Ubuntu Installation :: Grub Refuses To Install On Partition
Jan 29, 2010
I have messed up my partitions really bad and grub refuses to install. Here's how it looks:
Code:
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 14 2432 19430617+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 2433 60801 468848992+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 2433 2930 4000153+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 2931 53535 406484631 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 53536 60801 58364113+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
Initially there was only Linux (Karmic) on this hdd, on what is now sda2 to sda6, current sda2 being the boot partition. Now, I decided to install Windows XP and using GParted I created an NTFS partition at the end, sda7. But it wanted to have his loader on the first one, so (now this is probably stupid what I did) I cut 100MB from Linux root and put it as NTFS at the beginning, making it sda1, boot and letting windows install it's loader there. I figured I can just reinstall grub on it later (think I have missed some tutorials). As you can probably guess, it won't. I formatted sda1 to ext4 now. What I do is run the Live CD (9.10), use terminal, then do
Code:
sudo -i
mkdir /media/boot
mount /dev/sda1 /media/boot
grub-install --recheck --root-directory=/media/boot /dev/sda1
and it goes
Code:
grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea.
grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged.
grub-setup: error: Cannot read `/grub/core.img' correctly
also, when I do update-grub it says "grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for /."
I tried installing grub on sda2 and flagging it as a boot and still no-go.
I'm running Karmic Server with GRUB2 on a Dell XPS 420. Everything was running fine until I changed 2 BIOS settings in an attempt to make my Virtual Box guests run faster. I turned on SpeedStep and Virtualization, rebooted, and I was slapped in the face with a grub error 15. I can't, in my wildest dreams, imagine how these two settings could cause a problem for GRUB, but they have. To make matters worse, I've set my server up to use Luks encrypted LVMs on soft-RAID. From what I can gather, it seems my only hope is to reinstall GRUB. So, I've tried to follow the Live CD instructions outlined in the following article (adding the necessary steps to mount my RAID volumes and LVMs). [URL]
If I try mounting the root lvm as 'dev/vg-root' on /mnt and the boot partition as 'dev/md0' on /mnt/boot, when I try to run the command $sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/md0, I get an errors: grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea. grub-setup: error: Embedding is not possible, but this is required when the root device is on a RAID array or LVM volume.
Somewhere in my troubleshooting, I also tried mounting the root lvm as 'dev/mapper/vg-root'. This results in the grub-install error: $sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/md0 Invalid device 'dev/md0'
Obviously, neither case fixes the problem. I've been searching and troubleshooting for several hours this evening, and I must have my system operational by Monday morning. That means if I don't have a solution by pretty early tomorrow morning...I'm screwed. A full rebuild will by my only option.
I've been running Maverick for a while now, and I decided to use the extra (unallocated, don't worry) space on my hd to install XP. After I installed XP I realized that I didn't get GRUB, so I couldn't boot Ubuntu. I tried fixing it using this, but to no avail. The only thing that happens now is that my computer boots up normally, but where GRUB would usually be, I now see a black screen. This is getting to be VERY aggravating.
Also, which partition should be flagged as boot? currently I have my Maverick partition flagged as boot because it has a boot directory. Should I not have any partition flagged as boot?
My laptop came with a hidden partition for restoring Vista instead of an install disk. I installed Ubuntu 9.04, which had an "Advanced" option that allowed me to install grub in the Ubuntu partition without writing over the MBR. Then I used EasyBCD to add Ubuntu to the Vista boot loader. I wanted to do this so that I can still restore the factory copy of Vista from the hidden partition if I need to. I upgraded the Ubuntu to 9.10, still using grub. When I did a fresh install of Ubuntu 10.04 it went to grub2, and I haven't figured out how to boot into it with EasyBCD yet.But I would like to try Fedora anyway. I will wait a couple of days and get 13.
1. Which grub does Fedora 13 use?
2. Will Fedora 13 allow me to install grub in its own partition without writing over the MBR?
I'm running Kubuntu 10.10 and am trying to change my bootscreen so I installed StartUp-Manager and then I tried to install usplash, but I get this error which makes me slightly confused:
sudo apt-get install usplash Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done
[code]....
Previously apt-get has been happy to install dependencies. I'm new to Linux so if you need any more information just shout and I'll edit that in.
I've been trying for days to get this printer to be recognized by 10.04. I've tried seemingly every possible combination of methods from "HOWTO Install Samsung Unified Printer Driver" to no avail (though I have learned a good bit during the process). Presently, the (partial) output of the printer error log file is as follows:
************************************************** ***************** D [10/Sep/2010:13:42:29 -0600] [cups-deviced] Found device "usb://Samsung/SCX-4x21%20Series"... D [10/Sep/2010:13:42:29 -0600] [cups-deviced] PID 1824 (usb) exited with no errors.
I am a new to linux. I recently purchased a used dell d820. It has 2 gigabites of ram, and has centrino duo. The hard drive is 80 gigabites. I used boot and nuke to erase windows xp, in order to install linux. (I was quite unhappy with the screen, codec, and other problems I was having with windows.)
However, each time I try to install Fedora, or any other version of linux to the hard drive, the computer shuts down ENTIRELY.
Is there a way to fix this? I seems like my machine just doesn't like linux?
I installed F11 x86 from the DVD onto one of my machines using a total of 4 partitions:
1. /boot 2. / 3. /home 4. swap
I then created an image of the first 3 partitions with fsarchiver and restored it onto a second machine (with different hardware). Grub was loaded onto the second machine as well without a problem. The new cloned install will get past grub fine but the kernel hangs. After removing 'rhgb quiet' from the boot options, I can see that the last message outputted to the console is something about the PS/2 mouse - this doesn't make sense as the mouse is working perfectly fine.
Additionally, I can still reboot using ctrl-alt-delete so the kernel/CPU must still be responsive. I have tried troubleshooting the various pieces of hardware, so I'm guessing it's something with the clone. All the cloned filesystems appear to be fully intact; the partition UUID's are all the same. I've even tried changing the UUID's both in grub and /etc/fstab to hardcoded /dev/sdaX , but this does not fix anything.
I am still using Lucid with a Luks/dm-crypt setup. I picked up an upgrade today that included grub. It gave me a box that had me choose my location to install the upgrade. I chose /boot. When apt did its upgrade thing, I got the following message: Setting up grub-pc (1.98-1ubuntu ... /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea.. /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged.. Installation finished. No error reported. I looked in /boot/grub and found no menu.lst file.
I just installed Windows XP on a seperate partition and now I cant boot from Ubuntu. I have done this before and been able to reinstall grub but this time I cant remember how I did it. I have tried the instructions from here and here but I cant get it to work. I keep getting this error:
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda5 /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea../usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged. /usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: if you really want blocklists, use --force.
I have many partition for many different operating systems. I have Windows 7 on partition 2, and Ubuntu on partiton 3. Previously I could use GParted to set the boot flag for the drive to whichever partition I desired. If I set it to partition 2, I got the Windows bootloader, and if I set it to partition 3, I got the Ubuntu bootloader. Now if I set the boot flag to my Ubuntu partition, I get a message something along the lines of "disk not found". I can't recall its exact message at the moment. When setting up Ubuntu the installer has the "Advanced" button on the last page which gives you the option of which partition to install Grub to. Is there any way I can access this again, or a utility that will do the same thing? I have used the grub program in the following way to restore the Ubuntu bootloader
sudo grub root (hd0,0) setup (hd0)
but the boot flag is still on my Windows partition, suggesting Grub has overwritten Windows' bootloader. How can I tell grub which partition to install to? I'm using 10.04 and Grub2.
Just installed 10.04, loving the new theme and default background. My problem is that Grub won't detect my Win 7 boot. I installed it the way i normally do, seemed to work for the last few times. I put in my Windows recovery disc to try and fix the MBR but that failed as the disc wont even see my Win 7 install. I have included my boot info script file.
I want install 10.10 Maverick on a new partition alongside my OS X and 10.04 Lucid installs to see if it works on my machine. I'm a little unsure about some things.
1)Do I need to install the GRUB boot loader on this new partition?
2)Can I use the same swap space or is recommended to create a new swap?
I resized a partition and now I boot directly into GNU grub rescue
Code:
sh:grub:>
if I type
Code:
sh:grub> linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic sh:grub> initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-22.generic sh:grub> boot
I have the following messages :
Code:
Gave up waiting for root device. Common problems:
- Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline) - Check rootdelay= (did the system wait long enough?) - Check root= (did the system wait for the right device?) - Missing modules (cat /proc/modules; ls /dev)
Installing 10.10 RC dual boot with Win7. Is there no place in the installer to specify where Grub will be installed? I don't want it installed in the MBR I want it in the partition with / (I usually only create two partitions for Linux / and swap). I prefer to chain load grub from my windows bootloader.
I'm trying to re-install Grub2 on a dual boot (Win/XP & Ubuntu 10.10) system which will not boot. I am following the guide here:
Code: [URL] This guide explicitly states that the procedure will re-install GRUB to the Master Boot Record, overwritng whatever is there. However, the final step results in this warning message: "grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea....."
I guess I agree - that's not what I want to do. Where is the defect in the procedure and how do I overcome it? If I try alternative advice, available in the forums, by using the command
Code: sudo grub-install /dev/sda then I receive the error message
Code: grub-probe: error: cannot find a device for /boot/grub (is /dev mounted?) Looking at the mount command output, I think the required device is mounted.
i have 500 GB SATA drive with windows 7 and Ubuntu 11.04 500 GB drive divided in 3 partitions on one partition thers is windows 7 and on 2nd Ubuntu now i'm installing a software it's asking where you want to load your Grub and i don't know in which partition my GRUB is. my question is is there any way to find out which parition got my Ubuntu GRUB?
I am trying to dual boot Windows and Linux. I would like to continue using the Windows bootloader in my MBR.
I installed Windows 7 first. During the install I left some unallocated space that I intended to install Linux.
I found this guide: [URL]
It says to install GRUB to the bootsector of the partition that Linux is being installed to and not the MBR of your hard drive.
I am trying to install Linux Mint Debian to the second partition. When the installer gets to where you are asked to install GRUB the only option is to install GRUB to /dev/sda which I believe is the MBR.
I decided just not to install GRUB and proceeded with the installation.
How can I install GRUB to the bootsector of my Linux partition?
had a dual O/S win Vista 64bit & unbuntu 9.10 64bit.
1. Had a virus on my Win vista side, anti virus could help (virus kept replicating itself - to halt all progs from running). 2. In the End Win Vista would start & was only used Unbuntu for about 2 days. 3. Tried to repair Win Vista, but noting worked. 4. Couldn't mount Win partition through unbuntu either - needed to copy some files across. 5. Eventually formatted Win partition side & re-installed Win Vista 64bit. 6. The problem now is that the grub option to select the O/S choice isn't there, thus i can't use Linux. 6b. The computer loads only Win vista 64bit (Like there usn't a Linux) 7.Checked at the disk management prog - could see my linux space but have no access. 8. Used a live Linux cd to access linux partition, just to check - it worked. 9. how can i acccess the Linux O/S as normal?
I had a dual boot system(WinXP and Ubuntu). But something happened and I was not able to boot into my Ubuntu partition. It gave GRUB missing error. I tried reformatting the dedicated 40 GB ubuntu partition to NTFS and again try to reinstall ubuntu. But now, when I install ubuntu through boot time install, it shows that my whole hard disk is empty( but I have windows XP on whole hdd at the moment) and do not give any other option but to use whole hdd.
Alternatively when I try to install it inside windows, then after rebooting it shows, no root file system defined error and neither gives any option to do so also ( this method worked earlier o my PC). At the moment, It still shows ubuntu and windowsXP at OS choice menu at boot time but when booting in ubuntu, it shows GRUB missing. (I don't have any ubuntu installation on my hard disk at the moment).
So I am experimenting with other linux distros.....I just installed a small partition with OpenGEU, the one still based on Ubuntu.....now it wont recognize Mint. Ubuntu Studio is next on my list, but before I invest any more work I want to make sure I can add more partitions to grub, not just the most recent linux partition...
I think that future distros of linux should have a fix for this....if you install linux it should detect every other operating system on the disk, not just windows plus the most recent linux install.
install /boot separate? I always create a / and /home partition but never separate boot. Does that make life easier?
While installing with a separate /boot partition I cannot get two distinct copies of ubu installed on one machine and be able to choose between them. Each is installed on a different hard drive. x64 versions. I've had this issue both ways:
Stepsinstall mythbuntu install ubuntu Result
Two entries in grub. Both cause ubuntu to boot
Stepsinstall ubuntu install mythbuntu Result
Two entries in grub. Both cause mythbuntu to boot Grub 2 is so unfriendly for fixing these things. I don't know where to make changes. Ok, Grub 2 is very powerful, maybe it's the lagging documentation, or lack of tutorials that is the problem. But I don't know how to fix this. Do I start over without the /boot partition? Do I bail on ubu?
I have ubuntu in sda7. sda6 had bt4, sda3 had Win7. From Win7 I removed sda6. Now when I start my computer I get grub rescue. How can I tell grub that ubuntu in sda6 and not in sda7 anymore or how can I create sda6 again so ubuntu goes sda7.
I have a 9.10 ubuntu desktop on a tower (bought 2004) working fine, and wanted to add a 10.4 server on an additional partition. After install, I stated grub may be newly written, as the list of os was fine. After reboot I got "grub rescue>" I managed to get the system working again, and now I have a grub2 menu list stating correct entries. But when I select the server entry the boot fails telling "disk not found" (The UUID of the partition given is correct, and also shown when accessing the partition from the 9.10 desktop (this needs an additional authentification when mounting) grub shell command ls does not show the partition, all other tools (life-CD, working installation, gparted etc.) do show it normally, I cannot find any difference. The partition is on the beginning of the disk
I have a machine with two disc but only one is involved in the boot. It is hd0 / sda. On this I have several partitions, first I have a partion (sda1) with grub-legacy and a menu.lst file that boot by chainloading my ubuntu 10.04 on partition sda4 (with ext4 and grub 2). This works without any problems. Today I was doing a larger upgrade of my mythtv install so I first copied sda4 to sda3, did all the neccessary changes in /etc/fstab and a grub-mkconfig (so that the grub.cfg on sda4 also included sda3 kernel). The chainload manage to nicely chainload to sda4 and when I select the newly copied kernel on sda3 it boots. Now inside the booted kernel/ubuntu on sda3 I again do the grub-mkconfig so I get a correct grub menu. I add a new chainload to menu.lst on sda1 so that I can go direct from that to my new partition.
when I chainload to the sda3 (hd0,2) partition I get grub-legacy error 13 invalid or unsupported executable format. No grub2 menu from sda3 shows up and the boot halts. The grub.cfg files on sda3 and sda4 are identical besides the uuid and hd0,3/4 references.
