Arch Linux

fasza2mobile

Member

Registered: 2013-11-03

Posts: 29

BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

Hi, I am in the process of installing Arch on btrfs root. I have followed the archwiki (which have changed since I've started - I was on holiday in the meantime) relatad to btrfs root installs.
After installing grub2 and trying to boot grub gave me and error prompt and rescue mode:

file /__active/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod' not found

for insmod linux I get a similar message. I managed to boot in with SuperGrub and change the grub.cfg file editing out all the "/__active/" bits from the paths. Now Grub boots properly except that now the system freezes right after the login promt, the only thing I can do at this point is reset or hold the power button. I think grub still displays the same error but now quickly jumps into the menu so I'm unable to read the exact error message.

Thanks in advance.

GermanyChris

Member

From: Southern Germany

Registered: 2013-10-14

Posts: 60

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

I use syslinux to boot btrfs, why not give that a shot it's not automagic with btrfs meaning it won't necessarily detect the root partition you'll have to spell it out in the config

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Don't scab for the bosses Don't listen to their lies Poor folks ain't got a chance Unless they organize --Florence Reece

fasza2mobile

Member

Registered: 2013-11-03

Posts: 29

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

Thanks Chris, I was thinking about the same actually. I will give it a go when I have some time this week. Thanks for the reply.

AdamT

Member

From: Fairbanks, Alaska

Registered: 2013-06-18

Posts: 8

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

If you are still interested in GRUB, you can check my installation notes here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Us … tion_Notes.

It took me a few days to get everything sorted when I first took a swing at Btrfs this summer. Perhaps this will save you some time.

Best of luck!

fasza2mobile

Member

Registered: 2013-11-03

Posts: 29

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

Thanks Adam, I did check your notes where I found this:

"Warning: If there is any chance that the first few megabytes of your drive have ever had a file system formatted to them, then take the time to zero out this section (or the entire drive) before moving on. Grub will throw an error much, much later on in the install if there is a file system on this (or at least Btrfs) and you will have to roll the dice and zero out then and attempt to recover your MBR and GPT table at that point. I was successful in doing so, but better to be safe if given the option. A quick way to zero out the first part of your drive is to run the following."

Could you please elaborate on the error message itself. I have now tried Syslinux as well and got a similar issue; I have got a hunch that this could be a problem as I used to have an NTFS partition with Win on it and I didn't zero it as my drive is an SSD...

AdamT

Member

From: Fairbanks, Alaska

Registered: 2013-06-18

Posts: 8

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

Hey fasza,

I have another warning down the way, I need to clean up my notes a bit I realize: "As noted in the partitioning section. If there is a file system in the space reserved for grub it will throw an error about "filesystem 'btrfs' doesn't support blocklists." If you see this, you likely need to go back and zero out your first partition and everything before it (don't touch the sectors of your second partition though! If you are lucky (and the software is awesome) you will be able to recover your MBR and repair btrfs (btrfsck --repair and continue on."

This post is what saved me originally (after much searching): https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=144254

Take care,

fasza2mobile

Member

Registered: 2013-11-03

Posts: 29

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

Hi Adam, I think I have a different issue, because I was able to install grub with no errors. I only have problem trying to boot. Thanks anyway, Take care.

AdamT

Member

From: Fairbanks, Alaska

Registered: 2013-06-18

Posts: 8

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

You bet. If you care to, try my install from start to finish and see if you have any luck. Boot problems were among the issues I had to get past when working out my own install. I tried UEFI for a day or so before giving up and just running with Grub-bios for the time being. That's been rock solid ever since. First boot every time for me, both at home and on my VPS.

fasza2mobile

Member

Registered: 2013-11-03

Posts: 29

Re: BTRFS fresh install frozen right after boot

I would love to try with your notes, but unfortunately my setup is very different for one. I am not using GPT and nor have I the will to switch to GPT on this legacy(32bit single core) machine as I have a legacy Win OS that could not handle it, the amount of work/time backing up my 250GB drive is not something I am willing to spare, and quite frankly I would have no benefit of using GPT on this drive. As the matter of fact I just figured out how I'm going to solve this issue whilst typing this reply. I wanted to say that I do have a working Mint install which I can use until I get Arch working, but there is no reason not to use that to boot Arch. The os-prober for Mint didn't find Arch(I could patch the os-prober script as well, but I am almost certain I would forget it when there is an update for grub), but I could just install Syslinux and although it is also on btrfs root it has an ext2 /boot partition(I was reluctant to reinstall Windows at the time just to move it a couple of MBs further, I've done it for Arch though) which should be easy to find for Syslinux... I'll get back how it went after a couple of days when I can find some time.