Arch Linux

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

Hi there.

I'm trying to install Arch on a desktop with an AMD Athlon 64 X2.  Previously the computer had WindowsXP installed with a few different partitions.  Instead of going to the liveboot terminal, it goes to what I assume is grub.  I've read about grub on the wiki and it doesn't seem like this is supposed to be happening.

This is the .iso I downloaded:

ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/iso/2009.02/archlinux-2009.02-core-x86_64.iso.torrent

What can I do to fix this or install directly from GRUB?

Last edited by sharpie (2009-03-26 18:19:08)

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

Have you changed your BIOS setting to boot from CD instead of the installed OSes from the HDD?

If yes,

GRUB is basically a choice of the different OSes that you can choose from. If you choose the install option (I forget the exact wording) it will take you to a command prompt from where you can install.

Last edited by Inxsible (2009-03-26 01:01:28)

---

Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

Hi Inxsible,

I've installed Arch successfully on an older laptop before so I know what I should be expecting, however instead of those choices I'm taken immediately to a black screen with a list of commands that can be TAB completed.

None of the commands works however, they require information about the harddrive that I can't get without a previously installed OS.

EDIT:  I'm going to try the 32bit version to see if it's a problem with the way I'm trying to boot or if it's a problem with the 64bit goodness.

Last edited by sharpie (2009-03-26 01:04:06)

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

I'm back.  Apparently it's both versions.

The screen appears like this:

GNU Grub version 0.97

Minimal bash-like scripting is available...

Possible commands are ....

Grub>

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

you probably might have to change the kernel options. Try noapic acpi=off for starters

Last edited by Inxsible (2009-03-26 01:55:15)

---

Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

I'm not prompted with Grub, it takes me directly to the above mentioned screen.

I've also disabled just about everything that says "DMA" on it.  I'm out of ideas except to try the thumbdrive boot and I can't do that because I don't have a computer with linux and the dd command.

Last edited by sharpie (2009-03-26 02:24:37)

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

I don't know if it would cause the problem you have, but have you tried the isolinux ISO?

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

Hi Ranguvar

I don't understand.  Can you provide a link please?

Last edited by sharpie (2009-03-26 03:42:27)

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

Hi Ranguvar

I don't understand.  Can you provide a link please?

See the link for the Isolinux ISOs under the Bittorrent download method.

http://www.archlinux.org/download/

Also it seems the isolinux isos are particularly for people experiencing your problem of GRUB not loading. Check this download instructions which specifies that. Thanks to Ranguvar for mentioning it.
http://www.archlinux.org/iso/2009.02/instructions.txt

Last edited by Inxsible (2009-03-26 04:07:57)

---

Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

I can't do that because I don't have a computer with linux and the dd command.

http://www.chrysocome.net/dd

Alxe

Member

From: /home/alex

Registered: 2009-01-20

Posts: 102

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

You have to same problem I had; you'll have to use a FTP ISOLINUX-based installer
This may be because you alredy had a grub installation, and the CD, instead of booting, shoots the Grub CL to you

---

Arch64

sharpie

Member

From: Phoenix, AZ

Registered: 2008-11-16

Posts: 72

Re: Trying to install Archx86_64, core iso goes straight to GRUB. [SOLVED]

FTP ISOLINUX worked perfectly for me!

I ran into this problem at first, however:

failed to mount /dev/sr0
:scanning usb drives
failed to mount /dev/sda1
attempt to access beyond end of device
sda2: rw=0, want=4, limit=2
ext2-fs: unable to read superblock
failed to mount /dev/sda2
failed to mount /dev/sda5
failed to mount /dev/sda6
failed to mount /dev/sda1
error: cannot find boot device, can not continue
     falling back to interactive prompt

But that was caused by the usb drive that I half-ways made into an bootable device.  Removing it allowed me to continue on with to the Arch config window.

Thanks you all for your input and help.  It was because of you that I have a fully Arch home environment!  Good luck with all of your future endeavors, you guys!