Live USB error "you need to load the kernel first"

Question

I've got an mkusb live USB (Ubuntu 18.04 with persistence) that boots fine on some of my computers. On one laptop I get the following error:

error: disk `hd0,4' not found.
error: you need to load the kernel first.

What do I need to do to, "load the kernel first"?

EDIT: An SD card occupying an SD slot was causing this issue. Removing the SD card allows mkusb to boot properly, and eliminates the error. Once booted I reinsert the SD card into the SD slot if I need to use it.

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 11 '19 at 15:52

18

If you get to a grub prompt, it means that grub can't find the boot files that it expects. The sequence of commands to load the files and boot when grub doesn't do that for you goes something like this. First, find all partitions that grub sees:

grub> ls
(hd0) (hd0,msdos2) (hd0,msdos1)

This lists disks and partitions on the disks. One of these partitions holds your Linux system. Say it is (hd0,1). Then do:

grub> set root=(hd0,1)
grub> linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-45-generic root=/dev/sda1

Replace (hd0,1), the version number and the partition (/dev/sda1) by what is valid for your system. In the case of vmlinuz you can just type vmlinuz- and press Tab.

grub> initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-29-generic

The version string should be identical to the one for vmlinuz.

grub> boot

should now boot up your system.

answered Feb 11 '19 at 15:52

Jos

29,224

"One of these partitions holds your Linux system." How do I determine which one? Thanks – Display name Feb 16 '19 at 03:58
3

You can do ls (hd0,1) to list its contents. If you see the familiar folders and vmlinuz, that"s a Linux system. – Jos Feb 16 '19 at 07:32
1

This worked for me, but I had to use linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-45-generic root=/dev/sda1 nomodeset because my Spectre x360 (2019) laptop has a NVidia GeForce GTX graphics card and Ubuntu would freeze after logging in. PS also, when I looked at /dev/ folder I could not see any of my partitions to use in root=... ! So instead I had to write down the correct partition name from the LiveUSB install partition editor, which incidentally, I could not even run until I e edited the grub command from the install menu by removing quiet splash and adding acpi=off to the end of that line. – Jul 10 '19 at 11:05
1

Omgg, you saved my life!!! I tried everything the whole day. Just lowkey put every piece of code accordingly and the final enter was a blast. boom it just initialized my previous OS. IM SO HAPPY – testing_22 Oct 23 '21 at 03:37
2

Note that on my system, I had to do ls (hd0,1)/ to actually see directory contents. Without the / the output would only be a lot of information about the partition, such as filesystem type, which was also useful but not helpful in determining contents. – Caleb Jay Mar 21 '22 at 03:21
This works brilliantly for me but it seems this isn't a permanent solution. Every time I boot, I have to do the same thing again and again. I also noticed that I can bypass this through Advanced options in the grub menu by choosing one of the available kernels. Is there anyway to make the newly installed kernels default to load? – 83ingD33p Mar 31 '22 at 12:39

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered May 14 '20 at 20:10

8

When that happened to me I just had to disable secure boot and it worked.

answered May 14 '20 at 20:10

Anthony

81
1
1

Doesn't work for me. – Raymond Jan 15 '24 at 19:05

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 16 '20 at 19:13

What do I need to do to, "load the kernel first"?

Using "Startup Disk Creator" to create thumb drive, I was unable to boot using the thumb drive, with the same recommendation.

I have a slightly different answer.

On my 14 year old Dell desktop running Lubuntu 19.10 I used "Startup Disk Creator" to load "ubuntu-19.10-desktop-amd64.iso" to a thumb drive.

The first experiment on my new (delivered last month) Dell laptop gave a similar error, with the identical offering ... "load the kernel first".

Reading the comments above, I reviewed my usb ports and found my Logitech mouse appeared to be the only usb connection.

Disconnecting the usb mouse eliminated the error.

No grub commands needed.

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 11 '22 at 17:17

0

To solve the problem in my case I've changed the BIOS the Boot mode from UEFI to Legacy

answered Oct 11 '22 at 17:17

b.mazgarov

1

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 29 '23 at 09:00

0

Another thing that might work is simpy turning secure boot off. This is suggested here and worked for me.

answered Jul 29 '23 at 09:00

MetalMathician

134

Live USB error "you need to load the kernel first"

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