Bug#857646: Choosing where to install Grub by menu selection causes boot failure
Package: installation-reports
Boot method: CD/DVD
Image version: debian-8.7.1-amd64-kde-CD-1.iso,
debian-8.7.1-amd64-netinst.iso, debian-8.7.1-amd64-DVD-1.iso
Date: recent
Machine: 2006 desktop with MSI motherboard / 2011 Samsung laptop
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 / AMD A8
Memory: 1 GB / ?
Partitions: tried various arrangements
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn’t try it
Initial boot: [o ]
Detect network card: [o ]
Configure network: [o ]
Detect CD: [o ]
Load installer modules: [o ]
Detect hard drives: [o ]
Partition hard drives: [o ]
Install base system: [o ]
Clock/timezone setup: [o ]
User/password setup: [o ]
Install tasks: [o ]
Install boot loader: [? ]
Overall install: [E ]
Comments/Problems: My goal was to install Debian on a portable
USB hard drive while leaving my Windows hard drive untouched. Near the
end of the install, it asks if it can put Grub on the main hard drive: I
said “no”. The next screen presents a menu, an example of which is
shown below.
Enter device manually
/dev/sda <description of my Windows drive>
/dev/sdb <description of my USB drive>
I selected the third item in the menu and the install completed
without apparent errors.
In order to use this Debian installation, I must invoke the
computer's Boot Menu as it is started. I then select the USB hard drive
as the boot device and press ENTER. The screen blanks, the USB hard
drive activity light blinks about 3 times, and the computer is found to
be unresponsive to everything except the off button.
I have tried installing with three different Debian versions on two
different computers with two different USB hard drives. I have tried
various partitioning arrangements, but the result is always the same, a
failure to boot.
However, I have found that I can get a successful installation by
doing one thing differently. When I'm asked if Grub can be put on the
main hard drive, I still say “no”. On the next screen I choose the menu
item “Enter device manually”. On the next screen I type in “/dev/sdb”
(from the example shown above). This small change will give me a
bootable installation.
So my question for you is: why would typing in information give a
different result than selecting that same information from a menu? If
this is your desired behavior, then I suggest that additional
instructions or information would be helpful at this stage.
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