Edit: January 2012
Edit Saturday April 30 2011
After a very long and to me hard slog testing many combinations of drives it does seem clear that the something on the hard drive in question, I will call it SeaGate-2 (/dev/sdb in below) is preventing GRUB session at the end of a draklive-install to finish.
konsole trace indicates install is finished ie command prompt released.
I think on 3 occasions draklive-install worked, that made for very frustrating trouble shooting.
Test and using mount to show what is busy shows that the target drive is not released/umounted.
With the second HDD installed both the first and second drive will not complete a MiniMe liveCD install to a partition
Remove SeaGate-2 so only /dev/sda is mounted, LiveCD install full system
Install SeaGate-2 as only drive and (making it bootable of course) LiveCD installs full system to partition fine
Install original /dev/sda2 as the second drive and SeaGate-2 still installed and being booted, the problem is back
Installing SeaGate-2 as second drive in another PC and it works fine.
The problem was preventing me from do a recovery install of re-master backups to any partition, making it a bit scary having re-master ISOs but unable to do more than just run them.
Member
as has pointed out as I understand that the GRUB session is trying to write the menu.lst and meets a surprise obstacle.
From what I can see the complete filesystem has been written to target partition and I made an attempt manually boot the partition but must admit at the time I was so confused that the failure to do so a couple of times could have been a simple error on my part
I can now recover a system by removing the second HDD while doing so gives me a practical solution, I find it very hard to let go. The question also arises is that hard drive no longer 'safe'.
I really would like to figure what is going on so I am not leaving it just yet. This edit does not bump the topic but if anybody reads here, I am
welcoming any suggestions.
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
Having had some fun testing LiveHDD generation, which is successful for me now, I believe. The script Just19 kindly provided will make the LiveHDD installs fine.
During work I have discovered a really weird problem, my system will no longer install to hard disk from a newly downloaded minime2010.12
The troubles are described in more details here
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,90298.0.htmlHowever I have decided to hide here for some more general help. I have repeated the download of the minime ISO using my KDE install, unusual for me this time I also downloaded the md5sum. Previously I had done md5sum and media check on the CD RW I was using (not had trouble so far with this disk, but used quite a few times too).
Edit: below line for clarity:
A second minime2010.12 iso downloaded today, I immediately burnt to a CD RO and the md5sum checked, ok
While in KDE I reformatted two partitions: /dev/sda2 (LABEL=minime2010) and /dev/sdb18 (LABEL=DELTA-18) on two separate drives. ( I can' believe it has any influence but the sda was set up with the old fdisk and the sdb was setup with the new fdisk sector offset 63 and 2048 for those in the know
)
I have also checked e2fsck on the partitions, nothing reported (one example below on sdb18)
Now I boot the LiveCD, runs fine, and open a root konsole and use {draklive-install} to catch the record;
While in KDE[root@localhost gert]# mke2fs -t ext4 -L minime2010 /dev/sda2
mke2fs 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
Filesystem label=minime2010
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
1831424 inodes, 7325640 blocks
366282 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=0
224 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
8176 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208,
4096000
Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
This filesystem will be automatically checked every 35 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.
[root@localhost gert]#
[root@localhost gert]# mke2fs -t ext4 -L DELTA-18 /dev/sdb18
mke2fs 1.41.14 (22-Dec-2010)
Filesystem label=DELTA-18
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
1310720 inodes, 5242880 blocks
262144 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=0
160 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
8192 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208,
4096000
Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
This filesystem will be automatically checked every 39 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.
[root@localhost gert]# Starting the LiveCD /dev/sda2[root@localhost guest]# draklive-install
I slect only /sda2 as the root for the install
The drive has a common LABEL=SWAP4000 (4 GB swap)
Failed to do the uncheck to prevent formatting, so we will see
Should retain my LABEL=minime2010
[root@localhost guest]# draklive-install
/media/ user
umount: /dev/sda2: not mounted
mke2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
tune2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
Setting maximal mount count to -1
Setting interval between checks to 0 seconds
tune2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 4088504 KiB
no label, UUID=6fdbb9bb-f52e-4f56-8c4b-844de0960066
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 4088504 KiB
LABEL=swap4000, UUID=061c4ede-3435-4b06-8be5-e07ba90e2191
tar: ./home/guest/.local/share/akonadi/akonadiserver.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/.local/share/akonadi/db_misc/mysql.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/tmp/ksocket-guest/klauncherMT3281.slave-socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/tmp/ksocket-guest/kdeinit4__0: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/acpid.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/xdmctl/dmctl-\:0/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/xdmctl/dmctl/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/uuidd/request: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/nscd/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/avahi-daemon/socket: socket ignored
add_entry at /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm line 604, <> line 9.
standalone::bug_handler() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm:604
bootloader::add_entry() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm:1109
bootloader::suggest() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/any.pm:211
any::setupBootloaderBefore() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/any.pm:135
any::setupBootloaderBeforeStandalone() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:308
main::setup_bootloader() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:73
main::install_live() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:42
[root@localhost guest]# #Fail to pick up the Grub section
/dev/sdb18[root@localhost guest]# e2fsck -f /dev/sdb18
e2fsck 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
Pass 1: Checking inodes, blocks, and sizes
Pass 2: Checking directory structure
Pass 3: Checking directory connectivity
Pass 4: Checking reference counts
Pass 5: Checking group summary information
DELTA-18: 11/1310720 files (0.0% non-contiguous), 126289/5242880 blocks
[root@localhost guest]#
I uncheck the format option before installing
Installing files going along fine (always it seems), as usual
[root@localhost guest]# draklive-install
/media/ user
Gtk-CRITICAL **: IA__gtk_widget_set_size_request: assertion `width >= -1' failed at /usr/lib/libDrakX/fs/partitioning_wizard.pm line 390.
Gtk-CRITICAL **: IA__gtk_widget_set_size_request: assertion `width >= -1' failed at /usr/lib/libDrakX/fs/partitioning_wizard.pm line 390.
umount: /dev/sdb18: not mounted
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 4088504 KiB
LABEL=swap4000, UUID=061c4ede-3435-4b06-8be5-e07ba90e2191
Setting up swapspace version 1, size = 4088504 KiB
no label, UUID=6fdbb9bb-f52e-4f56-8c4b-844de0960066
tune2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
tar: ./home/guest/.local/share/akonadi/akonadiserver.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/.local/share/akonadi/db_misc/mysql.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/tmp/ksocket-guest/klauncherMT3281.slave-socket: socket ignored
tar: ./home/guest/tmp/ksocket-guest/kdeinit4__0: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/acpid.socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/xdmctl/dmctl-\:0/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/xdmctl/dmctl/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/uuidd/request: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/nscd/socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/dbus/system_bus_socket: socket ignored
tar: ./var/run/avahi-daemon/socket: socket ignored
add_entry at /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm line 604, <> line 9.
standalone::bug_handler() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm:604
bootloader::add_entry() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/bootloader.pm:1109
bootloader::suggest() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/any.pm:211
any::setupBootloaderBefore() called from /usr/lib/libDrakX/any.pm:135
any::setupBootloaderBeforeStandalone() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:308
main::setup_bootloader() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:73
main::install_live() called from /usr/sbin/draklive-install:42
[root@localhost guest]#
Again it fails the Grub session.
I would like this sorted out as I have a number of re-master backups, especially my fully configured minime of a few days ago.
Now that I can not do full install from either a CD or LiveHDD I am sort of between the rock and a hard place, still wanting to know what the problem may be.
I believe the install session should end with something like:
GNU GRUB version 0.97 (640K lower / 3072K upper memory)
[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible
completions of a device/filename. ]
grub> root (hd0,5)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
grub> setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,5)
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage1" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/stage2" exists... yes
Checking if "/boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5" exists... yes
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,5)"... failed (this is not fatal)
Running "embed /boot/grub/e2fs_stage1_5 (hd0,5)"... failed (this is not fatal)
Running "install --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 /boot/grub/stage1 (hd0,5) /boot/grub/stage2 p /boot/grub/menu.lst "... succeeded
Done.
grub> quitThis was an install session ending where the minime LiveCD on the CD RW was used on and older pc
Edit, badly formulated paragraph below as it lacked important dat, now in red:
Only about an hour ago I used the same CD RW to make a successful install to "empty" space on a drive,
on another different Desktop PC system As I was caught un aware here, selecting install to empty space on the single hard drive. The install is not exactly the same as installing to an existing formatted partition. The install formatted two partitions to ext4 but terminated the Grub session properly in my understanding, made the system Multiboot XP/Linux
as drew my attention the ending few lines which seems to indicate that writing to the menu.lst is attempted ... and I notice the debug handler may be called.
I am no doubt overlooking something blindingly obvious, but since I had CD install well under control, I have forgotten what I used to look for if it did not work.
Recalcitrant pc system specs:
The pc is simple Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300, 4GB of RAM and two hard disks with external USB drive hanging off for backup (often not connected)
In the last 2 days I don't remember looking in dmesg when working the LiveCD, hmmm will have a look next time.
I have re-installed GRUB a number of times, an at one stage I thought this was the problem as I had one successful run out of perhaps 20 attempts.
What can make GRUB sneak away apparently without leaving a trace?
I seem to remember one of my systems had gdb debugger install, but don't remember how I used it. Should I attempt installing gdb this on the LiveCD and then run draklive-install?
