installation option for this operating system, it
should be on the list of configurations to be tested before updates get
pushed out. Mistakes happen, and maybe this problem is only occurring in a
special subset of Wubi installs.

Either way, it is unfortunate that an update to a system-critical package
was pushed out without more testing.

-Peter

On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 7:13 AM, Andy Fried <email address hidden>wrote:

> The problem magically rectified itself , the last time.
> I updated my system last night, after being unable to access it for a week.
> I noticed an upgrade for grub, and it broke it again. Now I can't boot
> again.
> This is doing ubuntu's reputation as a stable operating system, no good at
> all. I think I'll reconsider my Vista!
>
> --
> After 9.10 grub update can not boot into Wubi install
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/477104
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: grub
>
> Installed ubuntu 9.10 using Wubi.
> Performed upgrades.
> After a grub update could not boot.
> Get screen:
>
> Try (hd0,0) : NTFS5:
>
> and then
>
> GNU GRUB version 1.97~1.97beta4
> [ Minimal Bash-like line editing is supported ...
>
> sh:grub>
>
> Online help does not work for this grub version.
>
> Need instructions to recover.
>
> I could try a new install, but may recreate the problem after update.
>
> Help.
>
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>