Arch Linux

rufusreal

Member

Registered: 2023-03-05

Posts: 24

[SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

I'm a beginner on Arch and I was trying to fix a problem where I cannot wake up the system after suspend/hibernate Linux with KDE. So I read that I need at least a swap file or partition. But I ended up corrupting grub for not reviewing the swap created. So now I can't access the system, Linux doesn't load because of grub error and no TTY.

I created a swap file without taking in mind that the system is using BTRFS with subvolumes, so now I don't know if I have a swap file but I think I corrupt grub config.

I follow a guide and I did this: 

```
sudo dd if=/dev/nvme0n1 of=/swapfile bs=1G count=18

sudo chmod 600 /swapfile

sudo sudo mkswap /swapfile

sudo swapon /swapfile

echo "/swapfile  none  swap  sw  0  0" >> /etc/fstab

```

Then change grub configuration in /etc/default/grub in the specific line with `GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= splash resume=/swapfile`

And I created and execute `/usr/sbin/update-grub` to update grub.
```
#!/bin/sh
set -e
exec grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg "$@"
```

Then reboot the computer and I get black screen with the cursor and I cannot access even to TTY.

---

So I think I break grub and I tried to fix from live environment. I booted into an Archlinux live environment, but I couldn't reinstall Linux and grub from chroot, because an error with pacman dependencies.

My Arch system (also grub config) is on /dev/nvme0n1p2 in subvolume @

I followed this but I can't reinstall Linux or grub as I mentioned.
```
mount /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt

mount -o subvol=@ /dev/nvme1n1p2 /mnt/home
mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
mount --bind /run /mnt/run

sudo chroot /mnt /bin/bash

sudo pacman -S grub linux # break dependencies

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

# sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

Exit, unmount and reboot
```

How can I fix the system? I don't want to reinstall and configure Arch-limux again.

Thanks.

Last edited by rufusreal (2023-03-10 00:01:24)

dogknowsnx

Member

Registered: 2021-04-12

Posts: 648

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

By using random "installation guides" (such like the mess above) you wouldn't be running Arch Linux anyway. Please follow the official guide and wiki:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB
Should you then encounter any issues you at least qualify for support here and are more than welcome to do so...

---

RI - Rest your Eyes and Self

"We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion" - Maynard James Keenan

rufusreal

Member

Registered: 2023-03-05

Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

By using random "installation guides" (such like the mess above) you wouldn't be running Arch Linux anyway. Please follow the official guide and wiki:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB
Should you then encounter any issues you at least qualify for support here and are more than welcome to do so...

Well, I had installed Arch I only want to fix the suspend mode ("sleep") on KDE and I tried to create a swap file and change grub config.

Because I think to suspend properly and wake up the system I need a swap file or swap partition.

I was running Arch good after installing with archinstall, the only problem was that I use the system after suspending.

dogknowsnx

Member

Registered: 2021-04-12

Posts: 648

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

Creating a swapfile on a Btrfs filesystem requires a Btrfs-specific procedure:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Btrfs#Swap_file

---

RI - Rest your Eyes and Self

"We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion" - Maynard James Keenan

rufusreal

Member

Registered: 2023-03-05

Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

Creating a swapfile on a Btrfs filesystem requires a Btrfs-specific procedure:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Btrfs#Swap_file

Yes, I notice after changing the grub config. That's why I corrupt the grub config. But I don't how to fix grub from a live environment.

dogknowsnx

Member

Registered: 2021-04-12

Posts: 648

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Chroot

---

RI - Rest your Eyes and Self

"We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion" - Maynard James Keenan

rufusreal

Member

Registered: 2023-03-05

Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Chroot

I mounted the affected system and did chroot.
But couldnt reinstall Linux and grub for dependencies issues.

dogknowsnx

Member

Registered: 2021-04-12

Posts: 648

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

You don't need to reinstall those packages. Inside the chroot run the appropriate 'grub-install' command (see the grub wiki page I posted above) and remove the swapfile entry from your 'etc/fstab' (I'm no expert by any means - there are more knowledgeable users out there...)

Last edited by dogknowsnx (2023-03-06 16:04:35)

---

RI - Rest your Eyes and Self

"We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion" - Maynard James Keenan

rufusreal

Member

Registered: 2023-03-05

Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] Break grub trying to add a swap file on BTRFS, help please.

Finally I could restore the system doing chroot from a live environment and reinstalling grub.

I think the problem with don't wake up after suspend is from Arch. Maybe I should try creating a swapfile under btrfs and see if it works. But for now I will wait and see if a new update of Archlinux fix the problem.

Last edited by rufusreal (2023-03-07 14:04:39)