Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

NV43 · 2012-05-03 23:58:50

Well, just as the title states, I cannot seem to get grub to install at the end of my install. I'm dual booting with Windows 7 if that makes any difference. I'm trying to install grub to /dev/sda and it doesn't seem to work. Any ideas?

Trilby · 2012-05-04 00:37:48

First, could you be more specific. Do you get error messages, or other output?

NV43 · 2012-05-04 00:40:36

It just tells me that it fails to install and to see /dev/tty7 for more information but I'm not sure how to get to that without scraping what I have already done.

Trilby · 2012-05-04 00:42:18

Your install will be running in TTY1, you can switch to other TTYs to do lots of other stuff while the install is still running.

Press Alt+F7 to get to TTY7 to see that output.

Edit: And Alt+F1 to get back to the install.

Last edited by Trilby (2012-05-04 00:45:07)

NV43 · 2012-05-04 00:51:22

This is the relevant information I see when I Alt+F7

grub> device (hd0) /dev/sda
grub> root (hd0,4)
Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
grub> setup (hd0)

Error 17: Cannot mount selected partition
grub> quit
[DEBUG UI ] notify: Error installing GRUB. (see /dev/tty7 for output)

Trilby · 2012-05-04 00:55:10

I believe that means you are trying to install grub on an NTFS partition. I don't think that is possible. But I am FAR from an expert in boot loaders or partitioning.

What is your partition scheme? What partitions are for arch, for windows, etc?

NV43 · 2012-05-04 01:17:26

/dev/sda1 is a system partition for windows
/dev/sda2 is windows itself
/dev/sda3 is swap
/dev/sda4 is I dont know (0mb)
/dev/sda5 is arch linux

NV43 · 2012-05-04 01:19:57

Basically I'm just going to redo everything. For some reason my package installation failed (Its just started throwing errors), and with everything bugging out I'm just going to redo it tomorrow.

NV43 · 2012-05-04 03:10:24

Bump. Started over and still same problem. Any ideas?

Last edited by NV43 (2012-05-04 03:19:05)

Gcool · 2012-05-04 05:03:50

Double check that the partition layout is actually the way you think it is in the installer (fdisk -l /dev/sda while in the install environment).

NV43 · 2012-05-04 17:42:33

Resulf ot fdisk -l /dev/sda as pertaining to sda4:
/dev/sda4 Id: fm System: W95 Ext'd (LBA)

NV43 · 2012-05-04 17:43:25

parted /dev/sda p:
Numbers 4 and 5 are identical, other than the type. 4 is extended, 5 is logical.
Also for type, 4 is lba and 5 has no type.

dmg · 2012-05-04 21:08:14

Did you read the

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Windows_and_Arch_Dual_Boot

triumphguy · 2012-05-04 22:41:32

I had the same issue today. I was trying to convert my work computer from Linux Mint to Arch. I was using the image from 5/3/2012 and assumed that was the issue. I'm planning to try again tomorrow with the 8/19/2011 CD.

What version of install CD are you using?

triumphguy · 2012-05-04 23:53:43

This person is having issues with the daily builds as well.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=139957

NV43 · 2012-05-05 01:37:41

Alright I'll give one of the older ISO's a shot asap and see how it goes.

EDIT: Turns out I'm already using the ISO from 8/29/11. Don't know what to try now.

Last edited by NV43 (2012-05-05 01:39:09)

NV43 · 2012-05-06 14:42:15

Bump

roentgen · 2012-05-06 16:51:12

NV43 wrote:

/dev/sda1 is a system partition for windows
/dev/sda2 is windows itself
/dev/sda3 is swap
/dev/sda4 is I dont know (0mb)
/dev/sda5 is arch linux

Did you delete and recreate partitions (/dev/sda3 - 5) between reinstall? Maybe it's worth creating them beforehand with something like 'Gparted Live CD'.

You could also give syslinux a try. Has a different syntax than grub but nothing overcomplicated.

Also: I think it would be better to make the extended partition first (after /dev/sda2) which will be named /dev/sda5 and create the logical drives (the actual partitions) inside it: /dev/sda6 for root, /dev/sda7 for swap and maybe a /dev/sda8 for /home.

Last edited by roentgen (2012-05-06 16:56:29)

meph · 2012-05-07 23:18:21

roentgen wrote:

You could also give syslinux a try. Has a different syntax than grub but nothing overcomplicated.

While that may work, I'd advise against working around the problem, because if you don't solve it properly then it might come back later on and bite you you know where.

I suggest you go back to the basics, you won't discover where the problem is unless you perfectly understand what you're doing. You might want to try to delete all existing partitions (except for sda1 and sda2 with windows of course), create one big sda3 partition and install to that. Make sure its type is set to Linux, it contains a linux native filesystem (ext4 will do) and you select 'root' as its mountpoint (first item in the list, represented by the single slash symbol, ' / '). If you don't know how that's done, then you need to read the beginner's guide carefully.

This is the simplest partitioning scheme possible, and if grub doesn't install itself properly now then the problem probably isn't caused by your mistake. Either way it will tell us where to focus on in figuring this out.

Last edited by meph (2012-05-07 23:23:10)

dodo3773 · 2012-05-08 01:13:31

NV43 wrote:

/dev/sda1 is a system partition for windows
/dev/sda2 is windows itself
/dev/sda3 is swap
/dev/sda4 is I dont know (0mb)
/dev/sda5 is arch linux

Where is /boot? Did you manually partition this disk to put / and /home and /boot on the same partition? One more thing I would look at is: Are you sure you are not trying to create too many primary partitions?

DSpider · 2012-05-08 07:30:51

Gcool wrote:

Double check that the partition layout is actually the way you think it is in the installer (fdisk -l /dev/sda while in the install environment).

Well, "/dev/sda" would be the USB stick, because it's set up as first boot device in the BIOS. No wonder it said "W95 Ext'd (LBA)"...

Do what meph said. Go back to basics. Repartition your drive with GParted Live or Partition Magic and try again.

NV43 wrote:

Bump. Started over and still same problem. Any ideas?

NV43 wrote:

Bump

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … ow_to_Post

"Bumping" a thread is not allowed (see above). Use time wisely and update the thread by providing details of other steps you have taken to resolve the issue, rather than calling further attention to the thread without adding any further useful information.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-05-03 23:58:50

Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#2 2012-05-04 00:37:48

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#3 2012-05-04 00:40:36

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#4 2012-05-04 00:42:18

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#5 2012-05-04 00:51:22

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#6 2012-05-04 00:55:10

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#7 2012-05-04 01:17:26

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#8 2012-05-04 01:19:57

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#9 2012-05-04 03:10:24

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#10 2012-05-04 05:03:50

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#11 2012-05-04 17:42:33

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#12 2012-05-04 17:43:25

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#13 2012-05-04 21:08:14

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#14 2012-05-04 22:41:32

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#15 2012-05-04 23:53:43

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#16 2012-05-05 01:37:41

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#17 2012-05-06 14:42:15

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#18 2012-05-06 16:51:12

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#19 2012-05-07 23:18:21

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#20 2012-05-08 01:13:31

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

#21 2012-05-08 07:30:51

Re: Can't get Grub to install at end of Arch install

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