Troubleshooting
This guide contains some issues that one might face while using Linux, along with the solutions and resources to get help.
1. GRUB is Broken
Problem: GRUB stopped working due to a Windows update or another issue.
Fix: Reinstall GRUB using a live ISO.
Steps
Boot from the same ISO you used to install your OS.
Open a terminal and identify your root (
/
) and EFI (/boot
) partitions:lsblk
Lists all block devices and partitions. Identify the root and EFI partitions.
Example:
/dev/nvme0n1p2
(root) and/dev/nvme0n1p1
(EFI)
Follow the commands for your distro:
Arch
mount /dev/X /mnt # Mount root partition to /mnt
mount /dev/Y /mnt/boot # Mount EFI partition to /mnt/boot
arch-chroot /mnt # Change root into the mounted system
pacman -S grub efibootmgr os-prober # Install GRUB and related tools
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=grub # Install GRUB to EFI
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg # Generate GRUB configuration
Ubuntu
sudo su # Become root
mount /dev/X /mnt # Mount root partition
mount /dev/Y /mnt/boot # Mount EFI partition
for i in /dev /dev/pts /proc /sys /run; do mount -B $i /mnt$i; done # Bind system dirs to chroot
chroot /mnt # Enter mounted system
# Install GRUB to the disk
grub-install /dev/nvme0n1
# If EFI variables cannot be set, mount efivarfs and retry
mount -t efivarfs none /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
grub-install /dev/nvme0n1
update-grub # Generate GRUB configuration
Fedora
mount /dev/X /mnt # Mount root partition
mount /dev/Y /mnt/boot # Mount EFI partition
sudo systemd-nspawn -D /mnt # Enter mounted system via systemd-nspawn
grub2-install /dev/sda # Install GRUB to the disk
grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg # Generate GRUB configuration
exit # Leave systemd-nspawn
sudo umount /mnt/boot /mnt # Unmount partitions
Reboot without the live media.
2. NTFS Drive Can't Be Opened
Problem: NTFS is proprietary, some distros lack built-in support.
Fix: Install ntfs-3g
(adds NTFS read/write support).
Arch:
sudo pacman -S ntfs-3g
Debian/Ubuntu:
sudo apt install ntfs-3g
Fedora:
sudo dnf install ntfs-3g
Running Steam or other games from an NTFS partition will not work, you will need to reinstall them on a Linux filesystem.
3. Brightness Doesn’t Work in Hybrid Mode
Fix: Add kernel parameters.
sudo nano /etc/default/grub # Edit GRUB configuration file
Replace:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="rhgb quiet"
With:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="rhgb quiet pcie_aspm=force acpi_backlight=native"
Update GRUB:
Arch:
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Fedora:
grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
Ubuntu:
sudo update-grub
Reboot.
6. Black Screen After Installing NVIDIA Drivers
Possible Fix:
Enable Secure Boot in BIOS temporarily: This will block unsigned NVIDIA drivers from loading, allowing the system to boot so you can fix the drivers.
Once booted, either:
Reinstall the NVIDIA drivers
Force rebuild the NVIDIA kernel module:
Arch:
sudo mkinitcpio -P # Regenerate initramfs for all kernels
Fedora:
sudo dracut --force # Rebuild initramfs
After that, disable Secure Boot in BIOS so the signed/working drivers can load normally.
8. Help Resources
I can’t include every possible problem and solution here. If you encounter an issue not listed, it’s best to search online, many issues have already been solved on Reddit, distro-specific forums, or other Linux communities. Here are some recommended resources.
Distro-specific subreddits (
r/arch
,r/fedora
,r/ubuntu
)
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