LKBEN10997: Howto boot into single user mode using the grub boot loader

Symptom

You need to repair your system and want to start into single user mode. You use grub as boot loader.

Cause

none

Solution

The grub bootloader is a very good one. To start into single user mode you have to append an S to the kernel command line in Grub. Grub stands for grand unified bootloader. To add an S to the command line you need to restart your system and when you see the grub splash screen you press on the arrow keys to select an entry. Then you type e to edit that entry. Go to the line which the word kenel at the start. You press e again to edit it and append an S to the end of the line. Now you press <enter> to accept the changes followed by b to boot the kernel with the modified command line.

You will now be presented a single user mode bash shell to repair your system. It seems complicated but it is easies as you think. 

About the Author

Wim Peeters is electronics engineer with an additional master in IT and over 30 years of experience including time spent in support, development, consulting, training and database administration. Wim has worked with SQL Server since version 6.5. He has developed in C/C++, Java and C# on Windows and Linux in different European countries and different European languages. He writes knowledge base articles to solve IT problems and publishes them on the Lubby Knowledge Platform where he is one of the most important contributors and the main developer.

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