On Mon, 2005-01-03 at 13:51 -0700, Jim Cromie wrote: > Jeff Vian wrote: > > >On Mon, 2005-01-03 at 12:36 -0700, Jim Cromie wrote: > > > > > >>Jim Cromie wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >>>IOW - its not even seeing /dev/sda, so autocompletes right past that > >>>choice. > >>>ANY IDEA WHY ? > >>> > >>> > >>solved > >>writing to someone else almost always helps > >>- even iff you dont send, ie wait long enough.. > >> > >>I just added '(hd1) /dev/sda' to /boot/grub/device.map, > >>now it shows up on the grub-console, > >>testing actual boot next. > >> > >> > >> > >> > Naturally - I spoke too soon.. :-/ > while grub-console sees it, > it does not on reboot. > when I edit the boot-config to force it, it tells me drive doesnt exist. > when I just select that boot-config, it tries, but errs out > err 21 iirc, > press anykey to continue... > then back to boot-config-choice screen > > >One other problem there. > > > >Using grub (as you are) presupposes that grub is installed on the boot > >disk, and that the boot device is able to tell the system to boot from > >the usb device. It also implies that usb drivers have been loaded to > >allow this to happen at boot time, before the OS is loaded. > > > > > > > Ive always been less than certain about my understanding of grub, > and for obvious reasons, reluctant to experiment ... > > when you say 'installed on boot disk', I have several ways to interpret > that: > 1. grub-stage1 is in the MBR > 2. grub 1.5 and 2 are in /boot/grub/ (on FC-3 at least) > 3. both the above. > > in my case, Ive got extlinux installed to MBR on /dev/sda, > I probably should have been more clear. By boot disk, I mean the disk that the bios is reading the MBR from (the boot disk). On your laptop that would likely be /dev/hda, on the usb device you indicate it as /dev/sda. If you want to use grub for booting from the usb drive without another drive hosting grub you will likely need to install grub on the boot sector of /dev/sda > > >If I understand your plans correctly, you want this usb drive to be able > >to boot standalone. > > > > > that is the plan. > > >If I am correct, you want the usb drive to be bootable with no other > >devices in play, and that means BIOS must be able to boot from the usb > >device. Grub has no factor in that scenario until after the device is > >accessed and the boot sector is read. > > > > > > > cuz I got extlinux in there, it has no part at all. > except when I try to boot the laptop (using grub on /dev/hda) > and targeting /dev/sda as root. (an interim step toward my end goal) > > ie: this fails > > title Nomad (Debian, kernel 2.6.8-1-386, on USB-drive) > root (hd1,0) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8-1-386 root=/dev/sda1 ro > initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8-1-386 > boot > > of course, this works: > > title Fedora Core (2.6.9-1.724_FC3) > root (hd0,1) > kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.9-1.724_FC3 ro root=LABEL=/ > initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.9-1.724_FC3.img > > > Thanks for reading between the lines here.. > > > Also, might as well answer Stuart here too. > > the BIOS apparently does see the drive - sort of. > if I hit escape on the sony splash screen, > I get an ascii dialog box with 'Removable media' (or similar) as 1st choice. > But it doesnt actually boot - > it gives up instantly, and back to grub on /dev/hda > That message may also indicate the cdrom. Check the BIOS and see if you can set USB as a boot option. Some of the newer boards/BIOSes can do that. If the bios can boot from USB you are most of the way there.
