Question GRUB

mr sneakers · 01-13-2010, 12:41 PM

Short version...
Have used LinuxQuestions.org to get answers for years, finally decided to join, having GRUB problems.
Thanks to Larry Webb for some answers via saikee but I'm confused.

my partitions are:
hda1-25G hda4-23G hda2-1G hda5-22G hda10-25G hda6-1G hda7-22G hda11-22G
and the storage partition hda9-4.48G

Yup hda2 and hda6 are swap and I have three different installs on hda1,hda5 & hda7.

Added a new install to /dev/hda11 and GRUB geometry sees the partition and knows it's ent2 but tells me there is no Stage1 on that partition.

Do I install GRUB on /Dev/hda11 or how do I get Stage1 over there? Does Stage1 need to be there?

I tried: title Salix 13.0.2a
root (hd0,10)
chainloader +1

in the menu.lst and that didn't work, what should I do?
Thanks for any help you might give me...

mr sneakers
640K ought to be enough for anybody. Bill Gates

ronlau9 · 01-13-2010, 01:22 PM

Which GRUB or LIlo do you use to boot you're distros ?
Meaning from which distro.
Did you install Salix as the last distro ?
If so do Salix use Lilo Or GRUb when it is the only Os on the system ?
And where did you install Salix GRUB or LILO ?

mr sneakers · 01-13-2010, 05:32 PM

I am using GRUB version 0.97
and my MBR and Grub menu list is on /dev/hda5 with my Suse distro.

The most recent Distro is Salix, it was suppose to install Lilo but I haven't gotten Salix to boot yet. Salix is on /dev/hda11.

In Grub I have tried: find /etc/lilo.conf and it returns file not found.

Larry Webb · 01-13-2010, 08:08 PM

The Suse menu lst entry appears to be correct if Salix is on hda11. I have never used Salix but from what I have read it does use lilo by default. When you installed Salix and if you were given an option as to where to install the boot loader you should have selected /. When you are chainloading a linux distro all you are doing is getting grub to boot the partition the distro is in. When that partition is selected the distros boot loader in that partition should start its boot process. I think you should try and repair salix boot loader if you have that option.

linus72 · 01-13-2010, 08:24 PM

I also have SalixOS installed and also had a problem with grub .97 and grub 1.97 and 1.98 (squeeze)
finding it...

I finally installed grub to SalixOS partition and made grub menu.lst for it

Code:

default 0
timeout 15

title SalixOS
root (hd0,10)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz quiet root=/dev/hda11 vt.default_utf8=1 ro vga = 788
save default
boot

note above root=/dev/hda11 may be sda11

to install grub to that partition I mounted it from my .97 grub debian lenny install
and did

Code:

grub-install --root-directory=/mountpoint/of/partition /dev/hdx

mountpoint could be /media/disk /mnt/hda11 or whatever your OS mounts it as
the /dev/hdx could be /dev/hda or /dev/sda according to how your OS sees the drive

just do

Code:

fdisk -l

or

Code:

mount

while its mounted and find out device name,etc
you know..

see if that works

mr sneakers · 01-13-2010, 09:38 PM

So I tried to do setup and I got this...

Click image for larger version

Name: GRUB results 1.png
Views: 32
Size: 7.7 KB
ID: 2486

I keep returning to this Stage one problem, any suggestions?

Thanks mr sneakers
640K ought to be enough for anybody. Bill Gates

Larry Webb · 01-15-2010, 06:46 AM

To get your fdisk -l
You may use your Suse or if Salix is a live cd go to terminal and as root do the fdisk -l. The command from the grub prompt will not work. Post the results here and linus72 or I will try with the next step.

mr sneakers · 01-15-2010, 11:15 AM

Thanks Larry...

Here it is:

Click image for larger version

Name: Gimp setup 3.png
Views: 26
Size: 25.0 KB
ID: 2494

Thanks again Larry
~~mr sneakers

Larry Webb · 01-17-2010, 08:05 PM

I presume you are still able to boot Suse. If you can boot suse and go to terminal as root and try these commands

mkdir /mnt/hda11
mount /dev/hdall /mnt/hda11
mkdir /mnt/hda11/boot/
mkdir /mnt/hda11/boot/grub
cp /usr/lib/grub/* /mnt/hda11/boot/grub
grub
root (hd0,10)
setup (hd0,10)
quit

exit

Now try and boot Salix from your menu.lst entry

Larry Webb · 01-17-2010, 08:12 PM

In my prior post the second command mount /dev/hdall /mnt/hda11 the small L's are supposed to be 1's.

mr sneakers · 01-18-2010, 03:58 AM

Well I tried a it a couple of different ways, going in as super user (su) and then loging in as root and here is what I got...

First try:

Click image for larger version

Name: install attempt 1.png
Views: 21
Size: 19.7 KB
ID: 2512

Second shot:

Click image for larger version

Name: install 2ndTry 4.png
Views: 24
Size: 20.0 KB
ID: 2513

I do know I have a grub directory in the boot directory, but setup isn't working. Something is out of wack but I can't put my finger on it.

Thanks for the help Larry, I'm ready to try something else if you are?
~~mr sneakers

Larry Webb · 01-18-2010, 04:16 AM

I do not believe there is a grub directory in Salix. That is what the first five commands I gave you does.

mr sneakers · 01-18-2010, 11:18 AM

How do I get "stage one" set up and active?

The directory is there but there is nothing "in" that directory.

"Setup" doesn't happen nor does "install", grub commands are simple but I don't have the right ones yet...

any suggestions?

~~mr sneakers

Larry Webb · 01-18-2010, 03:13 PM

Do you have a /boot/grub/ directory on hda11?

mr sneakers · 01-20-2010, 02:49 AM

Yes, I can go via Suse and see a grub directory on /dev/hda11 and when I check via my Knoppix live CD it shows a grub directory on /dev/hda11 as well.

I think my next step is to get either "setup" or "install" to put a grub set up into that directory. I keep getting a report that there is no stage1 (stage one) etc. in said directory.

Grub has very basic syntax, and somehow I don't have it right yet. Any suggestions? I thought I had kept my notes on when I got grub to work before but so far I can't find said notes. woe is me....

Thanks for the help Larry, what should I try next? ~~mr sneakers