cannot install Grub on the linux root partition

cccc · 12-21-2009, 07:49 PM

hi

I'd like to have MBR untouched and cannot install Grub from Debian Testing on the linux root partition:

Code:

# grub-install /dev/sda3
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR.  This is a BAD idea.
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged.
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: If you really want blocklists, use --force.

What's wrong and howto solve this?

Quakeboy02 · 12-21-2009, 07:53 PM

I believe what you want is this:

Code:

#grub-install /dev/sda

Having said that, are you sure you know what you're doing? How did you get into Linux to get the error in the first place? Are you using a liveCD? What are you trying to accomplish?

cccc · 12-21-2009, 08:05 PM

I've done:

Code:

# grub-install --force /dev/sda3
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR.  This is a BAD idea.
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged.
Installation finished. No error reported.

and now it seems to work.

I'd like to have MBR untouched and boot Debian using Vista bootloader, this is not my notebook.

aus9 · 12-21-2009, 09:18 PM

hi

you now need to grab the image of that "mbr" heh heh which is sitting in the root partition of linux and give vista bootloader a chainload like command.

sorry I do not have vista to prove if this way works but
http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux...w2k-HOWTO.html

and you will be doing something like.....from within linux LIVE cd with a mounted usb stick....assuming its seen as /media/disk change to whatever

Code:

sux
dd if=/dev/sda3 of=/media/disk/linux.bin bs=512 count=1

then after checking the size of linux.bin is 512 bytes on usb stick....boot into windows and follow steps from (4)