[Solved] Grub hangs on boot

Avedo · 2015-03-09 11:16:37

Hello!

A few days ago I needed a windows desktop and so I grabbed an old hard drive and switched my linux drives with this one. I installed Windows and all worked as expected. However, as I now switched back to my Linux hard drives, grub hangs with the message "GRUB _". Using the Super Grub2 Disk, I was able to boot into my Arch Linux installation. Now I tried to reinstall grub:

sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

Which leaves me with the following message:

Installing for i386-pc platform.
grub-install: warning: this GPT partition label contains no BIOS Boot Partition; embedding won't be possible.
grub-install: warning: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
grub-install: error: will not proceed with blocklists.

As I didn't find a working solution to my problem, I am asking here for help. In order to give you all needed information, I used the BootInfo-Script to generate the attached file.

                  Boot Info Script 0.61      [1 April 2012]


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

 => Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 
    136799544 of the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this 
    location and looks in partition 129 for .
 => Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector 40 
    of the same hard drive for core.img, but core.img can not be found at this 
    location.
 => Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdc and looks at sector 1 of 
    the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks 
    in partition 98 for .

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       vfat
    Boot sector type:  FAT32
    Boot sector info:  No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        /grub/grub.cfg /efi/arch_grub/grubx64.efi 
                       /efi/arch-grub/grubx64.efi

sda2: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       swap
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info: 

sda3: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info: 
    Operating System:  Arch Linux ()
    Boot files:        /etc/fstab

sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       ext4
    Boot sector type:  -
    Boot sector info: 
    Operating System:  
    Boot files:        

sdc1: __________________________________________________________________________

    File system:       
    Boot sector type:  Grub2's core.img
    Boot sector info: 
    Mounting failed:   mount: unknown filesystem type ''

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sda: 111.8 GiB, 120034123776 bytes, 234441648 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot  Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sda1                   1   234,441,647   234,441,647  ee GPT


GUID Partition Table detected.

Partition    Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors System
/dev/sda1           2,048     1,050,623     1,048,576 EFI System partition
/dev/sda2       1,050,624     9,439,231     8,388,608 Swap partition (Linux)
/dev/sda3       9,439,232   234,441,614   225,002,383 Data partition (Linux)

Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 931.5 GiB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot  Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sdb1                   1 1,953,525,167 1,953,525,167  ee GPT


GUID Partition Table detected.

Partition    Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors System
/dev/sdb1              40 1,953,525,134 1,953,525,095 Data partition (Linux)

Drive: sdc _____________________________________________________________________

Disk /dev/sdc: 3.7 GiB, 3997716480 bytes, 7808040 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition  Boot  Start Sector    End Sector  # of Sectors  Id System

/dev/sdc1    *              1        24,431        24,431  cd CTOS Memdump?


"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device           UUID                                   TYPE       LABEL

/dev/sda1        5BF2-111C                              vfat       
/dev/sda2        2b6b2c5c-fab7-4ff9-ad72-d26efbd88199   swap       
/dev/sda3        a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba   ext4       
/dev/sdb1        41f9ebc3-14da-44a4-a900-fb3d8eaf69d2   ext4       

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device           Mount_Point              Type       Options

/dev/sda1        /boot                    vfat       (rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda3        /                        ext4       (rw,relatime,data=ordered)
/dev/sdb1        /home                    ext4       (rw,relatime,data=ordered)


============================= sda1/grub/grub.cfg: ==============================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt 
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt3'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt3 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt3 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt3  a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
  set timeout_style=menu
  set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
  set timeout=5
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba' {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt 
	insmod fat
	set root='hd0,gpt1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt1 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt1  5BF2-111C
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 5BF2-111C
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
	linux	/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba rw  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	 /initramfs-linux.img
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba' {
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-advanced-a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt 
		insmod fat
		set root='hd0,gpt1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt1 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt1  5BF2-111C
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 5BF2-111C
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
		linux	/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	 /initramfs-linux.img
	}
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux (fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-fallback-a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt 
		insmod fat
		set root='hd0,gpt1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt1 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt1  5BF2-111C
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 5BF2-111C
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
		linux	/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	 /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
	}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

           GiB - GB             File                                 Fragment(s)


=============================== sda3/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
#
# <file system>	<dir>	<type>	<options>	<dump>	<pass>
# /dev/sdb3
UUID=a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba	/         	ext4      	rw,relatime,data=ordered	0 2

# /dev/sda1
UUID=41f9ebc3-14da-44a4-a900-fb3d8eaf69d2	/home     	ext4      	rw,relatime,data=ordered	0 2

# /dev/sdb1
UUID=5BF2-111C      	/boot     	vfat      	rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro	0 1

# /dev/sdb2
UUID=2b6b2c5c-fab7-4ff9-ad72-d26efbd88199	none      	swap      	defaults  	0 0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

cat: /tmp/BootInfo-gBHZFQZx/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
mdadm: No arrays found in config file or automatically

Thanks & Best regards
Avedo

Last edited by Avedo (2015-03-09 21:43:43)

TheSaint · 2015-03-09 12:29:53

Better if we know your UUID, please post

$ blkid
# efibootmgr -v

Last edited by TheSaint (2015-03-09 12:31:02)

Avedo · 2015-03-09 12:44:46

blkid:

/dev/sda1: UUID="5BF2-111C" TYPE="vfat" PARTLABEL="UEFI boot" PARTUUID="b182902e-12aa-4668-91d8-4b7aa859a62e"
/dev/sda2: UUID="2b6b2c5c-fab7-4ff9-ad72-d26efbd88199" TYPE="swap" PARTLABEL="Linux Swap" PARTUUID="ef78fbbe-58b9-4080-94b9-7431dcae765e"
/dev/sda3: UUID="a19969f2-4855-4fb9-8bee-543ef50926ba" TYPE="ext4" PARTLABEL="root" PARTUUID="15df6277-59b9-4125-84ec-d77006f807e8"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="41f9ebc3-14da-44a4-a900-fb3d8eaf69d2" TYPE="ext4" PARTLABEL="home" PARTUUID="81c69ead-a56c-4d01-a9d2-bab306927585"

efibootmgr -v :

efibootmgr: EFI variables are not supported on this system.

Thanks & Best regards
Avedo

Last edited by Avedo (2015-03-09 12:44:57)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-03-09 20:44:59

Please also post the output of:

# gdisk -l /dev/sda

From the error message, all you have to do is create a BIOS boot partition -- use `gdisk /dev/sda` and press "n" to generate a new partition, use sector 34 as the start point and sector 2047 as the end point and make it type "EF02" then press "w" to write the new partition to your disk (you might want to check it first with "p").

GRUB should then install.

I am confused as to why you now need this if you didn't before -- the only reason I can think of is that maybe the "Super Grub2" disk changed the partition table type (!).

For future reference: next time you need access to an un-bootable Arch system just load up the Arch live ISO, mount all your partitions and use the `arch-chroot` command just as you did when you installed Arch.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … partitions
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … ase_system

EDIT: Link added.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-03-09 20:46:49)

Avedo · 2015-03-09 21:43:23

Adding the partition worked for me. Thanks.

TheSaint · 2015-03-10 12:16:41

For future references, what was the partition ?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2015-03-10 18:23:09

TheSaint wrote:

For future references, what was the partition ?

The OP is referring to a BIOS boot partition -- this is required when using non-EFI booting on a GPT-type disk (see the link in my post above).

Arch Linux

#1 2015-03-09 11:16:37

[Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#2 2015-03-09 12:29:53

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#3 2015-03-09 12:44:46

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#4 2015-03-09 20:44:59

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#5 2015-03-09 21:43:23

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#6 2015-03-10 12:16:41

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

#7 2015-03-10 18:23:09

Re: [Solved] Grub hangs on boot

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