Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-19

How to Fix: grub2: error: can't allocate initrd - chainload an NTFS partition from FAT32 without errors on initial ramdisk (initrd) file

grub2 error: can't allocate initrd - chainload an NTFS partition from FAT32 without errors on initial ramdisk (initrd) file

Quick Answer: The issue is caused by the grub.cfg file on the FAT32 partition not properly configured to load the initrd image. The solution involves updating the grub.cfg file to include the correct path to the initrd image.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The error 'grub2: error: can't allocate initrd' occurs when the system is unable to load the initial RAM disk (initrd) file, which is required for booting. This issue affects users who have installed Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS Desktop 64-bit on an NTFS partition with a FAT32 boot partition.

This error can be frustrating as it prevents the system from booting and allows access only to the GRUB menu. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue and successfully boot your system.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the FAT32 partition containing the grub.cfg file does not support chainloading from an NTFS partition. This is because the grub.cfg file on the NTFS partition is configured to load the initrd file, but the FAT32 partition cannot allocate enough memory to do so.
  • Another possible cause is that the grub.cfg file on the NTFS partition contains a syntax error or is corrupted, preventing it from loading correctly.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Resolving the issue by modifying the grub.cfg file

  1. Step 1: Open the terminal and navigate to the FAT32 partition where the grub.cfg file is located. Use the command `sudo nano /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg` to edit the file.
  2. Step 2: Comment out or remove the line that chainloads from the NTFS partition by adding a `#` symbol at the beginning of the line. This will prevent the system from trying to load the initrd file from the NTFS partition and should resolve the error.
  3. Step 3: Save the changes and exit the editor. The system should now be able to boot successfully.

Alternative fix: Using a different grub.cfg file

  1. Step 1: If modifying the grub.cfg file does not work, try using a different grub.cfg file that is compatible with both NTFS and FAT32 partitions.
  2. Step 2: Create a new grub.cfg file on a FAT32 partition by copying the contents of the original grub.cfg file to a new file. Make sure to update the 'search --no-floppy' command to point to the correct location of the grub.cfg file on the NTFS partition.
  3. Step 3: Save the changes and exit the editor. The system should now be able to boot successfully.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'grub2: error: can't allocate initrd' issue and successfully boot your Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS Desktop 64-bit system.

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