On Sun, 2006-03-26 at 15:28 -0800, Dan Thurman wrote:
> Folks,
>
> Please bear with me, but it appears that if you plan
> to install FC5 release as multi-boot, i.e. anything
> outside of anaconda grub-install's default setup, you
> may in in for a bit of a surprise... but your milage
> may vary.
>
> I have installed FC5 several times now and I find
> these facts at least on my system:
>
> 1) NON Multi-boot, first time install of FC5
> Results: Installation completes and all works.
>
> 2) Multi-boot partitions:
>
> P#1: 10GB: FAT32 Win98SE
> P#2: 10GB: NTFS Win2KPro
> P#3: 75MB: ext3 /boot
> P#$: 110GB Extended
> 20GB NTFS /App1
> 30GB NTFS /App2
> 30GB NTFS /App3
> 30GB ext3 /
>
> Special Grub install instructions:
> a) Add: /dev/hda3 (hd0,2) # for /boot - make this default
> Delete: 'Other' - no use for it
>
> Results:
> a) Black screen - nothing appears, nothing is running
> b) Reboot with rescue CD; chroot /mnt/sysimage
> i) cd /boot
> ii) All files are there: kernel, initd, grub directory
> iii) cd grub
> iv) Only one file appears: splash.xpm.gz
> v) Rebuild grub:
> 1) cd ..; mv grub g1; grub-install /dev/hda3
> 2) Examine/Rebuild grub:
> x) grub directory created and all stage
> files are built, but missing are:
> grub.conf & splash.xpm.gz
> y) cp /boot/g1/splash* /boot/grub
> vi /boot/grub/grub.conf
> *** Add correct entries w/ hd0,2 as primary target
> Save file (:wq!)
> vi) Grub is rebuilt manually, remove rescue CD & reboot
> vii) Multi-booted Fedora, splash appears, initrd runs BUT
> 1) Unable to open /etc/fstab
> 2) Unable to create swap: Unable to open: /etc/fstab
> 3) Since X11 cannot start, Anaconda based setup appears
> requesting setup for Authentication and a MANY other
> setup defaults.
> ABORT (Control-Alt-Del)
>
>
> Ah... so it seems that FC5 release results in a very good
> release but it is not doing well for me :-(
>
> What can I do with the problem with /etc/fstab? Is this
> a SELinux issue or what?
>
> Please advise,
> Dan
>
Sorry to reply to my own post, but I needed to add a little tidbit
to the above reported information.
+ I have successfully installed FC5 onto my system and I now
understand what it was that caused me grief.
*** Do not use the 'Configure Now' radio button and install everything
in the list, but choose instead 'Configure later'. I installed
everything except language in my case but and attempting to
complete the installation resulted in an abrupt reboot somewhere
during the CD #4 disc. I did not realize this until I installed
FC5 the second time around and payed closer attention. This means
that post-installation will not completed nor will grub complete
either. This explains why grub is HOSED and fails to work when
rebooting!
+ It appears that when anaconda gets to the grub setup step, anaconda
(or grub) does not know that "/boot" and "/" in separate partitions
and simply assumes "/boot" and "/" are in the same partition and
proceeds to provide the "/" device. Since I now understand the
difference between "/" and "/boot" and where grub fits into this
picture - I now know how to define it during the first-time setup
phase. It was a hard lesson learned.
Kind regards,
Dan
