Arch Linux

i3

Member

Registered: 2014-08-27

Posts: 12

Install another distribution besides Arch.

Hey,

I am trying to install Elementary OS besides Arch Linux.
My SSD is partitioned as listed below:

* /dev/sda
    - /dev/sda1 ( / of my Arch system)
    - /dev/sda2 ( /home of both systems)
    - /dev/sda3 ( swap partition)
    - /dev/sda4 ( new partition - should be root of elementary OS)

I started the elementaryos installation and chose

/dev/sda2 as /home
/dev/sda4 as /
/dev/sda3 as swap

For the bootloader I chose "/dev/sda4" - maybe this is the problem already?
After the successfull installation I restarted my system. But there was no reference to the new system in my grub boot menu.
So I edited the file "/etc/grub.d/40_custom" as proposed in the wiki:

#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# 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.

menuentry "Elementary OS" {
	set root=(hd0,4)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-34-generic 
	initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-34-generic
}

Then I ran

grub-mkconfig

I restarted and was happy to see "Elementary OS" in my grub menu. But when I select elementary I get stuck anywhere in the initram shell (or how this is called). Nothing happens, I am able to type some stuff - but I do not get to the "normal" login window.

What do I have to do, to make this work?

Thanks in advance

Last edited by i3 (2015-05-14 18:34:20)

Trilby

Inspector Parrot

Registered: 2011-11-29

Posts: 29,550

Website

Re: Install another distribution besides Arch.

First, please use code tags when posting configs and command output.

Second, post the actual error messages received.  If these are arch/grub errors we can help, but if they are - as it sounds - elementary errors, you'll have to ask on the elementary forums as these are for arch linux support only.

Third, sharing your home partition is a very bad idea.  Share a data partition if you want, or documents, but not the home partition.

Mod note: moved to N.C.

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"UNIX is simple and coherent..." - Dennis Ritchie, "GNU's Not UNIX" -  Richard Stallman

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,367

Re: Install another distribution besides Arch.

From the looks of it, you should be able to share a /boot partition so that you only need one bootloader for both.  Later versions of grub seem to be overly complicated in my opinion, I use syslinux.  But if you are using UEFI firmware, you may be somewhat stuck using grub.

Last edited by nomorewindows (2015-05-14 18:21:01)

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I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

dcdriving

Member

From: United Kingdom

Registered: 2015-01-20

Posts: 70

Re: Install another distribution besides Arch.

When I drop to the grub command line (pressing c at grub menu) and run "ls", it lists the partitions as (hd0,msdos4) rather than (hd0,4).  It might be worth checking that (hd0,4) is listed as a partition.  You could also edit the arch entry from the grub menu and check how it is formatted there.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,732

Website

Re: Install another distribution besides Arch.

For the bootloader I chose "/dev/sda4" - maybe this is the problem already?

This means you won't be using the Elementary bootloader (probably a good thing).

Rather than relying on 40_custom, try updating your GRUB configuration:

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

This should pick up the new system & provide a menu entry for it as long as you have os-prober installed.

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Are you infected with Wetiko?