Arch Linux

zebulon

Member

Registered: 2008-10-20

Posts: 374

Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

Hi,

I installed my system yesterday, using the x86_64 netinstall image.
I found out an issue when installing the grub bootloader: it only proposed to install grub on the MBR of my drives (/dev/sda, /dev/sdb), when I wanted to install it on a specific partition (/dev/sda6, I am using chainloader from another Grub in the MBR). The list of partitions was simply not there.
Is there a reason? Is it a lack of detection? Has anyone observed the same issue?
How can I help debugging this issue? I remember I did not have this issue with the previous installer, although I did not run it again for comparison.

Last edited by zebulon (2011-08-23 08:55:20)

thecdn

Member

Registered: 2007-06-12

Posts: 21

Re: Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

I too ran into this issue with x86_64 installs using both core and netinstall images.

zebulon

Member

Registered: 2008-10-20

Posts: 374

Re: Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

Thanks. I am going to fill a bug report.

Unrelated, I also wish that wireless_tools be listed when the installer presents the first package list. If I remember well, it only shows in the second, more detailed, one. wireless_tools is essential to wireless users at reboot.

zebulon

Member

Registered: 2008-10-20

Posts: 374

Re: Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

Reported in https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/25726.

keith_hanson

Member

Registered: 2010-09-26

Posts: 7

Re: Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

I'm running into the same problem on my Macbook install, I think.

I only ever get the option to install to the MBR, none of my other partitions show up.

I'm following this guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Macbook

Where it clearly denotes not installing to the MBR.

I could definitely be doing something wrong, but in the mean time, is there any work around to the problem? Is there a Grub install disk you recommend that would do this painlessly?

Thanks!

Edit: Or better, if it can be done manually from within a terminal from the live CD? I've done some Googling and tried out a few things, but Grub keeps telling me that it can't see the partition (0,3) that I'm trying to install to.

Last edited by keith_hanson (2011-08-27 17:25:40)

keith_hanson

Member

Registered: 2010-09-26

Posts: 7

Re: Grub issue with the 2011.08.19 installer

Gosh, ignore me I failed to do gptsync so Grub would never install.

That said, I ran into issues with mkinitcpio and the latest installer. It will have trouble loading your partition after booting from Grub.

Basically, you have to:

- Boot into the live CD
- Mount your partition
- mount /tmp, /sys and /dev
- chroot your mounted partition
- edit /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and remove autodetect from the Hooks
- run mkinitcpio -p linux

And finally reboot. Should be good to go after that. I know it's a bit off-topic, but others might run into it so I figured I'd post here for anyone else.

Last edited by keith_hanson (2011-08-28 06:06:39)