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Old 11-16-2003, 03:27 AM   #1
zLinuxz
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Help with Grub in MBR and /boot partition!


Hi guys. Well, I got my self into a problem. and I need some one to help me sort it out.
I'll tell you guys exactly what I did....and I know it's going to sound stupid, so don't ask me why I did it, hehe.

Anyway, here it is:

I had redhat 7.2 on this machine. So I brought my RH 9.0 cd's from that laptop, and I inteded to upgrade Redhat. So, I booted the intall CD's, and clicked on upgrade, blah, blah. Then I selected the packages, and I also selected to get the bootloader, grub, updated, etc.... Then, right before it began copying and upgrading the system, I got an error on Screen
It said that my /boot partition did not have enough space, only 3 megs left.

So, I got a little puzzled, and I thought...well why the heck are you telling me this, if I want you to upgrade my linux installation and not the /boot partition. And the partition in which all my files are in is just /

So, I went into windows, and used PartitionMagic to erase /boot
After I did that, I again rebooted with the RH 9.0 cd's. Installation went smooth!
then, I reboot, and my Grub loaded is gone!....crap I thought to myself, I shouldn't have erased the /boot partition.

Anyway, I remember about the option if I wanted to upgrade or make a new bootloader.

So, I went again to the CD's, and rebooted with the installation disc. So, I clicked again on upgrade. And then this time I selected to install a New Grub in my computer. However, it seems that originally I had Grub install in the first partition of my drive. And this time I went to install it, I installed it in the Master Boot Record.

So, the problem that I am getting, is that now, when I boot my computer I get 1 grub and a certain configuration.

But when I go to /etc/grub.conf

the input in there is completely different from that of the new grub in the MBR

So, my question is, where is this MBR grub??, how can I edit it?, and where should I put my
vmlinuz files, once I upgrade my kenerl?, because if I update the grub that I find in the /etc folder, nothing happens to the grub in the MBR. And I'm not sure what to do now!

I would appreciate for some help, thank you guys!!!

zLinuxz
 
Old 11-16-2003, 06:57 AM   #2
fancypiper
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/boot/grub/grub.conf
 
Old 11-16-2003, 11:07 AM   #3
zLinuxz
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yes, I did try that one too. And that still is a different GRUB than the grub that I'm booting from when I start up my computer!, what to do!
 
Old 11-16-2003, 07:03 PM   #4
zLinuxz
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can anyone else help pleazzz? I really need to get this working properly. Thanks
 
Old 11-17-2003, 09:58 AM   #5
zLinuxz
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any other ideas guys?, I would appreciate it
 
Old 11-17-2003, 10:04 AM   #6
dalek
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Mine is in /boot/grub/menu.1st. I'm not sure but yours may be too.

Hope that helps.

I know it's weird but I didn't make the darn thing, I just kept diggin till I found it.

Later

 
Old 11-17-2003, 10:13 AM   #7
zLinuxz
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do you just Edit that with a text editor?
 
Old 11-17-2003, 10:20 AM   #8
zLinuxz
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I just check it, and it gives me the same output as the OLD grub.

And what I cannot find is the NEW grub configuration, nor can I find where the hell did Redhat 9, installed the 2.4.20-6smp kernel!!!
There is nothing in /boot in regard to this, that is why I'm so puzzled!!, ERRRR.

I hope someone can help more,
 
Old 11-17-2003, 10:22 AM   #9
zLinuxz
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Also, guys
I noticed that in the OLD grub, it said that /root was in (hd1,0)

And in the new grub, that now I have to use to boot, it says that /root is in (hd1, 5)

What is the 5?????, I suspect that it is in there were the grub configuration, and the kernel, has been placed. But how to get there??

Please help,
 
Old 11-17-2003, 10:28 AM   #10
zLinuxz
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Oh, and there is something interesting that I must share with you guys. While looking in the /etc folder, I found the file lilo.conf.anaconda
Which oddly has the CORRECT configuration of the current grub I'm booting. Here is the output:

prompt
timeout=50
default=linux
boot=/dev/sda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
restricted
message=/boot/message
lba32

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-6bigmem
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-6bigmem.img
read-only
append="root=LABEL=/"

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-6smp
label=linux-smp
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-6smp.img
read-only
append="root=LABEL=/"

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-6
label=linux-up
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-6.img
read-only
append="root=LABEL=/"

other=/dev/sda1
optional
label=DOS

I wonder that the heck this means?, considering I don't have lilo installed.
What to do guys?
I also remind you guys, that NONE of these kernels appear in the /boot folder!!, that is why I'm going crazy with this!!, where is the grub and the kernels I am booting from??

Last edited by zLinuxz; 11-17-2003 at 10:30 AM.
 
Old 11-17-2003, 11:10 AM   #11
dalek
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When I install Mandrake, lilo is installed then I chose to change it to Grub. That may be what Redhat has done. It won't erase those lilo files, it just adds the Grub files.

That make any sense.

I'm not sure, but I think when you erased, what ever, the /boot partition you also deleted the kernel. It won't boot without that. You may have to reinstall to get that back or compile another one and say a prayer during the boot.

Windoze has command.com and such and that is pretty similiar to the Linux kernel. Delete that and it is dead.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here.

Later

 
Old 11-17-2003, 11:42 AM   #12
zLinuxz
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yes. But see, I am still able to boot. And I'm botting this kernel which the new Redhat upgrae installed, 2.4.20-6smp

And that is what I'm looking for. Because where ever is it that that is, I will also find the correct Grub, I believe and hope.
And I can't seem to be able to find it, So I'm very puzzleddddd
 
  


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