Re: grub2 user interface disappears after upgrade from stretch to testing

Hello,

I reinstalled stretch (bare minimum packages), then I replaced all
references to "stretch" with "testing" in /etc/apt/sources.list and
executed sudo apt update; sudo apt install gnome-core firefox-esr.
Everything works as expected but I have the following questions -

1. according to uname -r, I am running 4.9.0-7-amd64 which appears to be
the stretch kernel. Is it safe to run the stretch kernel with programs /
apps / utilities from testing?
2. I noticed the intel-microcode package is not installed. If I install it,
could this testing version conflict with the stretch kernel?
3. Last time I tried apt upgrade, my grub menu was replaced with the grub
command prompted. If there any way to avoid this happening again?




On Tue, 13 Nov 2018 at 05:54, Felix Miata <[email protected]> wrote:

> Shane Dev composed on 2018-11-13 06:12 (UTC+0100):
>
> > Thanks for your fast reply. From memory, I think the grub2 text menu
> > installed by firmware-9.6.0-amd64-netinst.iso became a grub command line
> > prompt after upgrading to testing.
>
> > 1. For what possible reasons could have my grub menu disappeared?
>
> You're using "testing". Bugs are to be expected at least on occasion.
> Sometimes
> BIOS quirks interfere with Grub setup commands. UEFI BIOS writers probably
> do
> not spend much time debugging their use with Linux and Grub. UEFI code
> still
> has more maturing to do before consistency among different machines'
> behavior
> can be expected.
>
> > 2. You suggest I could boot Debian with "linux" and "initrd" commands.
> How
> > could I determine which parameters to pass to these commands?
>
> This is why I mentioned your backup grub.cfg file and provided a template
> from
> one of my own systems.
>
> The initrd line needs only the fullpath of the initrd to be loaded. The
> linux
> line may work with no more than the same. Most cmdline options used in Grub
> linux lines are options, meaning not necessary to a successful boot. The
> stanza
> lines preceding the linux line may or may not be required. All you can do
> is
> try, preferably based upon your backup. If you can't locate a backup,
> retrieve
> the grub.cfg file via a rescue boot and work from it. Make use of tab
> completion
> to get the appropriate names of kernel and initrd.
> --
> Evolution as taught in public schools is religion, not science.
>
>  Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!
>
> Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/
>
>