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neolithicvirgo 02-20-2005 01:00 PM

help! GRUB Stage2 error
 
after numerous installs of NLD, I still cant get my computer to display the GRUB bootloader. My knowledge of Linux is very limited, so any help would be appreciated.

-Andrew

Vlad-A 02-20-2005 01:19 PM

Can you please provide more details :
- How did you create your partitions (SuSE Intstaller, Windows, PartitioMagic, etc.) ?
- Did you format the partitions ?
- Where did you install your boot loader (root partition, floppy , /dev/hda, etc ?)
- What particular error it's displayed ? When GRUB displays an error loading stage 2
then there is also an error number. What's that number ?
- any other information you think it will be usefull

neolithicvirgo 02-20-2005 09:43 PM

The partitions were created with the installer.
I did format the partitions, I suppose. There wasn't a particular option like I have seen: total format or quick format...but I specified the NLD file system and the swap one. Boot loader...is there a choice as to where to install it? I think I put that on thelinux partition, not the swap one.

I don't see an error msg...it just hangs.

I think that should give us a fair start. I'd really like to get my machine working ;)

-A

neolithicvirgo 02-20-2005 10:03 PM

in addition, i thought I might be able to get an answer form this thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...highlight=grub

but I don't HAVE a grub.conf file!?? It doesn't make muc sense to me. Let me know please!

-A

Vlad-A 02-20-2005 10:19 PM

Can you boot the system, like described in the thread you pointed out ?
So by booting from the installation CD/DVD and then loading the installed system ?

If not, boot into rescue mode from the installation media and please provide an output
of your disk-partitions by running fdisk.

Like every distro Novell Linux Desktop gives you a way to select where to install the
boot loader. So where was it installed and on which partition did you install the
root partition (e.g. /dev/hda7) ? Do you also have a separate /boot partition ?
Is the boot loader installed on the MBR, root or boot partition or even floppy ?

Are you 100% sure that the installer partitioned your disk and the installation
was completed without any errors ?

neolithicvirgo 02-20-2005 10:47 PM

I don't know why I would have a boot partition...like a section of the HDD just for booting??


fdisk yields:

Device Boot Start End Blocks ID
/dev/hda 1 * 1 152061 766....+ 83

/dev/hda2 152062 155061 1512000 82

I just reinstalled NLD with GRUB on the Linux system. I had it modify the MBR.

Again, it hangs with the message Grub stage2...


Thx,
Andrew

Vlad-A 02-20-2005 11:55 PM

Hmmmm....
Seems that GRUB can't find it's stage 2.
Since you do not have a separate boot partition (you are right, you do not
need a separate boot partition) then stage 2 is supposed to be
on /boot on your /dev/hda1 which I assume is also your root partition.

1) Can you boot your installed system from your installation CD/DVD ?

If this does not work then boot into rescue mode.
Check if there is a /mnt mountpoint

ls /

Mount the /dev/hda1 partition.

mount /dev/hda1 -t auto /mnt

Now cd into /mnt/boot

Seee if there is the grub directory. If no then this is teh reason why stage 2 is not found.
If there then:
cd /mnt/boot/grub

Please provide the menu.lst and device.map found there

Now
cd /mnt/etc
Is there the grub.conf ? If yes please provide it.

By the way: What type (vendor) is your hard drive ?

You may also try to change the drive settings in your BIOS-ROM e.g. to LBA Modus or
AUTO Modus and reboot.

neolithicvirgo 02-21-2005 02:11 PM

Please provide the menu.lst and device.map found there

The only way I learned to look at files was to vim "filename", that's what i did!

device.map:

(hd0) /dev/hda

menu.lst:

# Modified by YaST2. Last Modification on Sun Feb 20 23:26:18 2005


color white/blue black/light-gray
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,0)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title Linux
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 vga=0x31a selinux=0 splash=silent resume=/dev/hda2 elevator=as showopts
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off vga=normal noresume selinux=0 barrier=off nosmp noapic maxcpus=0 3
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd

Now
cd /mnt/etc
Is there the grub.conf ? If yes please provide it.

grub.conf:
root (hd0,0)
install --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) /boot/grub/sage2 0x8000 (hd0,0)/bot/grub/menu.lst
quit



By the way: What type (vendor) is your hard drive ? I believe it is an IBM, i bought it about 2 years ago.

You may also try to change the drive settings in your BIOS-ROM e.g. to LBA Modus or
AUTO Modus and reboot.

You mean my bios when i start my comptuter? I don't know what Modus is :o. This is why I switched my major from CS, I was falling behind too fast. So, wow. I didn't think I could get a grub.conf, but you found it somewhere, I'm going to go look back over what I jsut printed out and learn where you're leading me. Thanks so much for this and further advice!!

-Andrew

Vlad-A 02-21-2005 03:02 PM

Andrew,

can it be that in following are typos ?
install --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) /boot/grub/sage2 0x8000 (hd0,0)/bot/grub/menu.lst

so instead: (hd0,0)/bot/grub/menu.lst there is infact (hd0,0)/boot/grub/menu.lst (so instead of ../bot there is ../boot)
and instead of /boot/grub/sage2 there is actually /boot/grub/stage2 (so stage2 instead of sage2) ?

Can you boot using the Failsafe option from the boot menu ?

And what happens if you do following: When you see the boot screen and select Linux.
Can you just type ide=nodma and press enter. Is the system booting ?

With BIOS I do mean BIOS when you start the computer. You have to enter the BIOS set-up and change the mode
setting for your drive.

If this does not help then boot again in failsafe. Mount /dev/hda1 under /mnt just like before.
Then type mount. This will give you the filesystem type of your root partition.

What is it (ext2, ext3, reiserfs) ?

now cd into /mnt/boot
cd /mnt/boot

what files are there and what files are under /mnt/boot/grub ?

neolithicvirgo 02-21-2005 03:27 PM

Those were indeed typos!! sorry.

Can you boot using the Failsafe option from the boot menu ?

I am getting a "bootmenu" from the NLD DVD with the following options:

Boot from hard disk (gives me the GRUB stage2... and nothing else)
Installation
Installation - ACPI Disabled
Installation - Safe Settings
Manual Installation
Rescue System (where I keep going to get your information)
Memory Test

And what happens if you do following: When you see the boot screen and select Linux.
Can you just type ide=nodma and press enter. Is the system booting ?

(What do you mean by this? I tried selection boot from hard disk and typing 'Linux' as well as ide=nodma' and 'Failsafe' in the option area at the bottom; all of these give me no response.)

With BIOS I do mean BIOS when you start the computer. You have to enter the BIOS set-up and change the mode
setting for your drive.

-->If you think this will help, I'll do it!

If this does not help then boot again in failsafe.

'Rescue System'?

Mount /dev/hda1 under /mnt just like before.
Then type mount. This will give you the filesystem type of your root partition.

What is it (ext2, ext3, reiserfs) ?

mount:

/dev/root on / type ext2 (rw)
..(random other things like proc tmpfs devpts and usbfs)..
/dev/hda1 on /mnt type reiserfs (rw)

now cd into /mnt/boot
cd /mnt/boot
what files are there and what files are under /mnt/boot/grub ?

Rescue:/mnt/boot/grub # ls

device.map
e2fs_stage1_5
fat_stage1_5
ffs_stage1_5
jfs_stage1_5
menu.lst
minix_stage1_5
nbgrub
pxegrub
reiserfs_stage1_5
stage1
stage2
stage2.netboot
vstafs_stage1_5
xfs_stage1_5

Hope that helps!
Andrew

neolithicvirgo 02-21-2005 11:56 PM

--==bump==--

Vlad-A 02-22-2005 12:53 AM

Did you try to change the setting for your hard-drive in the BIOS ROM ?
Try this first.

If this does not help, then install instead of GRUB the LILO Boot-loader.
Insert the Installation-Media and boot from it.

Select "Instalation". Select Language from the next screen.
After that following menu is displayed:
- New Installation
- Update an Existing system
- Repair Installed System
- Boot Installed System

Select from there "Reapir Installed system". From the next screen select "Expert Tools". After that select from the
next screen "Install New Boot Loader"

If the system shows you a partition table with availabe root partitions select yours: Your root partition is located on /dev/hda1

Now you will get to the boot loader config screen.

Click on Boot Loader Type and then the edit Button.
Select there LILO

You can keep the settings, so anser yes when you are asked to convert settings.

Make sure that you have in the boot loader location /dev/hda (so the MBR of your first disk)

Finish the Installation and reboot

neolithicvirgo 02-22-2005 07:47 AM

"This product only allows a new installation"

So, I can't hit repair or anything. I've tried Lilo before with similar results, but will do it again upon your request. Also, I didn't see anything resembling Modus for my HD in my BIOS. I looked under HDD's

Thanks for your advice...without it i'd be with windows still :)

-A

Vlad-A 02-22-2005 09:17 AM

OK, so what you see regarding the Disks in oyur BIOS ? Is there maybe
something called Advanced Set-up in the BIOS setup utility ?

Prior re-installing, let us have a last try. Boot again in rescue modus.
Invoke fdisk against /dev/hda
fdisk /dev/hda
and write the partition table. If it refuses, deactivate /dev/hda1 write part. table,
activate again /dev/hda1 write again the table.

neolithicvirgo 02-22-2005 06:39 PM

very odd!! I hit abort installation and I came to a NEW menu. Then I selected boot installed system and it went through a loading screen. a couple of failed to find something or other and ***Critical error*** and now it's asking for me to set up a root password and everything...I'll let you know what comes of it...

-A


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