GRUB problem?

Snorkelson MacBurp · External Since: Nov 13, 2005 Posts: 42

I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
blinking cursor after POST.

For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?

Michael Soibelman · External Since: May 10, 2007 Posts: 123

Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:

> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
> blinking cursor after POST.
>
> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?

Boot in with the method that works and run -> Yast -> System -> Boot Loader

Make sure everything looks good. Try rebooting without the disk and make
sure you haven't changed the BIOS to boot from DVD !!

John · External Since: Aug 08, 2007 Posts: 1

On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:05:06 -0400, Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:

> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
> blinking cursor after POST.
>
> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?

Did you check your BIOS settings at POST? If your BIOS is set to boot
only from the DVD, you need to change that to use whatever HD you want to
boot from.

Snorkelson MacBurp · External Since: Nov 13, 2005 Posts: 42

Michael Soibelman wrote:
> Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:
>
>> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
>> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
>> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
>> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
>> blinking cursor after POST.
>>
>> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
>> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
>> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
>> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?
>
> Boot in with the method that works and run -> Yast -> System -> Boot Loader
>
> Make sure everything looks good. Try rebooting without the disk and make
> sure you haven't changed the BIOS to boot from DVD !!

Everything looked OK but no go.
When I boot to the HDD from the install, it boots from / not /boot...

I tried to reinstall GRUB throught Yast and got yhis error:

"Error occured while installing GRUB

GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640lower/3072 upper memory)
[minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
lists the possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the
possible completions of a device/filename.]

grub>setup -stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,0)(hd0,0)

Error 21: Selected disk does not exist

grub>quit"

Should the hd0,0 be hda1 (where /boot is) or something like that?

--
..snork

Snorkelson MacBurp · External Since: Nov 13, 2005 Posts: 42

John wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:05:06 -0400, Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:
>
>> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
>> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
>> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
>> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
>> blinking cursor after POST.
>>
>> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
>> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
>> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
>> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?
>
> Did you check your BIOS settings at POST? If your BIOS is set to boot
> only from the DVD, you need to change that to use whatever HD you want to
> boot from.

It was DVD first, then HDD, but even after switching it, nothing. Sad

--
..snork

Rajko M. · External Since: Mar 27, 2005 Posts: 351

Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:

> Michael Soibelman wrote:
>> Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:
>>
>>> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
>>> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
>>> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
>>> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
>>> blinking cursor after POST.
>>>
>>> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
>>> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
>>> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
>>> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?
>>
>> Boot in with the method that works and run -> Yast -> System -> Boot
>> Loader
>>
>> Make sure everything looks good. Try rebooting without the disk and make
>> sure you haven't changed the BIOS to boot from DVD !!
>
> Everything looked OK but no go.
> When I boot to the HDD from the install, it boots from / not /boot...
>
> I tried to reinstall GRUB throught Yast and got yhis error:
>
> "Error occured while installing GRUB
>
> GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640lower/3072 upper memory)
> [minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
> lists the possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the
> possible completions of a device/filename.]
>
> grub>setup -stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,0)(hd0,0)
>
> Error 21: Selected disk does not exist
>
> grub>quit"
>
>
> Should the hd0,0 be hda1 (where /boot is) or something like that?
>

Grub knows /dev/hda1 as (hd0,0) so that is not error, it is notation that is
used by grub [note 1]. In openSUSE the /dev/hda1 is usually swap, so there
will be no directory /boot and all files inside.

With openSUSE 10.2 is used generic boot code in MBR (hd0) and one partition
marked as bootable. Generic code looks for bootable partition and then
executes code written in that partition's boot record in this case it is
grub boot code called stage1 that actually knows where to look for the rest
of files. This way it is easy to switch from one installed system to the
other using rescue disk and command fdisk to mark different partition as
bootable. This way bugs in installation program are easy to cure.

You have to provide YaST with exact root partition (marked as / )which you
can find in /etc/fstab or see in YaST Partitioner.

Here is another way to install grub if you suspect YaST bug.
Again, you should know which partition is used as root of file system. Look
in /etc/fstab of running system where is mounted / and using fdisk (better
cfdisk [note 2]) check if that partition is marked as active (or bootable),
if not mark it.

Then reboot and use as root console tool:
grub-install /dev/hdaN
where N is partition that is marked active. I guess in your case it will be
second partition ie.
grub-install /dev/hda2
but be carefull and don't assume that /dev/hda2 is right partion.
I had recently installed system where proposal was to create /hda2 as
extended partition and then /dev/hda5 as swap, /dev/hda6 as root, /dev/hda7
as /home. Though, this system had windows partition as /dev/hda1 and
proposal to use extended partition was good allowing future expansion.

If this doesn't report any errors you should be able to boot the system
without DVD help.

Notes:
[1] (hd0) is /dev/hda
(hd0,0) is /dev/hda1
(hd0,1) is /dev/hda2
....
(hd1) is /dev/hdb
(hd1,0) is /dev/hdb1
etc.

[2] cfdisk is text mode partitioner that uses whole screen and it is easier
to use than fdisk

--
Regards,
Rajko.

Snorkelson MacBurp · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 1

Rajko M. wrote:
> Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:
>
> > Michael Soibelman wrote:
> >> Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:
> >>
> >>> I have just installed 10.2 on a brand new hard drive, but the system
> >>> won't boot unless I choose to boot from the hard drive *after* I have
> >>> booted from the installation dvd *and* chosen to install first. If I try
> >>> to start up without the install dvd, I get a blank screen with a
> >>> blinking cursor after POST.
> >>>
> >>> For now, I'm guessing it's a GRUB issue, seeing as there is an
> >>> installed system that can be booted to in a round about way. I've done
> >>> some searching, but I haven't found anything covering this particular
> >>> issue. Is there anyone who can help me out on this?
> >>
> >> Boot in with the method that works and run -> Yast -> System -> Boot
> >> Loader
> >>
> >> Make sure everything looks good. Try rebooting without the disk and make
> >> sure you haven't changed the BIOS to boot from DVD !!
> >
> > Everything looked OK but no go.
> > When I boot to the HDD from the install, it boots from / not /boot...
> >
> > I tried to reinstall GRUB throught Yast and got yhis error:
> >
> > "Error occured while installing GRUB
> >
> > GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640lower/3072 upper memory)
> > [minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
> > lists the possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the
> > possible completions of a device/filename.]
> >
> > grub>setup -stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,0)(hd0,0)
> >
> > Error 21: Selected disk does not exist
> >
> > grub>quit"
> >
> >
> > Should the hd0,0 be hda1 (where /boot is) or something like that?
> >
>
> Grub knows /dev/hda1 as (hd0,0) so that is not error, it is notation that is
> used by grub [note 1]. In openSUSE the /dev/hda1 is usually swap, so there
> will be no directory /boot and all files inside.
>
> With openSUSE 10.2 is used generic boot code in MBR (hd0) and one partition
> marked as bootable. Generic code looks for bootable partition and then
> executes code written in that partition's boot record in this case it is
> grub boot code called stage1 that actually knows where to look for the rest
> of files. This way it is easy to switch from one installed system to the
> other using rescue disk and command fdisk to mark different partition as
> bootable. This way bugs in installation program are easy to cure.
>
> You have to provide YaST with exact root partition (marked as / )which you
> can find in /etc/fstab or see in YaST Partitioner.
>
> Here is another way to install grub if you suspect YaST bug.
> Again, you should know which partition is used as root of file system. Look
> in /etc/fstab of running system where is mounted / and using fdisk (better
> cfdisk [note 2]) check if that partition is marked as active (or bootable),
> if not mark it.
>
> Then reboot and use as root console tool:
> grub-install /dev/hdaN
> where N is partition that is marked active. I guess in your case it will be
> second partition ie.
> grub-install /dev/hda2
> but be carefull and don't assume that /dev/hda2 is right partion.
> I had recently installed system where proposal was to create /hda2 as
> extended partition and then /dev/hda5 as swap, /dev/hda6 as root, /dev/hda7
> as /home. Though, this system had windows partition as /dev/hda1 and
> proposal to use extended partition was good allowing future expansion.
>
> If this doesn't report any errors you should be able to boot the system
> without DVD help.
>
> Notes:
> [1] (hd0) is /dev/hda
> (hd0,0) is /dev/hda1
> (hd0,1) is /dev/hda2
> ...
> (hd1) is /dev/hdb
> (hd1,0) is /dev/hdb1
> etc.
>
> [2] cfdisk is text mode partitioner that uses whole screen and it is easier
> to use than fdisk
>
> --
> Regards,
> Rajko.

Thanks for the help. I've installed Suse numerous times since 9.0, and
this is the first time I've had this issue. I tried 3 different
installation media, two different HDDs, and several partitioning
schemes, but no luck. I've just installed Kubuntu (with no issues),
and I think I will play with it for a while before going back to Suse,
which I always seem to do. Smile

--
..snork

Rajko M. · External Since: Mar 27, 2005 Posts: 351

Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:

> Thanks for the help. I've installed Suse numerous times since 9.0, and
> this is the first time I've had this issue. I tried 3 different
> installation media, two different HDDs, and several partitioning
> schemes, but no luck. I've just installed Kubuntu (with no issues),
> and I think I will play with it for a while before going back to Suse,
> which I always seem to do. Smile

>

I installed it right after new version was available and I'm not impressed.
See you after 10.3 release Wink

--
Regards,
Rajko.

Ron Gibson · External Since: Apr 28, 2004 Posts: 1359

On Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:10:21 -0400, Snorkelson MacBurp wrote:

>> Did you check your BIOS settings at POST? If your BIOS is set to boot
>> only from the DVD, you need to change that to use whatever HD you want
>> to boot from.

> It was DVD first, then HDD, but even after switching it, nothing. Sad

Boot from a live CD like Knoppix or Slax and do...

dmesg |less ---Look for HD partitioning information

run cfdisk
run mount

Use that information to modify or correct errors in your configuration
files.

--
Linux Help: http://rsgibson.com/linux.htm
Email - rsgibson.RemoveThis@verizon.borg
Replace borg with net