[SOLVED] GRUB menu not displaying Kernel Versions...but everything else OK WTH?

onepiece · 2025/08/22, 04:41:46

I am running Shine On on two VMs, each on different PCs. Everything is working OK... BUT on one of the machines, during boot up the normal GRUB menu appears but the usual display showing which kernel I'm booting to is missing on one machine. Happened about a week ago. First part of the line is there for both kernels that are on the machine, but the second half of the line (which normally tells you which kernel you are booting into) is missing. Odd!

For giggles, I ran these commands...but still, no kernels showing on the GRUB boot up menu.
sudo apt install -6.16.2-1-siduction-amd64-generic
and
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

I know which kernels are there...but still nice to SEE them listed as they always have been in the past.

Thoughts anyone && thank you!

devil · 2025/08/22, 10:28:05

Pictures often say more than words...

towo · 2025/08/22, 11:20:26

Quotesudo apt install -6.16.2-1-siduction-amd64-generic

Would never work, becaus it does not exist!

Quotesudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

is useless, as long you install linux-headers-siduction-amd64

onepiece · 2025/08/22, 21:54:21

Quote from: devil on 2025/08/22, 10:28:05
Pictures often say more than words...

You are right. Here is a picture from the boot up of both machines. BOTH used to display kernel info on boot up but one quit showing kernel info on boot up about a week ago. Any thoughts on how how to get it to display again? Thank you.
BTW - I tried to insert an image into the body of this reply using the button option above the text box, but only the words:
appear. What am I doing wrong? As a work around, I've attached an image as an attachment. Thanks again.

[/img][/img]

ro_sid · 2025/08/22, 23:09:23

To start with, two things. On the machine missing the information:

Have a look into the menu-file grub.cfg (usually in /boot/grub/) if the text is missing there, too! (Most probably.)
Is the information present in the kernel-filename (i.e. the '*' in /boot/vmlinuz-*)? (Please list that complete name.)

hendrikL · 2025/08/23, 08:00:36

take a look into the "Advanced Options", I assume that you have more then one kernel installed.

hendrikL · 2025/08/23, 09:09:06

If you want all kernels displayed directly, you have to edit "/etc/default/grub" and add at the bottom GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU="true".
Then run "update-grub"
All as root.

Code Select


echo -e 'GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU="true"' >> /etc/default/grub
update-grub

onepiece · 2025/08/27, 03:43:16

Quote from: hendrikL on 2025/08/23, 09:09:06
If you want all kernels displayed directly, you have to edit "/etc/default/grub" and add at the bottom GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU="true".
Then run "update-grub"
All as root.

Code Select Expand
echo -e 'GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU="true"' >> /etc/default/grub update-grub

Once again hendrikL...I owe you a HUGE thanks. Your solution worked instantly! I marvel at the minds that can sort this out so quickly and fluidly.

All the best!
PS - The loss of kernel number display happened sometime after a routine update/upgrade at the terminal. I never touched this grub file. How the display auto-magically morphed to NOT show kernel info will remain one of Linux's UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.
It's not using the terminal that drives newbies nuts.. it's episodes like this. Thank God for this Forum to put us back on track.