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After a Windows 10 update my dual boot has been wiped. I used my USB with Ubuntu 18.10 to boot my computer, went to a live session, opened terminal and typed :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair

The response was that there are no official repositories for Cosmic cuttlefish. Internet is connected as I can access items in firefox.

Is this problem related to Cosmic being replaced by Ubuntu version 19? I have seen similar issues trying to update other software. The problem is that I have a Ryzen 3 2200G cpu that only has Win10 drivers. AMD does not supply anything for any other Windows (including win7) and no Linux drivers of any sort. The only Linux I could use is Ubuntu 18.10: Ubuntu 18.04 and 19.04 do not support my CPU and neither does 19.10. So I am being forced to "update" from Ubuntu 18:10 to what? I had expected this sort of bullying from microsoft, but from Ubuntu? I accept that I should not have bought an AMD cpu but its too late.

Is there any way to keep using cosmic cuttlefish or am I forced back to Windows? Thank you for any help

muru
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Peterk
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  • Your 18.10 is EoL - end of life. Best to use only current versions. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases And 20.04.1 is now released and LTS or long term support which are released every 2 years and have 5 years of normal support. You may need some settings, but many with AMD Ryzen have installed Ubuntu. And Boot-Repair can only repair current versions. Many systems also need UEFI update & if SSD the SSD firmware updated. – oldfred Aug 18 '20 at 04:02
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    Does this answer your question? How to install software or upgrade from an old unsupported release? – karel Aug 18 '20 at 04:06
  • @karel This sounds like a darn MS update bug. See my answer. – heynnema Aug 18 '20 at 17:17
  • Oldfred - I appreciate my 18:10 is EoL but the Ryzen 3 2200G is a special cpu that AMD apparently only produced for Win10 (tho this was not stated anywhere in the documentation). I foolishly thought that any OS, especially a linux would run on it. I found that only Ubuntu 18:10 works reasonably well. To "update" as you suggest is NOT an option, it would be better to go back to windows. – Peterk Aug 18 '20 at 23:10
  • I don't know of any reason that Ubuntu 20.04.1 wouldn't run on your CPU. Build yourself a Ubuntu Live USB and see if it boots. – heynnema Aug 19 '20 at 00:18
  • hello heynnema, my cpu does not work with Ubuntu 18:4 or 19:4 - can you quote a source that says it will work with 20:4 or are you just saying that no cpu manufacturer would make a cpu that only runs Win10? Guess what AMD is that dumb and none of the "experts" writing gushing reviews on how great the Ryzen 3 2200G (or the ryzen 5 G) were aware it was a win10 only cpu. Including computer magazine writers - go figure? – Peterk Aug 20 '20 at 03:53

2 Answers2

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Note: At power up, if you boot directly into Windows, without seeing the GRUB menu, then the following may not apply. Different fix.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update, and the more recent Windows 10 Creators Update, have a really bad habit of wiping out Linux partitions on MBR disks. Microsoft has known about this bug for quite some time, but has chosen not to fix it. Sounds like you're a victim.

Recovery is possible, but it can be tricky.

Boot to a current Ubuntu Live DVD/USB.

Open Software & Updates and make sure that all of your software repositories (except proposed) are enabled.

In terminal...

sudo apt-get update           # update the software database
sudo apt-get install testdisk # install testdisk
man testdisk                  # read the manual
sudo testdisk                 # start testdisk

You can also get specific instructions here: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

Help for photorec here: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec_Step_By_Step

Note: after recovery, strongly consider changing your MBR formatted disk to GPT format, so future MS updates won't wipe it again.

heynnema
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  • I can boot into my boot usb of ubuntu 18:10 but cannot get updates as 18:10 is Eol. Catch 22? – Peterk Aug 18 '20 at 23:13
  • @Peterk When you turn on your computer, does it boot directly into Windows? Can you get to the GRUB menu? Did you try my answer with your 18.10 USB? – heynnema Aug 18 '20 at 23:29
  • @Peterk Try my procedure, but skip the first command, sudo apt-get update, and see if you can do the remaining commands, with your 18.10 USB. Otherwise, you'll need to create a newer USB. – heynnema Aug 19 '20 at 00:14
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I created a boot usb of Boot-repair using Balena Etcher. Booting from this allowed me to use the standard repair (top offer on the startup window) which fixed my computer with some errors. Currently I am in my Ubuntu 18:10 and trying to see if there are any issues. So far all is good.

Peterk
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