Re: [gentoo-user] Grub boots to command prompt

[Daniel D Jones <ddjones@riddlemaster.org>]

On Thursday 24 December 2009 10:52:08 Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Thursday 24 December 2009 15:52:37 Daniel D Jones wrote:
> > Just did a stage 3 install following a HD crash on a new HD.  The initial
> > install went without issue and I booted from the HD normally.  I then
> > went through and installed a bunch of packages - xorg, kde, etc.  I
> > installed genkernel, compiled a custom kernel, and updated
> > /boot/grub/menu.lst.
> >
> > Upon rebooting, I ended up at a grub command line.  I can setup the hard
> >  drive without errors:
> >
> > grub> root (hd0,0)
> >  Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
> >
> > grub> setup (hd0)
> >  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
> >  Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
> >  Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
> >  Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0)"...  17 sectors are
> >  embedded. succeeded
> >  Running "install /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0) (hd0)1+17 p
> >  (hd0,0)/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/menu.lst"... succeeded
> > Done.
> >
> > No errors, says everything's good.  Reboot and I'm right back at the
> >  command line.
> >
> > I can do
> >
> > root (hd0,0)
> > kernel = /vmlinuz-blah
> > boot
> >
> > and boot into the system, so I know the system and hd0,0 is bootable. 
> > (I'm writing this message on it after doing the above.)
> >
> > There are three hard drives in the system.  I've verified that the BIOS
> > is set to boot from the first hard drive, which grub sees as hd0.  I've
> > also, just to test it out, setup grub on hd1 and hd2, with hd0,0 set as
> > root.  I
> 
>                                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> >  still get the same thing.
> 
> Your next paragraph indicates that (hd0,0) is not in fact root, but (what
>  will eventually be) /boot.
> 
> Your root is likely to be (hd0,2)

Eh?  Your grub root should be where grub is installed, shouldn't it?  That's 
/dev/sda1 on my system, which grub sees as hd (0,0).  When the file system is 
mounted, that partition mounted under /boot but grub still needs to know where 
to find the menu.lst and various stage files on initial boot, and that's hd 
(0,0).

-- 
"Believe nothing, O monks, merely because you have been told it ... or because 
it is traditional, or because you yourselves have imagined it. Do not believe 
what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But 
whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be conducive to the 
good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings-that doctrine believe and cling 
to, and take it as your guide." - Gautama Buddha, Indian philosopher 
(536?-483? B.C.)