Bug#659116: 'grub2' not installing in /boot partition.
On Fri, Mar 02, 2012 at 02:27:46PM +0100, cbd wrote:
> Additional notes on 659116 posted by David Kennedy.
>
> Problem: 'grub2' not installing on /boot partition during installation
> of Debian Squeeze.
>
> Installation mode: Graphical expert.
>
> Package: grub-installer
> Version: 20110106+squeeze4
> Severity: grave
> Tags:
> Justification: prevents installation completing.
>
> System
> CPU: Intel i7-870 2.93 GHz
> Board: Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4 1156
> RAM: 4 x DDR3-2GB
> HD SATA Western Digital 2TB
> Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 295 DVI
>
> Current OS: SuSE 11.3 (since Debian installation failed).
> Partitioning description: Encrypted LVM with a separate'/boot' partition.
> This is the partitioning system on the current SuSE 11.3 and was also
> the partitioning system chosen and installed on the Debian Squeeze that
> failed with the above problem.
>
> Partitioning:
>
> Device Size Enc Type FS Type Mount
> /dev/sda 2.0 TB WDC ...diskname
>
> /dev/sda1 256.00 MB Linux native Ext4 /boot
> /dev/sda2 2.0 TB Encrypted Linux LVM
>
> /dev/VOLUME 2.0 TB LVM2
> /dev/VOLUME/HOME 800.00 GB LV Ext4 /home
> /dev/VOLUME/ROOT 200.00 GB LV Ext4 /
> /dev/VOLUME/SWAP 16.00 GB LV SWAP SWAP
> /dev/VOLUME/TEMP 400.00 GB LV Ext4 /tmp
> /dev/VOLUME/USER 446.75 GB LV Ext4 /usr
>
> Details.
> The installation went without problem until the installation attempted
> to load 'grub2' into the /boot partition.
>
> The problem occurred when: this installation was attempted automatically
> by the installation
> or
> manually by selecting /dev/sda1 as the partition on which to install grub.
>
> The message: 'Installing grub on /dev/sda1' was displayed for around 2
> minutes (after the manual selection).
> Then a message similar to: 'grub could not be installed on /dev/sda1 do
> you want to continue with the installation?' was displayed.
>
> Using 'dmesg' the following possibly relevant information was noted by hand:
> ...
> 'Attempting to install a partition instead of a MBR. This is a bad idea!'
> ....
> 'grub-probe: sending ioctl 1261 to partition'
> ...
> 'GRUB can only be installed using block lists.
> Blocklists unreliable use discouraged.'
> ...
> more ioctl 1261 messages
> ...
> ...
> 'grub-installer: Installation finished. No error reported'
> 'grub-instsaller: grub-install ran successfully'
> ...
> more ioctl 1261 messages
> ...
> '--ratelimit: 106 callbacks supressed'
>
> Thank you for your work on the Debian system,
When using GPT rather than old DOS partition tables (which is required
for 2TB+ drives), you are supposed to create a boot partition (not
/boot), that grub can install to since there isn't room to embed after
the partition table on GPT setups.
The type of the partition is supposed to be 'ef02 BIOS boot partition'
Once you have one of those, grub will happily install to /dev/sda by
embedding in that partition.
--
Len Sorensen
Reply to: