hey guys,
according to grub's documentation:
from http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...es.html#Images

So I tried to move the stage2 file to another partition, I expected to get the grub cmd so I can find the stage2 file (with the 1.5 fs drivers) but when the system boots, it just hangs with the text "GRUB"

what didn't I understand correctly ?
thanks alot !

Not that I've ever tried this before, but the way the doc describes it, it sounds like GRUB is loaded using Stage 1, which picks a Stage 1.5 filesystem. This allows GRUB to read that filesystem, so then Stage 2 can exist in any filesystem and not have to be explicitly in any exact location.

Stage 1 (load GRUB) > Stage 1.5 (pick filesystem) > Stage 2 (load OS in selected filesystem)

Since Stage 1.5 calls Stage 2, I would assume that you'd have to adjust a Stage 1.5 file to point to the new location of Stage 2. When the docs say that the Stage 2 file can be moved anywhere, I think it means it can reside anywhere, including inside a filesystem.

So, to summarize:
Stage 1 fits in the MBR and boots GRUB
Stage 1.5 fits either inside or just after the MBR (since it's so small)
Stage 2 can reside anywhere because Stage 1.5 points at it. Stage 2 can't fit in the MBR (or just after) because it is too big.

stage 1.5 is for file system type (ext, reiserfs,iso9660 etc.), so when u say that "load OS in selected filesystem" it doesn't sounds right, because what if I had 30 hard drives with ext fs ?
I don't think grub is gonna try to find the stage 2 in all of those disks...

The problem with that sentence is that, first of all, the root command is the command that points to the right place of needed files (including stage2).
And second of all, when u delete stage1_5 files it doesn't stops boot..
The system just boots regularly

I am getting a headache trying to follow this....

The way to avoid all this is to simply install** GRUB with the first "root" statement pointing to the correct partition--ie the one that contains the /boot/grub files, menu.lst, etc.. Once you have done that, don't try to relocate any GRUB elements, stages, etc.

The "booting" link below might be helpful.


**My reading and experience both favor the GRUB shell method (as opposed to grub-install).

well, it's always easier to install from scratch ..
the real deal is to fix it

Well, then, to fix it, start the grub shell, use the "find" command to find your stage2 files and modify your menu.lst and you should be good to go.

thats the problem... if stage2 file is moved, the grub shell isn't starting, it just says "GRUB" and hangs ..

Actually I was thinking of using the grub shell at the command prompt or with a boot disk such as SuperGrub, not the boot shell, which, as you point out, is disabled. SO... I'd get a SuperGrub disk, boot from it, and proceed. Or copy the files back to where they were and proceed.

Since you know where you moved the stage2 files presumably you could just change menu.lst to point to the new location. The "find" command will indeed look in all 30 places. Don't know about the "not needing stage 1.5"; I think you'll only proceed with booting as normal under some cicumstances that way.

Maybe I'm just confused about the problem.