[solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

Frantic · 2009-11-04 22:55:00

I'm using the 2009.08 USB image.
I've tried this 2 weeks ago, tried it again today, same result. (I'm on Win7 meanwhile).

I'm installing arch, everything goes fine.
I've tried 2 setups:

a)
100GB ext4 /
12GB swap
(no separate /boot, should work)

b)
100MB ext3 /boot
100GB ext4 /
12GB swap

Neither a) or b) will boot.

When the newly installed grub boots, I get a error saying:
filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7

I get this for the ext3, ext4, and windows partitions.
I get it for both a) and b) setups.

I have doublechecked the menu.lst file. I've even created another entry setting root=/dev/sdb1 (as opposed to the default /dev/disks/by-uuid/..).

I should mention, I have two disks, the first (sda) is currently with a Win7 installation, the 2nd (sdb) is the one I'm trying to install Arch again (and failing).

After the reboot, I've tried booting into the livecd again and manually trying to mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt, it works.

Why isn't my grub boothing from ext{3,4}?

Last edited by Frantic (2009-11-05 18:35:15)

lilsirecho · 2009-11-04 23:21:43

Review the grub requirements for boot devices and identify the correct one for sdb1 in the grub menu list............

Frantic · 2009-11-05 00:40:12

lilsirecho wrote:

Review the grub requirements for boot devices and identify the correct one for sdb1 in the grub menu list............

I have no clue what you mean.

Rede · 2009-11-05 03:54:40

I am similar problems with grub at the moment. What error are you getting?

If anyone who knows more about grub is around, maybe you could help us out.

I have set up my system as follows:

/dev/sdb1 /boot
/dev/sdb2 /swap
/dev/sdb3 /
/dev/sdb4 /home

My menu.lst file refers to (hd1,2) for root. and I have run root (hd1,2) and setup (hd1).

When I start my PC it starts grub but doesn't go past "grub loading stage1..."

Any ideas?

ewaller · 2009-11-05 04:00:54

I may be mistaken, but doesn't the boot partition have to be ext2?

tavianator · 2009-11-05 04:04:37

Rede: You have a different problem, either hardware related or an issue with your grub installation. Try re-installing the latest grub from the installation disc.

OP: ensure that any root (hdX,Y) statements are correct. In general, /dev/sda5 maps to (hd0,4), /dev/sdb6 to (hd1,5), etc. Having a look at /boot/grub/device.map from a livecd may help too.

Rede · 2009-11-05 04:12:31

Thanks for the quick reply.

I have tried the following:

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Reinstalling_GRUB

With a few different methods, such as grub-install or manual install. At first I was getting a error 15 message.

Is there another way I can reinstall grub?

Rede · 2009-11-05 04:15:55

Also I have had arch running on my PC maybe a year ago. And it all worked fine then.

It wouldn't be because of windows 7 would it?

tavianator · 2009-11-05 04:35:52

Rede: error 15 usually means misconfigured menu.lst (or were you getting this while re-installing grub?). I doubt Windows 7 could be the cause, as long as you installed Arch or re-installed grub after windows.

Rede · 2009-11-05 04:44:05

I was getting that error but after re-installing grub and making some changes to the menu.lst file it was fixed.

I was able to at one stage boot into arch but it gave problems with the root. Now it just seems to freeze while trying to load grub.

I am currently trying yet another install of grub. I have been noticing though that my menu.lst file has been rolling back or not updating when I chroot back into my install after changing it earlier.

tavianator · 2009-11-05 04:59:41

Rede wrote:

I was getting that error but after re-installing grub and making some changes to the menu.lst file it was fixed.
I was able to at one stage boot into arch but it gave problems with the root. Now it just seems to freeze while trying to load grub.
I am currently trying yet another install of grub. I have been noticing though that my menu.lst file has been rolling back or not updating when I chroot back into my install after changing it earlier.

Try mounting your /boot partition under /mnt/boot.

Rede · 2009-11-05 05:03:18

I have been chrooting into /mnt and then mount /dev/sdb1 (boot) to /boot.

My latest attempt also left grub hanging at the loading screen. I have decided to have a look at grub2.

Rede · 2009-11-05 07:16:41

Ok well my problem seems to be solved now. Not sure how I just did the exact same as before with grub. However this time it worked.

Thanks for the help.

Frantic · 2009-11-05 14:01:08

I'm glad for you.

Does someone know anything about my error?

Frantic · 2009-11-05 14:02:43

ewaller wrote:

I may be mistaken, but doesn't the boot partition have to be ext2?

I have another box running arch, an older install but similar components, it doesn't have a separate /boot and / is actually ext4.
So, no, it doesn't have to be ext2, but AFAIK in older grub versions ext4 wasn't supported.

Rede · 2009-11-05 14:23:23

Frantic wrote:

I'm glad for you.
Does someone know anything about my error?

I'm sorry my posts weren't that helpful to you.

All I can suggest is to follow http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Reinstalling_GRUB

grey · 2009-11-05 17:42:13

When grub fails to boot, you can hit 'c' (for command line) and then check where grub thinks your partitions are.
The fact that you are getting to the grub screen means that grub is installed correctly.

Frantic · 2009-11-05 18:34:57

grey wrote:

and then check where grub thinks your partitions are.

Thanks for the idea, that was it.

For some reason grub thinks that sdb1 is (hd0,0) instead of what you would expect (hd1,0).

After the kernel loads, it still loads it as sdb1. Pretty weird how grub is getting confused there.

[solved]

ewaller · 2009-11-06 03:18:47

Frantic Wrote:
I have another box running arch, an older install but similar components, it doesn't have a separate /boot and / is actually ext4.
So, no, it doesn't have to be ext2

Thanks. Good to know.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-11-04 22:55:00

[solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#2 2009-11-04 23:21:43

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#3 2009-11-05 00:40:12

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#4 2009-11-05 03:54:40

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#5 2009-11-05 04:00:54

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#6 2009-11-05 04:04:37

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#7 2009-11-05 04:12:31

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#8 2009-11-05 04:15:55

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#9 2009-11-05 04:35:52

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#10 2009-11-05 04:44:05

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#11 2009-11-05 04:59:41

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#12 2009-11-05 05:03:18

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#13 2009-11-05 07:16:41

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#14 2009-11-05 14:01:08

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#15 2009-11-05 14:02:43

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#16 2009-11-05 14:23:23

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#17 2009-11-05 17:42:13

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#18 2009-11-05 18:34:57

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

#19 2009-11-06 03:18:47

Re: [solved] Cannot complete install, grub fails to boot the new install

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