Ubuntu installed GRUB over rEFIt

11,284

Solution 1

Try holding down the Option key while powering on the computer. This should enable you to boot OS X, from which you can re-install rEFIt (or install rEFInd instead, if you care to upgrade, since rEFIt is no longer being maintained).

Solution 2

I actually figured this out. The easiest way in any situation where GRUB overwrites rEFIt is to hit C when the GRUB screen loads. This will bring up the grub command line. Typing exit here will exit GRUB and show you rEFIt. From here a boot into OSX will allow you to uninstall GRUB and install rEFInd.

Solution 3

The following did the job for me (based on iamwpj's suggestion):

  • Reboot
  • In the Grub menu, press escape.
  • You get a command line. Type exit.
  • rEFIt/rEFInd will show up. Boot OS X.
  • Tell Startup Disk that you want to boot your OS X install by default.
  • Reboot. Your computer will automatically boot OS X. (Not sure if this step is necessary).
  • Reinstall rEFInd (or, if you insist, rEFIt) the usual way.
  • Next time you boot, you'll get rEFInd.
Share:
11,284

Related videos on Youtube

iamwpj
Author by

iamwpj

Linux SysAdmin - Network Admin - Python, BASH

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

  • iamwpj
    iamwpj over 1 year

    I had my Mac set up with rEFIt and installed Ubuntu 13.04, unfortunately GRUB was installed over rEFIt. I was not expecting this and have since found out that I have no idea where my installation disk is for OSX 10.8. I want to boot to OSX, but I cannot do boot repair using any OSX tools since I have lost the ability to boot to this. Any suggestions?

    GRUB lists the Ubuntu options along with Mac OSX 32 and 64bit, neither of which work.

  • iamwpj
    iamwpj almost 11 years
    The problem with using the option command is that GRUB loads before the Apple load screen, thus blocking the functionality of that key. At least this was the case for me.
  • Rod Smith
    Rod Smith almost 11 years
    Try using a rEFInd CD-R or USB flash drive image. It's conceivable that will work better, although I'm not hopeful. Failing that, try deleting GRUB -- it's probably EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi on the ESP, or possibly on an HFS+ partition.