How to Recover a Linux System When /boot Is Missing: Step‑by‑Step Guide
This guide explains how to restore a Linux system whose /boot directory has been accidentally removed by using a KVM‑based RHEL 7 virtual machine to reinstall the kernel and GRUB2, detailing each step from simulating the failure to successfully booting the repaired system.
Introduction
The /boot directory stores the kernel, boot menu and related configuration files needed for system startup. If files in /boot are deleted or the entire directory disappears, the system cannot boot.
This article shows how to recover the system by loading a disk image and reinstalling the kernel and GRUB2 in a KVM‑based RHEL 7 environment.
Experimental Environment
KVM virtual machine running RHEL 7.
Recovery Steps
Simulate deletion of the /boot directory to make the system unbootable.
Attempt to reboot; confirm that the system fails to start.
Force the system to shut down.
Open the virtual machine’s configuration page and import a local disk‑image file.
Set the boot order to add CDROM as the first boot device.
Restart the VM and press F12 to enter the boot menu.
Enter the number 3 to boot from DVD/CD and choose “Troubleshooting”.
Select “Rescue a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system” and press Enter.
In the Rescue menu, click Continue → OK → OK .
Change the root directory to the mounted system.
Mount the CDROM to /mnt .
Configure the local repository file.
Reinstall the kernel using the reinstall command (do not use install ).
Reinstall GRUB2.
Regenerate the GRUB2 configuration file grub.cfg .
Exit the rescue environment twice and reboot; the system boots normally, confirming successful recovery.
The system is now fully restored and operational.
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