Arch Linux

thaz

Member

Registered: 2014-01-02

Posts: 4

[SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Hello,

I'm working on a fresh install on a usb stick
My partition table is the following, using GPT and one /boot partition (200M bios boot partition) and one / Linux filesystem.
/etc/fstab :
> #
> # /etc/fstab: static file system information
> #
> # <file system>    <dir>    <type>    <options>    <dump>    <pass>
> # UUID=b280b4f9-95d4-4982-8709-fbf42c97af2d
> /dev/sdb2               /             ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 1
>
> # UUID=8e94de5d-5312-4e73-8291-76145d4db255
> /dev/sdb1               /boot         ext2          rw,relatime    0 2

I installed grub as bootloader on this usb stick.
After boot, I can see "Grub Loading..." and computer reboots and loop on that. I checked grub.cfg and my arch entries seems to be here. No errors during grub-mkconfig and grub-install.

Is there something particular about installing arch on a usb stick ? Something I missed ?

Thank you for your help.

Last edited by thaz (2014-01-02 17:22:41)

henk

Member

From: Weert, Netherlands

Registered: 2013-01-01

Posts: 334

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Hi,
From the wiki page:

When GRUB is installed on the USB key, the key will always be hd0,0

Maybe this is something to check out.

thaz

Member

Registered: 2014-01-02

Posts: 4

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Well, you mean in my grub.cfg I should modify entries to hd0 when it matches hd1 or something else ?
Why is the computer rebooting and not entering GRUB shell ? Is it because of GRUB or a problem ?

DarkCerberus

Banned

From: Holsworthy, Devon

Registered: 2011-12-31

Posts: 252

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Your setup seems to be incorrect did you or did you not follow the https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_Guide - Arch Linux needs several partitions yours only have two, on my machine I did try only having two partitions but then grub wouldn't load so it's not recommended.... Is there a reason why you are attempting to install it only on a USB Stick and not on a HDD or SSD?

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thaz

Member

Registered: 2014-01-02

Posts: 4

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Damn. I'm totally...
Dunno why I merged my bios boot partition and my /boot...
Fixing that and close the thread if it's ok.

Is there a reason why you are attempting to install it only on a USB Stick and not on a HDD or SSD?

Yep, the price, no need of space and removable/transportable drive (weight, physical space, easy pluggable...).

henk

Member

From: Weert, Netherlands

Registered: 2013-01-01

Posts: 334

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Well, you mean in my grub.cfg I should modify entries to hd0 when it matches hd1 or something else

Only if hd1 in your grub.cfg refers to the USB key.

Why is the computer rebooting and not entering GRUB shell ? Is it because of GRUB or a problem ?

It is certainly the result of a problem, and yes, that problem can be grub related

Arch Linux needs several partitions I did try only having two partitions but then grub wouldn't load so it's not recommended

Meaning no disrespect, but Arch can be installed on only one partition. I did it several times when I started with Arch. I now have a seperate home partition
which means 2 partitions should work without a problem.

EDIT: @thaz, didn't saw your last entry, glad you worked it out. And yes, you could mark this tread as solved

Last edited by henk (2014-01-02 16:46:10)

thaz

Member

Registered: 2014-01-02

Posts: 4

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Meaning no disrespect, but Arch can be installed on only one partition. I did it several times when I started with Arch. I now have a seperate home partition
which means 2 partitions should work without a problem.

Well, GPT needs one bios boot partition and whatever you want after. Here I'm using the bios boot partition as /boot. I think this is the problem and I need one 2M bios boot partition, one /boot Linux fs and one / Linux fs (or these two merged but I prefer a separated /boot partition).

Last edited by thaz (2014-01-02 16:53:29)

henk

Member

From: Weert, Netherlands

Registered: 2013-01-01

Posts: 334

Re: [SOLVED] GRUB loops on boot > bad partition table

Ah, sorry, I don't use GPT (yet) so my knowledge on that is still about zero.