[gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Hello all,

I just built a new machine (celeron 3 GHz) using a script that builds
the kernel using genkernel and a config that is copied from that of the
kernel on the install cd.  The latter was downloaded and burned from a
very recent autobuild.

The build process appears to complete successfully, with nothing
untoward in the logs.  However, the machine will not boot but hangs at
this point in the process:

root (hd0,0)

Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7 root=/dev/ram0 init=linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda3 vga=791

[Linux-bzImage, setup=0x3000, size=0x2a8d80]

This is the grub.conf:

default 0
timeout 5

title Gentoo genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7
root (hd0,0)

kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda3 vga=791
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7

I have verified that the names of the kernel and initrd on the disk
match those in grub.conf.  In any case a wrong filename is usually
signalled as 'not found' during the boot process.

Can anyone suggest how to debug this?

Thanks,
Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Mick]

On 6 May 2010 09:37, Roger Mason <rmason@mun.ca> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I just built a new machine (celeron 3 GHz) using a script that builds
> the kernel using genkernel and a config that is copied from that of the
> kernel on the install cd.  The latter was downloaded and burned from a
> very recent autobuild.
>
> The build process appears to complete successfully, with nothing
> untoward in the logs.  However, the machine will not boot but hangs at
> this point in the process:
>
> root (hd0,0)
>
> Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
> kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7 root=/dev/ram0 init=linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda3 vga=791
>
> [Linux-bzImage, setup=0x3000, size=0x2a8d80]
>
> This is the grub.conf:
>
> default 0
> timeout 5
>
> title Gentoo genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7
> root (hd0,0)
>
> kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7 root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk=8192 real_root=/dev/sda3 vga=791
> initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86-2.6.32-gentoo-r7
>
> I have verified that the names of the kernel and initrd on the disk
> match those in grub.conf.  In any case a wrong filename is usually
> signalled as 'not found' during the boot process.
>
> Can anyone suggest how to debug this?

When I get problems like this I usually run grub in a terminal and
then use autocompletion to find out what grub sees:

root (hd      <--tab

it will list all partitions and hopefully help you find your boot partition.

Then search for the kernel image:  kernel /boot/       <--tab

If you have chosen the correct grub root partition you should find
your kernel image in there.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> writes:

> On 6 May 2010 09:37, Roger Mason <rmason@mun.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Can anyone suggest how to debug this?
>
> When I get problems like this I usually run grub in a terminal and
> then use autocompletion to find out what grub sees:
>
> root (hd      <--tab
>
> it will list all partitions and hopefully help you find your boot partition.
>
> Then search for the kernel image:  kernel /boot/       <--tab
>
> If you have chosen the correct grub root partition you should find
> your kernel image in there.

I assume you mean to boot from the install CD then chroot into the new
install and run grub from bash?

Thanks,
Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Mick]

On 6 May 2010 13:38, Roger Mason <rmason@mun.ca> wrote:
> Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> On 6 May 2010 09:37, Roger Mason <rmason@mun.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>> Can anyone suggest how to debug this?
>>
>> When I get problems like this I usually run grub in a terminal and
>> then use autocompletion to find out what grub sees:
>>
>> root (hd      <--tab
>>
>> it will list all partitions and hopefully help you find your boot partition.
>>
>> Then search for the kernel image:  kernel /boot/       <--tab
>>
>> If you have chosen the correct grub root partition you should find
>> your kernel image in there.
>
> I assume you mean to boot from the install CD then chroot into the new
> install and run grub from bash?

Yes, use a live CD, chroot, su to root and run grub from a terminal.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 06 May 2010 10:08:42 -0230, Roger Mason wrote:

> I assume you mean to boot from the install CD then chroot into the new
> install and run grub from bash?

Press c at the GRUB menu.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten per cent of its
capacity ... the rest is overhead for the operating system.

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Dale]

Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 06 May 2010 10:08:42 -0230, Roger Mason wrote:
>
>    
>> I assume you mean to boot from the install CD then chroot into the new
>> install and run grub from bash?
>>      
> Press c at the GRUB menu.
>
>
>    

Did you mean press e ?

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 06 May 2010 08:34:49 -0500, Dale wrote:

> > Press c at the GRUB menu.

> Did you mean press e ?

No.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

RAM DISK is NOT an installation procedure!

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Dale]

Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 06 May 2010 08:34:49 -0500, Dale wrote:
>
>    
>>> Press c at the GRUB menu.
>>>        
>    
>> Did you mean press e ?
>>      
> No.
>
>    

I don't see anything in the man page about hitting the c key.  What does 
that do?  I've used e, b and such but never heard of c.

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 06 May 2010 10:03:59 -0500, Dale wrote:

> >> Did you mean press e ?
> >>        
> > No.

> I don't see anything in the man page about hitting the c key.  What
> does that do?  I've used e, b and such but never heard of c.

It drops you to the grub command line, it's documented on the GRUB menu
screen itself, just after it tells you about e.

-- 
Neil Bothwick

There was a young man from the border
Who had an attention disorder.
When he reached the last line
He would run out of time
And

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Dale]

Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Thu, 06 May 2010 10:03:59 -0500, Dale wrote:
>
>    
>>>> Did you mean press e ?
>>>>
>>>>          
>>> No.
>>>        
>    
>> I don't see anything in the man page about hitting the c key.  What
>> does that do?  I've used e, b and such but never heard of c.
>>      
> It drops you to the grub command line, it's documented on the GRUB menu
> screen itself, just after it tells you about e.
>
>    

Oh OK.  I didn't reboot and read that part.  lol  I learned something 
today.  Just hope I will remember it when I need it.    ;-)

Thanks.

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Mick]

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On Thursday 06 May 2010 17:03:54 Dale wrote:
> Neil Bothwick wrote:
> > On Thu, 06 May 2010 10:03:59 -0500, Dale wrote:
> >>>> Did you mean press e ?
> >>>
> >>> No.
> >>
> >> I don't see anything in the man page about hitting the c key.  What
> >> does that do?  I've used e, b and such but never heard of c.
> >
> > It drops you to the grub command line, it's documented on the GRUB menu
> > screen itself, just after it tells you about e.
> 
> Oh OK.  I didn't reboot and read that part.  lol  I learned something
> today.  Just hope I will remember it when I need it.    ;-)

'c' is good as long as the error is only with the GRUB entry.  I usually find 
that on new installs the causes of failure to boot may be deeper and I will 
need to chroot back into the installation to fix things; e.g. reconfigure the 
kernel, add drivers and what not.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Fri, 7 May 2010 07:28:00 +0100, Mick wrote:

> > > It drops you to the grub command line, it's documented on the GRUB
> > > menu screen itself, just after it tells you about e.  
> > 
> > Oh OK.  I didn't reboot and read that part.  lol  I learned something
> > today.  Just hope I will remember it when I need it.    ;-)  
> 
> 'c' is good as long as the error is only with the GRUB entry.  I
> usually find that on new installs the causes of failure to boot may be
> deeper and I will need to chroot back into the installation to fix
> things; e.g. reconfigure the kernel, add drivers and what not.

Indeed, but in this case the question was about getting to a grub
proompt, and pressing c is a lot simpler than digging out a live CD,
rebooting and setting up a chroot.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Roger Mason <rmason@mun.ca> writes:

>>> Can anyone suggest how to debug this?

Egg on face.  The processor is listed in the bios as Intel EM64T.

Does that mean I should re-build this as an amd64 system?  If the answer
to that is yes, then I don't understand why the x86 install CD booted
without problems.

Cheers,
Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Walter Dnes]

On Thu, May 06, 2010 at 11:49:01AM -0230, Roger Mason wrote

> Egg on face.  The processor is listed in the bios as Intel EM64T.
> 
> Does that mean I should re-build this as an amd64 system?

  No, it's not necessary.  64-bit Intel and AMD cpus will run 32-bit
mode without problems.  It's your decision which one to use.  General
rule of thumb...

- If you have 4 gigs or more of RAM, the 64-bit OS will take better
  advantage of it than a 32-bit OS.

- If you have 3 gigs or less of RAM, stick with 32-bit.

  I'm running 32-bit mode on an Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 and it
works fine.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org>

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure [solved]

[Roger Mason]

"Walter Dnes" <waltdnes@waltdnes.org> writes:

> On Thu, May 06, 2010 at 11:49:01AM -0230, Roger Mason wrote
>
>> Egg on face.  The processor is listed in the bios as Intel EM64T.
>> 
>> Does that mean I should re-build this as an amd64 system?
>
>   No, it's not necessary.  64-bit Intel and AMD cpus will run 32-bit
> mode without problems.  It's your decision which one to use.  General
> rule of thumb...
>
> - If you have 4 gigs or more of RAM, the 64-bit OS will take better
>   advantage of it than a 32-bit OS.
>
> - If you have 3 gigs or less of RAM, stick with 32-bit.
>
>   I'm running 32-bit mode on an Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 and it
> works fine.

I did some reading and found that Grub does not work on this hardware.
I installed and configured lilo and the system booted.

Cheers,
Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Peter Humphrey]

On Thursday 06 May 2010 12:52:55 Mick wrote:

> When I get problems like this I usually run grub in a terminal and
> then use autocompletion to find out what grub sees:
> 
> root (hd      <--tab
> 
> it will list all partitions and hopefully help you find your boot
> partition.
> 
> Then search for the kernel image:  kernel /boot/       <--tab
> 
> If you have chosen the correct grub root partition you should find
> your kernel image in there.

The problem with that is that grub in a running system may detect the 
disks in a different order from the booting grub. Better would be to 
interrupt the boot with e or (as Neil suggested) c. Either will allow 
you to use the Tab key to find disks, partitions and images.

-- 
Rgds
Peter.

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Stroller]

On 6 May 2010, at 09:37, Roger Mason wrote:
> ...
> I just built a new machine (celeron 3 GHz) using a script that builds
> the kernel using genkernel and a config that is copied from that of  
> the
> kernel on the install cd.

Are you sure ext[234] is compiled statically into the kernel in  
this .config?
Also the drivers for the EIDE / SATA controller.

The liveCD configs I've seen generally store these as modules. I, too,  
usually take a copy of the config from a working LiveCD when I compile  
a kernel, but I *always* have to change something.

Stroller.

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Stroller <stroller@stellar.eclipse.co.uk> writes:

> On 6 May 2010, at 09:37, Roger Mason wrote:
>> ...
>> I just built a new machine (celeron 3 GHz) using a script that builds
>> the kernel using genkernel and a config that is copied from that of
>> the
>> kernel on the install cd.
>
> Are you sure ext[234] is compiled statically into the kernel in this
> .config?

Yes.

> Also the drivers for the EIDE / SATA controller.
>
> The liveCD configs I've seen generally store these as modules. I, too,
> usually take a copy of the config from a working LiveCD when I compile
> a kernel, but I *always* have to change something.

This what grep SATA kernel-config says:

# CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE_SATA is not set
CONFIG_SATA_PMP=y
CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=m
CONFIG_SATA_SIL24=m
CONFIG_SATA_SVW=m
CONFIG_SATA_MV=m
CONFIG_SATA_NV=m
CONFIG_SATA_QSTOR=m
CONFIG_SATA_PROMISE=m
CONFIG_SATA_SX4=m
CONFIG_SATA_SIL=m
CONFIG_SATA_SIS=m
CONFIG_SATA_ULI=m
CONFIG_SATA_VIA=m
CONFIG_SATA_VITESSE=m
CONFIG_SATA_INIC162X=m

lspci says:
00:12.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA

So, what must I set?

Thanks for the help.

Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Helmut Jarausch]

On  6 May, Roger Mason wrote:
> Stroller <stroller@stellar.eclipse.co.uk> writes:
> 
>> On 6 May 2010, at 09:37, Roger Mason wrote:
>>> ...
>>> I just built a new machine (celeron 3 GHz) using a script that builds
>>> the kernel using genkernel and a config that is copied from that of
>>> the
>>> kernel on the install cd.
>>
>> Are you sure ext[234] is compiled statically into the kernel in this
>> .config?
> 
> Yes.
> 
>> Also the drivers for the EIDE / SATA controller.
>>
>> The liveCD configs I've seen generally store these as modules. I, too,
>> usually take a copy of the config from a working LiveCD when I compile
>> a kernel, but I *always* have to change something.
> 
> This what grep SATA kernel-config says:
> 
> # CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE_SATA is not set
> CONFIG_SATA_PMP=y
> CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIL24=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SVW=m
> CONFIG_SATA_MV=m
> CONFIG_SATA_NV=m
> CONFIG_SATA_QSTOR=m
> CONFIG_SATA_PROMISE=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SX4=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIL=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIS=m
> CONFIG_SATA_ULI=m
> CONFIG_SATA_VIA=m
> CONFIG_SATA_VITESSE=m
> CONFIG_SATA_INIC162X=m
> 
> lspci says:
> 00:12.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA
> 
> So, what must I set?
> 
> Thanks for the help.
> 

Check the BIOS if it supports AHCI SATA. Select it if possible.
Then set  CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=y (not m, since the kernel must be
able to access the disk to load any module).

Helmut.

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Thu, 06 May 2010 13:07:37 -0230, Roger Mason wrote:

> This what grep SATA kernel-config says:
> 
> # CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE_SATA is not set
> CONFIG_SATA_PMP=y
> CONFIG_SATA_AHCI=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIL24=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SVW=m
> CONFIG_SATA_MV=m
> CONFIG_SATA_NV=m
> CONFIG_SATA_QSTOR=m
> CONFIG_SATA_PROMISE=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SX4=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIL=m
> CONFIG_SATA_SIS=m
> CONFIG_SATA_ULI=m
> CONFIG_SATA_VIA=m
> CONFIG_SATA_VITESSE=m
> CONFIG_SATA_INIC162X=m
> 
> lspci says:
> 00:12.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA
> 
> So, what must I set?

Read the help for each one, if still unsure enable them all. Or, as
Helmut suggested, switch your BIOS to use AHCI.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

NOTE: In order to control energy costs the light at the end
of the tunnel has been shut off until further notice...

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Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Andrea Conti]

> Are you sure ext[234] is compiled statically into the kernel in this
> .config?
> Also the drivers for the EIDE / SATA controller.

Missing FS and/or controller drivers will result in a regular kernel
boot with a panic at the end, when it's time to mount root and load init.

In this case grubs seems to load the kernel image, but the kernel hangs
before printing anything.

I would check the processor type setting (A 3GHz Celeron should be
P4-based) and/or muck around with ACPI. Also try disabling framebuffer
drivers and using a plain VGA console.

Leave all advanced settings in your bios to their defaults.

And no, EM64T just means it *can* run amd64 -- i686 is fine and IMO a
lot better for that kind of hardware if you do not absolutely need to
run 64-bit code for some reason.

andrea

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Hello Andrea,

Andrea Conti <alyf@alyf.net> writes:

> I would check the processor type setting (A 3GHz Celeron should be
> P4-based) and/or muck around with ACPI. Also try disabling framebuffer
> drivers and using a plain VGA console.
>
> Leave all advanced settings in your bios to their defaults.
>
> And no, EM64T just means it *can* run amd64 -- i686 is fine and IMO a
> lot better for that kind of hardware if you do not absolutely need to
> run 64-bit code for some reason.

That is what I thought.

I looked into the BIOS: no AHCI support.  I edited the genkernel .config
and set the various SATA drivers as built-in.  There seemed to be
nothing wrong with grub or its configuration (I rebuilt it anyway, just
in case).  In the end I gave up and installed the machine as an amd64.
I may know today how that turned out: my install script shuts the
machine down at the end and I'll need to get someone to re-boot it for
me as I'm not in the office.

I'll let you know what happened.

Thanks Andrea and everyone else for your help.

Roger

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Helmut Jarausch]

On  7 May, Roger Mason wrote:
> Hello Andrea,
> 
> Andrea Conti <alyf@alyf.net> writes:
> 
>> I would check the processor type setting (A 3GHz Celeron should be
>> P4-based) and/or muck around with ACPI. Also try disabling framebuffer
>> drivers and using a plain VGA console.
>>
>> Leave all advanced settings in your bios to their defaults.
>>
>> And no, EM64T just means it *can* run amd64 -- i686 is fine and IMO a
>> lot better for that kind of hardware if you do not absolutely need to
>> run 64-bit code for some reason.
> 
> That is what I thought.
> 
> I looked into the BIOS: no AHCI support.  I edited the genkernel .config
> and set the various SATA drivers as built-in.  There seemed to be
> nothing wrong with grub or its configuration (I rebuilt it anyway, just
> in case).  In the end I gave up and installed the machine as an amd64.
> I may know today how that turned out: my install script shuts the
> machine down at the end and I'll need to get someone to re-boot it for
> me as I'm not in the office.
> 
> I'll let you know what happened.
> 
> Thanks Andrea and everyone else for your help.
> 

One more hint (that I've got earlier on this list)

Boot from a rescue CD  (preferably
http://www.sysresccd.org/
)

then execute
lspci -k

it shows you all drivers that have been selected during boot.

Good luck,
Helmut.


-- 
Helmut Jarausch

Lehrstuhl fuer Numerische Mathematik
RWTH - Aachen University
D 52056 Aachen, Germany

Re: [gentoo-user] x86 boot failure

[Roger Mason]

Helmut Jarausch <jarausch@igpm.rwth-aachen.de> writes:

> One more hint (that I've got earlier on this list)

> Boot from a rescue CD  (preferably
> http://www.sysresccd.org/
> )
>
> then execute
> lspci -k

> it shows you all drivers that have been selected during boot.

Many thanks fir the information.

Cheers,
Roger

[gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[claude angéloz]

Hello,

I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.

I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools

- install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.

- a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
but actually no succesful...
but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
 
I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
support.

I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?

If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?

Thanks
Best regards
Claude 

Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Mick]

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On Saturday 08 May 2010 15:16:36 claude angéloz wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
> reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
> partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
> can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
> 
> I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
> 
> - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
> 
> - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
> but actually no succesful...
> but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
> 
> I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
> macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
> support.
> 
> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
> 
> If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
> Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?
> 
> Thanks
> Best regards
> Claude

I do not have either an efi machine or a gpt disk to know for sure, but 
perhaps the following two applications may be of help in creating a EFI 
binary:


* sys-boot/mbr-gpt
     Available versions:  
                ~       0.0.1 "~x86 ~amd64"
     Homepage:            http://aybabtu.com/mbr-gpt/
     Description:         An MBR that can handle BIOS-based boot on GPT.

* sys-boot/gnu-efi
     Available versions:  
                *       3.0a-r1 "ia64 x86"
                ~       3.0e "~ia64 ~x86 ~amd64"
                ~       3.0g "~amd64 ia64 ~x86"
                ~       3.0i "~amd64 ~ia64 ~x86"
     Homepage:            http://developer.intel.com/technology/efi
     Description:         Library for build EFI Applications

Instructions for installing, booting using EFI systems are here:

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-
ia64.xml?style=printable&part=1&chap=2

HTH
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Paul Hartman]

On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM, claude angéloz
<claude.angeloz@bluewin.ch> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
> reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
> partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
> can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
>
> I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
>
> - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
>
> - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
> but actually no succesful...
> but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
>
> I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
> macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
> support.
>
> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
>
> If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
> Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?

I'm using GPT partitions and with the grub-0.97-r9 in Gentoo it has
patches to boot from GPT disks. I just did normal grub install as
usual and everything seems to work. I'm not using the partition label,
though, but only "root (hd0,0)"

Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Mick]

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On Monday 10 May 2010 17:01:02 Paul Hartman wrote:
> On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM, claude angéloz
> 
> <claude.angeloz@bluewin.ch> wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
> > reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
> > partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
> > can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
> >
> > I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
> >
> > - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
> >
> > - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
> > but actually no succesful...
> > but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
> >
> > I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
> > macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
> > support.
> >
> > I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> > pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
> >
> > If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
> > Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?
> 
> I'm using GPT partitions and with the grub-0.97-r9 in Gentoo it has
> patches to boot from GPT disks. I just did normal grub install as
> usual and everything seems to work. I'm not using the partition label,
> though, but only "root (hd0,0)"

Interesting.  Does grub install its bootloader into the MBR, or in a GPT boot 
partition?  I am not at all familiar with this new way of booting systems.
-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Paul Hartman]

On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Monday 10 May 2010 17:01:02 Paul Hartman wrote:
>> On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM, claude angéloz
>>
>> <claude.angeloz@bluewin.ch> wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
>> > reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
>> > partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
>> > can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
>> >
>> > I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
>> >
>> > - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
>> >
>> > - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
>> > but actually no succesful...
>> > but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
>> >
>> > I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
>> > macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
>> > support.
>> >
>> > I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
>> > pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
>> >
>> > If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
>> > Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?
>>
>> I'm using GPT partitions and with the grub-0.97-r9 in Gentoo it has
>> patches to boot from GPT disks. I just did normal grub install as
>> usual and everything seems to work. I'm not using the partition label,
>> though, but only "root (hd0,0)"
>
> Interesting.  Does grub install its bootloader into the MBR, or in a GPT boot
> partition?  I am not at all familiar with this new way of booting systems.

I think basically GPT is a replacement for MBR, everything basically
works the same way otherwise. GPT has features like redunancy, removes
limits of MBR (no primary/logical designation anymore, no 2TB limit,
etc). I think it has a somewhat MBR-compatible layout in the first
sector so non-GPT-aware things can still partially recognize it.

Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Mick]

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On Wednesday 12 May 2010 21:47:41 Paul Hartman wrote:
> On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Monday 10 May 2010 17:01:02 Paul Hartman wrote:
> >> On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM, claude angéloz
> >>
> >> <claude.angeloz@bluewin.ch> wrote:
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
> >> > reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
> >> > partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label.
> >> > I can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
> >> >
> >> > I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
> >> >
> >> > - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
> >> >
> >> > - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
> >> > but actually no succesful...
> >> > but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
> >> >
> >> > I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for
> >> > a macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
> >> > support.
> >> >
> >> > I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> >> > pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
> >> >
> >> > If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
> >> > Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?
> >>
> >> I'm using GPT partitions and with the grub-0.97-r9 in Gentoo it has
> >> patches to boot from GPT disks. I just did normal grub install as
> >> usual and everything seems to work. I'm not using the partition label,
> >> though, but only "root (hd0,0)"
> >
> > Interesting.  Does grub install its bootloader into the MBR, or in a GPT
> > boot partition?  I am not at all familiar with this new way of booting
> > systems.
> 
> I think basically GPT is a replacement for MBR, everything basically
> works the same way otherwise. GPT has features like redunancy, removes
> limits of MBR (no primary/logical designation anymore, no 2TB limit,
> etc). I think it has a somewhat MBR-compatible layout in the first
> sector so non-GPT-aware things can still partially recognize it.

Am I right to assume that your 1st partition on the 1st disk is the GPT boot 
partition and therefore its 1st sector is what would on a conventional disk be 
the MBR?

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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Re: [gentoo-user] Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Paul Hartman]

On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 4:47 PM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday 12 May 2010 21:47:41 Paul Hartman wrote:
>> On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 3:00 PM, Mick <michaelkintzios@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > On Monday 10 May 2010 17:01:02 Paul Hartman wrote:
>> >> On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 9:16 AM, claude angéloz
>> >>
>> >> <claude.angeloz@bluewin.ch> wrote:
>> >> > Hello,
>> >> >
>> >> > I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
>> >> > reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
>> >> > partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label.
>> >> > I can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
>> >> >
>> >> > I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
>> >> >
>> >> > - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
>> >> >
>> >> > - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
>> >> > but actually no succesful...
>> >> > but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
>> >> >
>> >> > I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for
>> >> > a macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
>> >> > support.
>> >> >
>> >> > I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
>> >> > pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
>> >> >
>> >> > If anybody has an other idea. Or I must  abandon the gpt disk label ?
>> >> > Is there an equivalent refitr in OS x86  ?
>> >>
>> >> I'm using GPT partitions and with the grub-0.97-r9 in Gentoo it has
>> >> patches to boot from GPT disks. I just did normal grub install as
>> >> usual and everything seems to work. I'm not using the partition label,
>> >> though, but only "root (hd0,0)"
>> >
>> > Interesting.  Does grub install its bootloader into the MBR, or in a GPT
>> > boot partition?  I am not at all familiar with this new way of booting
>> > systems.
>>
>> I think basically GPT is a replacement for MBR, everything basically
>> works the same way otherwise. GPT has features like redunancy, removes
>> limits of MBR (no primary/logical designation anymore, no 2TB limit,
>> etc). I think it has a somewhat MBR-compatible layout in the first
>> sector so non-GPT-aware things can still partially recognize it.
>
> Am I right to assume that your 1st partition on the 1st disk is the GPT boot
> partition and therefore its 1st sector is what would on a conventional disk be
> the MBR?

From the standpoint of the fake MBR table, I think you are correct. To
non-GPT-aware utils it'll look like GPT is a partition of some type
but when using GPT-compatible things that is completely transparent.
Wikipedia has a good description of how it all works under the hood,
check out the LBA-0 section of the article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table

From a normal user's perspective, creating the partitions and
installing grub was no different than with MBR, only I told parted to
great GPT instead of MBR partition table on my new disks. Enabled EFI
in kernel, used Gentoo's version of grub which has the GPT patches
included, and everything just worked. Maybe I was lucky? :)

[gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[walt]

On 05/08/2010 07:16 AM, claude angéloz wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) . AT the
> reception of the laptop  it was a disk label msdos, with a boot
> partition w** installer ... I changed that against  a GPt disk label. I
> can install without problem the gentoo , but now it doenst boot.
>
> I read some docs about gpt,mbr,boot principles and tried some tools
>
> - install the grub2 masked package and grub-install.
>
> - a special partion bios_grub  as 1st bootable partition.
> but actually no succesful...
> but in the parted i did not see this "bios_grub" as  flag...
>
> I found some  tips from the web , but i guess that was only valid for a
> macintel system, not a normal pc  with a disk labeled gpt and an efi
> support.
>
> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?

I guarantee that some smart geek here will know how to do it, though you
may need to search around for the appropriate forum:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/

BTW, why do you want to use gpt on a laptop?

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Stroller]

On 12 May 2010, at 23:22, walt wrote:
> On 05/08/2010 07:16 AM, claude angéloz wrote:
>> ...
>> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) ...
>> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
>> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
>
> I guarantee that some smart geek here will know how to do it, though  
> you
> may need to search around for the appropriate forum:
>
> http://www.boot-land.net/forums/
>
> BTW, why do you want to use gpt on a laptop?

I assumed it was a MacBook or a Hackintosh.

Stroller.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Mick]

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On Thursday 13 May 2010 22:08:44 Stroller wrote:
> On 12 May 2010, at 23:22, walt wrote:
> > On 05/08/2010 07:16 AM, claude angéloz wrote:
> >> ...
> >> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) ...
> >> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
> >> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
> >
> > I guarantee that some smart geek here will know how to do it, though
> > you
> > may need to search around for the appropriate forum:
> >
> > http://www.boot-land.net/forums/
> >
> > BTW, why do you want to use gpt on a laptop?
> 
> I assumed it was a MacBook or a Hackintosh.

I'm sure I've seen a Sony laptop running Vista that had an EFI boot.  I assume 
that this means it also had a GPT partition system?

-- 
Regards,
Mick

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[gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[walt]

On 05/13/2010 03:12 PM, Mick wrote:
> On Thursday 13 May 2010 22:08:44 Stroller wrote:
>> On 12 May 2010, at 23:22, walt wrote:
>>> On 05/08/2010 07:16 AM, claude angéloz wrote:
>>>> ...
>>>> I installed a gentoo on a very recent system  (efi support) ...
>>>> I know that it is not required  an  efi partiton to boot the os with
>>>> pc/bios and gpt disk. Or is it false ?
>>>
>>> I guarantee that some smart geek here will know how to do it, though
>>> you
>>> may need to search around for the appropriate forum:
>>>
>>> http://www.boot-land.net/forums/
>>>
>>> BTW, why do you want to use gpt on a laptop?
>>
>> I assumed it was a MacBook or a Hackintosh.
>
> I'm sure I've seen a Sony laptop running Vista that had an EFI boot.  I assume
> that this means it also had a GPT partition system?

Hm.  The major benefit of GPT (IIUC) is support for >2TB partitions,

AFAIK most laptops don't (yet) have 2TB disks, which is why Vista is a poor
choice for laptops.  Vista needs most of a terabyte after installing all the
bug fixes and service packs -- and then you might want to consider installing
some programs.  It adds up fast!

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Tanstaafl]

On 2010-05-13 7:21 PM, walt wrote:
> AFAIK most laptops don't (yet) have 2TB disks, which is why Vista is 
> a poor choice for laptops. Vista needs most of a terabyte after
> installing all the bug fixes and service packs

Ok, either you are joking (but the wording doesn't make that very
clear), or you are just one of those antimicrosoft idiot/trolls. If you
were joking, then obviously the latter doesn't apply to you, though you
might want to make the joke a little more evident...

A fully patched Vista/Windows7 system might require as much as 7-8+ GB,
which is, what... about .9% of a Terabyte?

I'm not saying that 8GB is not ridiculously high for a core OS install,
of course it is...

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Fri, 14 May 2010 07:34:49 -0400, Tanstaafl wrote:

> > AFAIK most laptops don't (yet) have 2TB disks, which is why Vista is 
> > a poor choice for laptops. Vista needs most of a terabyte after
> > installing all the bug fixes and service packs  
> 
> Ok, either you are joking (but the wording doesn't make that very
> clear), or you are just one of those antimicrosoft idiot/trolls. If you
> were joking, then obviously the latter doesn't apply to you, though you
> might want to make the joke a little more evident...

Sarcasm and irony don't work if you have to explain them.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Does fuzzy logic tickle?

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[Tanstaafl]

On 2010-05-14 8:23 AM, Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Fri, 14 May 2010 07:34:49 -0400, Tanstaafl wrote:
>>> AFAIK most laptops don't (yet) have 2TB disks, which is why Vista is 
>>> a poor choice for laptops. Vista needs most of a terabyte after
>>> installing all the bug fixes and service packs  

>> Ok, either you are joking (but the wording doesn't make that very
>> clear), or you are just one of those antimicrosoft idiot/trolls. If you
>> were joking, then obviously the latter doesn't apply to you, though you
>> might want to make the joke a little more evident...

> Sarcasm and irony don't work if you have to explain them.

It wasn't worded that way - as written, it was just plain dumb.

[gentoo-user] Re: Boot gentoo with GTP Disk label

[walt]

On 05/14/2010 07:45 AM, Tanstaafl wrote:
> On 2010-05-14 8:23 AM, Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> On Fri, 14 May 2010 07:34:49 -0400, Tanstaafl wrote:
>>>> AFAIK most laptops don't (yet) have 2TB disks, which is why Vista is
>>>> a poor choice for laptops. Vista needs most of a terabyte after
>>>> installing all the bug fixes and service packs
>
>>> Ok, either you are joking (but the wording doesn't make that very
>>> clear), or you are just one of those antimicrosoft idiot/trolls. If you
>>> were joking, then obviously the latter doesn't apply to you, though you
>>> might want to make the joke a little more evident...
>
>> Sarcasm and irony don't work if you have to explain them.
>
> It wasn't worded that way - as written, it was just plain dumb.

As released, Vista was just plain crap.  You're right, though, I let
my anger overwhelm my sense of humor when I wrote that, and it came
across badly.  I'll try to do better next time.