Problem booting up from HD, using USB with OpenSuse 12.1 Net-install... Newb error?

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 05:16 AM

Hi

Previously I have used a DVD to install Suse, but this time around I used a Net Install from a USB flash drive. I would have used an installation DVD, but it's not an option. Now, I think I might be making a newb mistake with the Flash Drive I'm using to install opensuse, but I'm not sure... Read on and see for yourself:

-- Problem Story --

So, I download the Net-Install iso for USB and write it to the flash drive.
I boot up, and then download-installed 12.1 opensuse onto the brand new SSD drive I just purchased.

Everything runs perfectly, apart from a warning during installation which reads:

"The partitioning on disk /dev/sdb is not readable by the partitioning tool parted, which is used to change the partition table"

Nonetheless, it installs happily enough onto the solid state drive without complaints. I select ext4 as my file system etc.

Now, once I power off and take out the USB drive, I can no longer boot up.

Quite simply, I get GRUB error 25 and that's it. Also, it takes an aeon for GRUB 1.5 to load and give that error.

I reboot and pop the USB back on. The GRUB loader appears I select Boot from HD, but nothing happens. I just come back to the exact same GRUB loader immediately.

Finally, after messing around with the different GRUB loader menu options like memory testing etc, I find that by going to:

"Check installation Media"

The "installation system" loads in six parts and then up comes
Linuxrc -> choose root -> my SSD and USB both appear as options.

Then I choose the SSD and within a second I'm back to my 12.1 Desktop on which I'm typing now.

-- End Problem Story --

My question: Why the hell can't I boot from my Hard drive?

I'm not trying to make a LIVE USB version of opensuse 12.1, but I'm not sure what step in the process I'm getting wrong.

Halp!!!!

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 05:32 AM

Ok, I'm going to try out a few things while I'm waiting for replies, I'll be back to this thread approximately every hour, so I should be able to reply quickly if you post.

TIA!

Morgan

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 05:42 AM

It looks like your new SSD drive may not be partitioned properly.

I think I would manually partition the disk with fdisk, not forgetting to set the boot flag to on.

Then try re installing, make sure grub is being loaded to the MBR, reboot.

Hopefully, everything will then work as expected.

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 06:02 AM

Hi fatmac!

Here's the output from fdisk -l in case it's any use:

Quote:

Disk /dev/sda: 128.0 GB, 128035676160 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 15566 cylinders, total 250069680 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0002076d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2048 4208639 2103296 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 * 4208640 250068991 122930176 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 3951 MB, 3951034368 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 3768 cylinders, total 7716864 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7d06cdac

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 0 317439 158720 17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb1: 162 MB, 162529280 bytes
64 heads, 32 sectors/track, 155 cylinders, total 317440 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7d06cdac

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1p1 * 0 317439 158720 17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS

I know that /dev/sda is my SSD drive, and that /dev/sdb is my 4GB USB drive, but I'm not certain what /dev/sdb1 is there for. I think it's the ISO I wrote to the USB, but don't understand why it winds up there. Anyway, it's probably not related.

If you see any oddities in the output, please advise

I'm working on trying to implement your advice, reporting back soon!

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 06:38 AM

Seems all is well from your 'fdisk -l'; sdb is indeed your pendrive, it looks like it has an EFI boot record (/dev/sdb1p1 * 0 317439 158720 17 Hidden HPFS/NTFS ), & the 160mb looks like the right size for a netboot cd.

So it is looking like a 'grub' problem.

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 07:22 AM

Ok, so I went back and reinstalled over again (4th time today!)

I think I managed to do as you suggested, but the symptoms are identical. -.-

I'm going to try installation another way to see if that works.

P.S. Got some extra motivation a few minutes ago, just discovered you can't so much as change your wallpaper on windows 7 for notebooks :O

xD :S

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 07:47 AM

Take a look at your grub config file. (/boot/grub/grub.cfg)

What partition is it looking to boot? (hd0,msdos1)or(hd0,msdos2)

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 08:02 AM

I can't find the grub config file, it's not there.

I checked the /boot/grub/ folder, but there is no file with that name or indeed any .cfg file.

I have:

Quote:

-rw------- 1 root root 126 Mar 10 12:58 device.map
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 125 Mar 10 12:16 device.map.old
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8608 Oct 29 09:12 e2fs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7872 Oct 29 09:12 fat_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7136 Oct 29 09:12 ffs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7136 Oct 29 09:12 iso9660_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8576 Oct 29 09:12 jfs_stage1_5
-rw------- 1 root root 1413 Mar 10 12:58 menu.lst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1308 Mar 10 12:16 menu.lst.old
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7296 Oct 29 09:12 minix_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9632 Oct 29 09:12 reiserfs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 Oct 29 09:12 stage1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 102058 Mar 10 12:58 stage2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 7456 Oct 29 09:12 ufs2_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6688 Oct 29 09:12 vstafs_stage1_5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9320 Oct 29 09:12 xfs_stage1_5

Thoughts? I suspect I'm running part of the system on the USB of course, but I don't know what to do about it. Also, I cannot access the USB filesystem while it's running, it looks like it's broken into about 10 or so segments of a few megabytes each, not sure what to make of it.

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 08:03 AM

Below is part of my /boot/grub/grub.cfg (I'm booting from the first partition)

(Check your disk id is correct, as root, 'blkid')

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ec968519-b05e-47a6-a2c2-49bd7eb88120
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=ec968519-b05e-47a6-a2c2-49bd7eb88120 ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ec968519-b05e-47a6-a2c2-49bd7eb88120
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.32-5-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-5-amd64 root=UUID=ec968519-b05e-47a6-a2c2-49bd7eb88120 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 08:06 AM

OK, your using the old version of grub, disregard my grub.cfg.

Take a look at menu.lst to see if it is looking at the right partition.

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 08:14 AM

It appears to be wanting to boot "(hd0,1)", but I see no mention of msdos1 or msdos2 (never had windows on the SSD).

Is that any help?

Output from menu.lst below:

Quote:

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Sat Mar 10 12:58:17 GMT 2012
# THIS FILE WILL BE PARTIALLY OVERWRITTEN by perl-Bootloader
# For the new kernel it try to figure out old parameters. In case we are not able to recognize it (e.g. change of flavor or strange install order ) it it use as fallback installation parameters from /etc/sysconfig/bootloader

default 0
timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message
##YaST - activate

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title Desktop -- openSUSE 12.1 - 3.1.0-1.2
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.1.0-1.2-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-M4-CT128M4SSD2_000000001203032B58C1-part2 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-M4-CT128M4SSD2_000000001203032B58C1-part1 splash=silent quiet showopts vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-3.1.0-1.2-desktop

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 12.1 - 3.1.0-1.2
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.1.0-1.2-desktop root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-M4-CT128M4SSD2_000000001203032B58C1-part2 showopts apm=off noresume nosmp maxcpus=0 edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 nomodeset x11failsafe vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-3.1.0-1.2-desktop

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: Linux other###
title Linux other
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 08:22 AM

I'm attempting to get a LIVE-USB version of 12.1, but it seems I can't mount anything so that I could put it onto my USB! (err: unknown filesystem vfat)

Total catch-22 here! -.-

fatmac · 03-10-2012, 08:52 AM

Your menu.lst looks OK to me, it's using disk id rather than Linux designations.

If you want to try again, put the root system before the swap; it may be the 1024 cylinder booting problem. Also try it with ext3 just in case.

(http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub-legacy.html)
Error 25 : Disk read error
This error is returned if there is a disk read error when trying to probe or read data from a particular disk.

Quote:

I'm attempting to get a LIVE-USB version of 12.1, but it seems I can't mount anything so that I could put it onto my USB! (err: unknown filesystem vfat)

Total catch-22 here! -.-

Normally a live-usb image is dd'd to the pendrive; but I'm not a SuSE user; I just help anyone I think I can on this forum, when I'm passing through.

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

Your menu.lst looks OK to me, it's using disk id rather than Linux designations.

If you want to try again, put the root system before the swap; it may be the 1024 cylinder booting problem. Also try it with ext3 just in case.

(http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub-legacy.html)

Normally a live-usb image is dd'd to the pendrive; but I'm not a SuSE user; I just help anyone I think I can on this forum, when I'm passing through.

Yeah I know, I just thought I could transfer it across to my other computer with another USB -.-

Downloaded it again on the other computer and going to attempt the impossible again!

Morgan- · 03-10-2012, 10:41 AM

Ok I'm back.

I tried installing from LIVE USB (after an extraordinary battle with Windows errors!). I'm certain I did it all correctly.

Again, exactly the same problems as before.

> Cannot boot without USB, cannot boot directly from Hard Drive.

So, it's nothing to do with a Net Install of Opensuse 12.1, the medium doesn't matter.

I am able to boot up with the USB and select (in the case of live usb) live usb option or else a verify install option, both of which take me to the Desktop.

--

I have also tried every conceivable install onto the SSD and nothing works.

I don't know what to think. I'm thinking of updating my BIOS and seeing if that helps. I don't think I can do anything about GRUB, so I'm not sure where to go next :-(

Here is a link to a picture of one of my installations:

http://imageupload.org/en/file/19762...58-08.png.html

Maybe somebody will notice something odd?