T61 stuck at GRUB after Ubuntu and Win XP update

[JMvS]

Hello,

The last day I took out of storage my lovely 4:3 T61, running both Win XP and Ubuntu (IIRC 8.04 LTS Hardy Heron according to the screen).
After doing my tasks in Win XP, I restated the system as there were Win updates overdue. Since default GRUB selection is Ubuntu, and I wasn't in front of the screeen, it started Ubuntu. As I was in update mood, I launched all the updates available after playing a little.
The system went for a considerable overhaul, and at the end, after a couple restart, I was in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx (if my memory of the screen is correct): crisp!

So far the system was working great, so I decided to go back in Win XP, and run the Thinkvantage update manager, again there were a lot of updates overdue. It went trough the whole process and asked for the usual restart.

And that's where I have a problem, as I am stuck at the GRUB: thinkpad screen will boot and I can access the BIOS, but then afterwards I am absolutely stuck at the GRUB screen: impossible to issue any commands save for the power button.

I tried using a Super Grub2 disk, but to no avail, I get nothing but GRUB at the upper left corner of my screen. Have I missed something?

It was a second hand I got in 2008 when I was a student, and I keep it to run a few old programs and games (and for nostalgia as well), as I am absolutely not familiar with Linux arcane, any advices will be much appreciated.

[EasyMac308]

Try this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

[JMvS]

Thanks, I will try it. But first I suppose I will need a bootable media, as wathever I do, I can't go past the grub, all I get on screen is:

GRUB _

with the _ flashing

After some research, it appears that a lot of people encountered a variety of similar problems with GRUB when updating to 10.4. I hope a solution has been found for my particular problem.

[EasyMac308]

When I upgraded to 10.04 I had some kind of issue... wish I could remember what it was... but I was resigned to a reinstall. A day later when I came back to it it booted up completely normally and has been fine since. I've been nervous about using Package Manager for upgrades ever since .

[JMvS]

I might as well let it rest a little, too see if it evolves.

If nothing comes, guess it will be a good opportunity to do a clean install and upgrade from the 160 GB HDD (which always felt way too small partitioned in 2).