When trying to re-install GRUB: # grub-install /dev/sda1 The file /boot/grub/stage2 not read correctly. ...but the intertubes saved my day, when I came across: # grub grub> root (hd0,0) grub> setup (hd0) Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"... 17 sectors are embedded. succeeded Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+17 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded Done. grub> quit However, I still don't know why grub-install doesn't work anymore.