Fedora Core 4: unable to boot after install
I just installed FC 4 on an old Dell Dimension 8100 Bios rev A09. After the install process had finished the machine rebooted, but all I get is a blinking underscore cursor.
Background info and any other data that my help troubleshooting. I FULLY erased the entire disk using DSS DiskWipe which is a 3 pass DoD drive formatter. I chose the "automatic disk partitioning" option during install and I did not alter the boot loader options. I used the Fedora Core 4 rescue disk and then entered: #chroot /mnt/sysimage #fdisk -l Disk /dev/hda:40.0 GB, 40020774320 bytes 255 heads, 63 nsectors/track, 4865 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/hda1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux /dev/hda2 13 4865 38973690 8e Linux LVM sh-3.00# rpm -q grub grub-0.95-13 sh-3.00# pm -q --filesbypkg grub grub /boot/grub grub /sbin/grub grub /sbin/grub-install grub /sbin/grub-md5-crypt grub /sbin/grub-terminfo grub /usr/bin/mbchk grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95 grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/AUTHORS grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/COPYING grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/ChangeLog grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/NEWS grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/README grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/TODO grub /usr/share/doc/grub-0.95/menu.lst grub /usr/share/grub grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/e2fs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/fat_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/ffs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/iso9660_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/jfs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/minix_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/reiserfs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/stage1 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/stage2 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/stage2_eltorito grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/ufs2_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/vstafs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/grub/i386-redhat/xfs_stage1_5 grub /usr/share/info/grub.info.gz grub /usr/share/info/multiboot.info.gz grub /usr/share/man/man1/mbchk.1.gz grub /usr/share/man/man8/grub-install.8.gz grub /usr/share/man/man8/grub-md5-crypt.8.gz grub /usr/share/man/man8/grub-terminfo.8.gz grub /usr/share/man/man8/grub.8.gz #grub grub>root (hd0,0) Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83 grub> setup (hd0) Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... no Checking if "/grub/stage1" exists... no Error 15: File not found now I am pretty much stupmed I have read some threads, and it would seem that the problem is the grub.conf file. Sadly enough, I can not find any grub.conf file anywhere. If anyone has had a similar problem and knows how to fix this, I'd love your input. |
grub.conf often appears in /boot/grub as "menu.lst"
BUT--what you describe is not consistent with this file being missing. What does it do before it gets to the blinking cursor? You may want to consider simply starting over.... |
grub.conf often appears in /boot/grub as "menu.lst"
BUT--what you describe is not consistent with this file being missing. What does it do before it gets to the blinking cursor? You may want to consider simply starting over.... |
The dell bios screen lodas and then blinking cursor.
By starting over I assume you mean wipe the disk and reinstall? |
Quote:
To re-install, just boot from your install CD and do a clean install---no need to wipe first. |
Well the last thing I see is the dell bios loading screen...that's it. No grub loading, nothing, just straight to blinky cursor.
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I'm going on hunches here, so don't make major stock trades based on my advice.....;)
First, verify that you can boot up from a CD or floppy---This establishes the integrity of the hardware, bios, etc. Assuming all that's working, re-install from the Fedora CD. When prompted, put grub on a floppy--not the HD. Let us know if this works. (You did not mention dual-boot: If you have Windows on this machine, run the windows installer from CD, select "repair", and when you get to the console, type: "fixmbr". Reboot and verify that you can get to windows.) |
I can boot from an MS-DOS boot disk and the FC4 Rescue Disk. This works so I reinstalled Fedora Core CD.
I still boot straight to a blinking cursor after the Dell BIOS screen loads. How do I put grub on a floppy? I do not have a dual boot, there is only HD and one OS (FC 4). |
Hmmmm
the Fedora installer should have given you the option of putting grub on a floppy. What did it tell you about boot loader, grub, etc. during the install? The symptoms suggest that grub is not installed---but I thought in that case that there would be some kind of error message from the BIOS. |
OK i ran the Linux Rescue CD
#chroot /mnt/sysimage #grub-install hd0 so now when I boot I go straight to grub. when I tried to set the kernel grub>kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 as taken from GRUB manual http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...#GNU_002fLinux I get: Error 15: File not found What am I doing wrong or to say better now that I am booting into grub how do I get to Fedora Core? |
I'm rapidly getting in over my head here.....
I have tried to read the grub manual, but I am not totally comfortable with it. Using the rescue CD, can you see the file system for the FC4 installation? For example, if "grub>kernel /vmlinuz....etc" is supposed to boot your kernel, then you need the exact file name and path. On my machine it's : "vmlinuz-2.6.9-11.ELsmp", and it is in the /boot directory Thus (I think!!!) you would need: grub>kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.9-11.ELsmp.....etc." Obviously, you have to substitute the file name from your machine.... I'm still leaning towards re-install, but we ARE learning some stuff on the trail.....;) |
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