GRUB sucks

XLimaX · n00b Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Posts: 6 Location: Netherlands

I`m like a total n00b but still I understand when there are dozens of posts that say grub sucks and when I have numerously tried to configure it right.... it does really suck.

I have that anoying error: filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7

and this is how my partition table looks like:
hda1= ntfs
hda5=boot
hda6=swap
hda3=root

now.... why wouldn`t it work?
and yes, I have read most other posts, but they don`t help

rac · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: GRUB sucks

gentoouser · n00b Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Posts: 12

Grub isn't recognizing what type of file system you have.

Did you select the file type after you partitioned your hard drive? Look http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-x86-install.xml under partition configuration.

Did you select devfs under file systems when you configured your kernel?

If you did that then when you login:

grub> kernel /boot/bzImage

grub> boot

is all you should have to do to login.

gentoouser · n00b Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Posts: 12

ebrostig · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: GRUB sucks

|the sys admin| · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2002 Posts: 42 Location: Michigan

I'm also having a problem with Grub. I just finished the base install of Gentoo from stage 1. Only took a few hours

Anyways, when I boot up the machine and tell the bios to boot from the linux drive, it just prints "GRUB" all over the screen. It just keeps going and I have to ctrl-alt-del to reboot.

Heres what my grub menu file looks like

djoi · n00b Joined: 10 Nov 2002 Posts: 49

GRUB sucks ?
Nope , coz it rockz....
Maybe the user sucks

The thing is , peepz mostly install it in the MBR but its alot better
(specially for dualboot) not to do that.

Install it in the Bootrecord of your Root Device or whatever.
the make an image of the bootrecord :

dd if=/dev/hda? of=/tmp/grubrock.bin bs=512 count=1

Then copy the file to C:\ ,or where your Windows Bootini exists.

cp /tmp/grubrocks.bin /mnt/win_c

Edit your Boot.ini on C:\ like this:
(Only add the bold line)

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\grubrock.bin="Me sucks I couldnt get it working (Gentoo rulez)"

Thats all you have to do.
From now on, you cant destroy your mbr anymore.
If you compile a new kernel , you have only to mount the /boot partition.
Copy the new kernel there and make an entry in grub.conf for it.

You dont have to touch the MBR or whatever anymore.

Better read the grub configuration in the install doc again.
This all is sooooooo easy.........

IMHo my mind is , its mostly the user

he shouldnt use a program
where about he dont have the knowlegde.
So next time post here "I sucks...

Btw. with your information , nobody can help you.
Maybe you need a kerneloption or whatever or you messed with grub ..hehe

Greetz

B_F_Skinner · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2002 2:28 am Post subject: re: grub problems

As for the first comment, I had a similar problem. (Make sure you have compiled support for all file systems into the kernel.) When this happened to me I carefully re-read the installation documentation and noticed that I forgot to do:

djoi · n00b Joined: 10 Nov 2002 Posts: 49

@ |the sys admin]

If this is really your grub.conf , then u should better change kernal to kernel

If this dont help , read again the part about : The most critical part of
understanding GRUB.......... in the install doc.

MAybe it should be root (hd0,0) or whatever..........

greetz

|the sys admin| · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2002 Posts: 42 Location: Michigan

@djoi---Thank You SO much!!

It was that kernel word. I can now boot into my fresh new linux install (first successful install).

Now I get to spend the rest of the night getting X,KDE and whatnot installed.

Is there a way to sort of chain emerges??

i.e. When X is done emerging, then KDE will start emerging and then after that Fluxbox, etc???
_________________
Resistance Is Futile, Computers Rule!

Malakin · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2002 3:23 am Post subject:

djoi · n00b Joined: 10 Nov 2002 Posts: 49

XLimaX · n00b Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Posts: 6 Location: Netherlands

I stand by what I said, grub sucks.
I have tried all the things you suggest here, but it still won`t work...

anyway... I can`t get to my linux partition, only that cdromimage thing, that`s frustrating

I`m thinking about doing the install all over....

Exci · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2002 10:05 am Post subject:

I think it's a bit to easy to say grub sucks.
When I don't get something to work and there isn't much complaining about it on the forums, I alway think .. damn I suck

fot_of_the_ape · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 2:41 pm Post subject:

i have problems with GRUB too...

i dont see any menu, i only see the "grub >" prompt..and from ther i can enter gentoo by typing the "root" and "kernel" commands
... strange must be writing something wrong in the grub.conf file.....

but i cant blame GRUB for that, its not grub who is making wrong; its me. terrible to say but thats the cold truth :roll:

i almost forgot! anyone know how too boot windows from grub command prompt? (i think my olkd mandrake has messedup my hda (windows))

huh..

Exci · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 2:57 pm Post subject:

try to make a symlink from grub.conf to menu.lst
maybe you still have the old grub that still searches for menu.lst

rac · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 7:20 pm Post subject:

We have had several reports of people that couldn't get GRUB to understand symlinks for its conf files - try a hard link instead if that doesn't work.
_________________
For every higher wall, there is a taller ladder

really · Guru Joined: 27 Aug 2002 Posts: 430 Location: nowhere

if grub sux, why not emerge lilo ? and then just like configure it like you usually do and lilo. ure done, thats what i did first time, i installed grub succesfully but i didnt like the splashimage, it like takes 0.3 secs for it to load, gotta set the right screen settings and such, i just want the text to scroll by like lilo

the sys admin, how come you cant destroy the mbr? after you do what you say?
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1

or fdisk /mbr if you are not a RealUser(TM)
_________________
NoManNoProblem

Get lost before you get shot.

perry · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 9:39 pm Post subject:

pilla · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2002 10:16 pm Post subject:

I think that this thread is turning on a chat thread... maybe GRUB is too powerful and flexibile for most users, what sometimes makes it too hard to install (at least at the first time). Anyway, advanced users will love the flexibility and the capacity of fixing stuff when things get broken. You can even boot using kernels stored elsewhere in the network.

Maybe it is the case of programming a grub wizard for the people that cannot handle it yet. Linuxconf did that in Conectiva GNU/Linux, for example.

But you saying "grub sucks", it is just like some windoze user saying that Linux sucks just because he cannot make it work. If you think it sucks, that's OK. If you want help with it, I'd suggest you should try posting with titles like the one rac suggested. No flame intendend.

See also this thread about strange thread titles if you would like to justify your choice for this title.

|the sys admin| · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2002 Posts: 42 Location: Michigan

really · Guru Joined: 27 Aug 2002 Posts: 430 Location: nowhere

|the sys admin| · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2002 Posts: 42 Location: Michigan

Well, I think I screwed up in some things again, so i'm probably gonna REINSTALL Gentoo yet again next week. Oh well, it only takes a weekend for the base system I found out

_________________
Resistance Is Futile, Computers Rule!

maystorm · Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2002 11:58 pm Post subject:

Lasker · Guru Joined: 17 Jul 2002 Posts: 445