F16 Alpha GRUB install failure

[David Lehman]

On Fri, 2011-08-26 at 17:18 +0200, Michael Schwendt wrote:
> On Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:20:54 -0700, AW (Adam) wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, 2011-08-25 at 15:59 -0500, David Lehman wrote:
> > > On Thu, 2011-08-25 at 22:56 +0200, Michael Schwendt wrote:
> > > > Between TC1 and release of F16 Alpha, something must have changed to the
> > > > worse with regard to installing GRUB to a partition's primary sector.
> > > > Partitioning hasn't changed. TC1 managed to install GRUB to /dev/sda3.
> > > > Anaconda now reports failure to install, and I've found this on virtual
> > > > console:
> > > > 
> > > >   /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a
> > > >   partitionless disk or to a partitionj. This is a BAD idea..
> > > > 
> > > >   /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be
> > > >   installed in this setup using blocklists. However, blocklists are
> > > >   UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
> > > > 
> > > >   /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
> > > > 
> > > > Bug or feature?
> > > 
> > > Both? https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=728742
> 
> :)  One step forward, two steps back ...
> 
> > Also see:
> > 
> > https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Common_F16_bugs#grub2-partition-fail
> 
> Doesn't work for me.
> 
> 1st, quotes are missing:
> 
> # grub2-install --force (hd0,3)
> -bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
> 
> 
> 2nd, it still refuses to install:
> 
> # grub2-install --force '(hd0,3)'
> /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partitionless disk or to a partition.  This is a BAD idea..
> /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
> Installation finished. No error reported.

It is not refusing to install. It's just warning you that it thinks what
you are telling it to do is a bad idea. Notice that it says at the end
"No error reported"?

> 
> 
> 3rd, GRUB 2 %doc NEWS file mentions the partition numbering scheme
> has changed to count from 1 instead of 0. The Wiki should mention that

Good idea.

> or recommend normal /dev/sdXY notation, which also fails, however (and
> which is the reason why I don't try to edit the Wiki myself):
> 
> # grub2-install --force /dev/sda3
> /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partitionless disk or to a partition.  This is a BAD idea..
> /usr/sbin/grub2-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
> Installation finished. No error reported.

Again, this is not a failure.