how to install grub boot loader

Installing a new operating system on your computer can be an exciting and nerve-racking experience. One of the essential components of any operating system is the boot loader. GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is a popular boot loader used by most Linux distributions. In this tutorial, we will cover the steps to install GRUB boot loader and configure it to boot your Operating System.

Step 1: Booting from Live CD/DVD/USB

The first step is to boot your computer from a Live CD/DVD/USB containing the Linux distribution. Once the computer is booted, navigate to the terminal and gain root access by executing the command

sudo su

Step 2: Partition the drive

Once you have booted into the Live CD environment, you need to partition the drive to install the new operating system. Use a partitioning tool such as GParted to create new partitions or to resize the existing ones. Make sure that there is enough space for the root and swap partitions for the new OS. Also, ensure that the partition type is “Linux file system” and the boot flag is set for the root partition.

Step 3: Mount the partition

After partitioning the drive, mount the root partition of the new OS. Execute the command

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

where /dev/sda1 is the root partition of the new OS and /mnt is the mount point. Then, create a mount directory for the boot partition and mount the boot partition to that mount point. At this point, it’s essential to ensure that you have mounted all the necessary drives to their respective mount points.

Step 4: Install GRUB

Once the necessary drives are mounted, install GRUB to the hard drive by executing the command

grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

. The --root-directory option specifies the root directory of the new OS, and /dev/sda is the drive where the GRUB bootloader will be installed. Once completed, you can now reboot your computer to boot into the new operating system.

Step 5: Configure GRUB

Now that you have installed GRUB, you need to configure it. You can use the configuration file located at /boot/grub/grub.cfg to modify the boot process and even add other operating systems to the boot menu. Use a text editor to modify the configuration file, but be careful not to make any mistakes as it could prevent the system from booting. Save and exit the file, and the changes will take effect the next time you boot the system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing the GRUB boot loader is an essential step in installing a new operating system. Although it may seem daunting to new users, following the above steps should help simplify the process. As usual, it’s crucial to take note of the commands executed, create backups, and work with care to avoid any issues or data loss. Once you have installed and configured GRUB successfully, your computer will be set to boot into the new OS and any other operating system you have added to the boot menu.