Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Richard Fish]

On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
> swapspace is on /dev/sda2,  /boot is on /dev/sda1, and root is on /dev/sda6

[snip]

> My grub.conf file is as follows:
>
> default=0
> timeout=30
> splashimage=(hd0,5)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
> title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
>   root (hd0,5)
>   kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
>   initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8

You have a separate /boot partition, so you should reference things on
*that* partition.  So your grub.conf should be:

default=0
timeout=30
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
    kernel (hd0,0)/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8
root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev
vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
    initrd (hd0,0)/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8

> When I run grub-install /dev/sda, it reports no errors.
>
> The device.map file contains the following
> (hd0)      /dev/sda

This is correct if the BIOS is setup to boot from the SATA drive
before any IDE hard disks.

I never really liked grub-install.  Try:

cat << EOF | grub --device-map=/boot/grub/device.map
root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)
EOF

The most important line from the above is one that looks like this:

Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+18 p
(hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded

If you don't see this, post what you do see.

-Richard
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Jeff Cranmer]

Hi Richard,

The full output from running your suggested command after editing the grub.conf file per your instructions was

 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
 Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage_1_5" exists... yes
 Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  15 sectors are embedded.
succeeded
 Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
Done.

I still have the same response when I try to reboot :-(

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Fish <bigfish@asmallpond.org>
>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 3:05 PM
>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>
>On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
>> swapspace is on /dev/sda2,  /boot is on /dev/sda1, and root is on /dev/sda6
>
>[snip]
>
>> My grub.conf file is as follows:
>>
>> default=0
>> timeout=30
>> splashimage=(hd0,5)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
>> title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
>>   root (hd0,5)
>>   kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
>>   initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8
>
>You have a separate /boot partition, so you should reference things on
>*that* partition.  So your grub.conf should be:
>
>default=0
>timeout=30
>splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
>title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
>    kernel (hd0,0)/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8
>root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev
>vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
>    initrd (hd0,0)/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8
>
>> When I run grub-install /dev/sda, it reports no errors.
>>
>> The device.map file contains the following
>> (hd0)      /dev/sda
>
>This is correct if the BIOS is setup to boot from the SATA drive
>before any IDE hard disks.
>
>I never really liked grub-install.  Try:
>
>cat << EOF | grub --device-map=/boot/grub/device.map
>root (hd0,0)
>setup (hd0)
>EOF
>
>The most important line from the above is one that looks like this:
>
>Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+18 p
>(hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
>
>If you don't see this, post what you do see.
>
>-Richard
>-- 
>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Jeff Cranmer]

PS:  The /boot/grub/devices.map presently contains
(hd0)  /dev/sda
(hd1)  /dev/hde
(hd2)  /dev/hdh

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net>
>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 3:55 PM
>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>
>Hi Richard,
>
>The full output from running your suggested command after editing the grub.conf file per your instructions was
>
> Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
> Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
> Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage_1_5" exists... yes
> Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  15 sectors are embedded.
>succeeded
> Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
>Done.
>
>I still have the same response when I try to reboot :-(
>
>Jeff
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Richard Fish <bigfish@asmallpond.org>
>>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 3:05 PM
>>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>>
>>On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> swapspace is on /dev/sda2,  /boot is on /dev/sda1, and root is on /dev/sda6
>>
>>[snip]
>>
>>> My grub.conf file is as follows:
>>>
>>> default=0
>>> timeout=30
>>> splashimage=(hd0,5)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
>>> title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
>>>   root (hd0,5)
>>>   kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
>>>   initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8
>>
>>You have a separate /boot partition, so you should reference things on
>>*that* partition.  So your grub.conf should be:
>>
>>default=0
>>timeout=30
>>splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
>>title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.17-r8
>>    kernel (hd0,0)/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2,6,17-gentoo-r8
>>root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda6 udev
>>vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap doscsi
>>    initrd (hd0,0)/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r8
>>
>>> When I run grub-install /dev/sda, it reports no errors.
>>>
>>> The device.map file contains the following
>>> (hd0)      /dev/sda
>>
>>This is correct if the BIOS is setup to boot from the SATA drive
>>before any IDE hard disks.
>>
>>I never really liked grub-install.  Try:
>>
>>cat << EOF | grub --device-map=/boot/grub/device.map
>>root (hd0,0)
>>setup (hd0)
>>EOF
>>
>>The most important line from the above is one that looks like this:
>>
>>Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+18 p
>>(hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
>>
>>If you don't see this, post what you do see.
>>
>>-Richard
>>-- 
>>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>>
>
>-- 
>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>
-- 
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Richard Fish]

On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi Richard,
>
> The full output from running your suggested command after editing the grub.conf file per your instructions was
>
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
>  Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage_1_5" exists... yes
>  Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  15 sectors are embedded.
> succeeded
>  Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
> Done.
>
> I still have the same response when I try to reboot :-(

Hmm, possibly the BIOS ordering is still dodgy.

What exactly happens when you reboot?  Do you end up at a "grub> "
prompt?  If so, try running "find /grub/splash.xpm.gz" at that prompt.

-Richard
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Jeff Cranmer]

Unfortunately, no prompt appears.  It just hangs at the boot-up screen, repeatedly adding 'GRUB' to the top line of text.

I tried installing Mandriva Linux 2007 using Lilo in text form, and that also failed (repeatedly adding '99' to the top line on the screen.  It also crashed when I tried to install an old Windoze 98 SE installation, hanging at the point at which it tried to format the drive for the OS.

I'm going to borrow a Windows 2000 or XP OS and see if that will install.  If that fails, or unless someone comes up with any other solutions, I'll take the computer back to the shop :-/

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Fish <bigfish@asmallpond.org>
>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 6:27 PM
>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>
>On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Hi Richard,
>>
>> The full output from running your suggested command after editing the grub.conf file per your instructions was
>>
>>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
>>  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
>>  Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage_1_5" exists... yes
>>  Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  15 sectors are embedded.
>> succeeded
>>  Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+15 p (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
>> Done.
>>
>> I still have the same response when I try to reboot :-(
>
>Hmm, possibly the BIOS ordering is still dodgy.
>
>What exactly happens when you reboot?  Do you end up at a "grub> "
>prompt?  If so, try running "find /grub/splash.xpm.gz" at that prompt.
>
>-Richard
>-- 
>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>

-- 
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Joe Menola]

On Sunday 29 October 2006 6:49 pm, Jeff Cranmer wrote:
> I'm going to borrow a Windows 2000 or XP OS and see if that will install.
>  If that fails, or unless someone comes up with any other solutions, I'll
> take the computer back to the shop :-/

It seems to me that bios and grub have different ideas as to what the drive 
order is. I'd check bios for a drive order option.

-jm

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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Jeff Cranmer]

The Bios drive order appears to be correct.  The 250MD SATA drive is top of the hard drive order list, and I'm stumped.

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
>From: Joe Menola <menola@sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 8:06 PM
>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>
>On Sunday 29 October 2006 6:49 pm, Jeff Cranmer wrote:
>> I'm going to borrow a Windows 2000 or XP OS and see if that will install.
>> �If that fails, or unless someone comes up with any other solutions, I'll
>> take the computer back to the shop :-/
>
>It seems to me that bios and grub have different ideas as to what the drive 
>order is. I'd check bios for a drive order option.
>
>-jm
>
>-- 
>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>


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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[David Relson]

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:02:43 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Jeff Cranmer wrote:

> The Bios drive order appears to be correct.  The 250MD SATA drive is
> top of the hard drive order list, and I'm stumped.
> 
> Jeff

Perhaps simplifying the environment might help diagnose the problem.
Have you considered disconnecting all drives except the boot
drive ... ???
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Brett I. Holcomb]

I can't remember - is grub trying to boot off the RAID?  I found grub couldn't 
handle my SCSI RAID and when I checked it was a known issue?

On Sunday October 29 2006 21:14, David Relson wrote:

> On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:02:43 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
>
> Jeff Cranmer wrote:
> > The Bios drive order appears to be correct.  The 250MD SATA drive is
> > top of the hard drive order list, and I'm stumped.
> >
> > Jeff
>
> Perhaps simplifying the environment might help diagnose the problem.
> Have you considered disconnecting all drives except the boot
> drive ... ???

-- 

Brett I. Holcomb
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Richard Fish]

On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Unfortunately, no prompt appears.  It just hangs at the boot-up screen, repeatedly adding 'GRUB' to the top line of text.

Hmm, "GRUB" isn't very informative.  That particular string should
only be printed once when the stage1 loader (the part that is
installed in your MBR) executes.  If this is appearing multiple times,
my best guess is that your stage1 file in /boot/grub/ is corrupt, or
was somehow built incorrectly.  You don't have "custom-cflags" in USE,
do you?

What does "equery check grub" and "md5sum /lib/grub/i386-pc/stage1
/boot/grub/stage1" report?

-Richard
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Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems

[Jeff Cranmer]

I think I have something more basic (i.e. hardware-related) than that.  I've tried installs of Fedora Core 6 and Mandriva Linux with the same result, and both Lilo and Grub fail.  I'm going to take out the raid card tonight and step down to a single drive and see if I can get around the issue that way.

There were no custom CFLAGS in use, and I built it from the stage3 tarball.  Unfortunately, I've already wiped that particular attempt during last night's diagnosis process, so I can't do the checks you suggest.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Fish <bigfish@asmallpond.org>
>Sent: Oct 29, 2006 10:48 PM
>To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
>Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Grub problems
>
>On 10/29/06, Jeff Cranmer <jcranmer01@earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Unfortunately, no prompt appears.  It just hangs at the boot-up screen, repeatedly adding 'GRUB' to the top line of text.
>
>Hmm, "GRUB" isn't very informative.  That particular string should
>only be printed once when the stage1 loader (the part that is
>installed in your MBR) executes.  If this is appearing multiple times,
>my best guess is that your stage1 file in /boot/grub/ is corrupt, or
>was somehow built incorrectly.  You don't have "custom-cflags" in USE,
>do you?
>
>What does "equery check grub" and "md5sum /lib/grub/i386-pc/stage1
>/boot/grub/stage1" report?
>
>-Richard
>-- 
>gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
>

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