installing grub back to MBR

[Angelo Moreschini]

Hj,

I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my computer
and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
(at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).


I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..


I tried this operation using the command :
grub2 install /dev/sdc

The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
 give me this output :
er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5

I used the command  grub2 install /dev/sdc, thinking fedora is installed on
/dev/sdc...

-------------------------
Actually I can start fedora only using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery" but I
would like start the computer regularly....


My ask is : what is the correct value of the parameter /dev/sdX in the
command grub2-install

In other words.. how I can know which is the partition where is fedora ?

Thank you for an answer

Regards

Angelo

[Angelo Moreschini]

the command lsblk give me :
[angelo_user@zorro ~]$ lsblk
NAME            MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda               8:0    0 465.8G  0 disk
└─sda1            8:1    0 465.8G  0 part
sdb               8:16   0 931.5G  0 disk
├─sdb1            8:17   0   500M  0 part /boot
└─sdb2            8:18   0   931G  0 part
  ├─fedora-root 253:0    0    50G  0 lvm  /
  ├─fedora-swap 253:1    0   3.9G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
  └─fedora-home 253:2    0 877.1G  0 lvm  /home
sdc               8:32   0 465.8G  0 disk
├─sdc1            8:33   0  97.7G  0 part
├─sdc2            8:34   0     1K  0 part
└─sdc5            8:37   0 368.1G  0 part
sr0              11:0    1    12M  0 rom  /run/media/angelo_user/ISOIMAGE


----------
I tried:
----------
[angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb1*
/usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: File system ‘ext2’ doesn't support
embedding.
/usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can
only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists
are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
--------------------
and also :
[angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb2*
/usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: unable to identify a filesystem in
hostdisk//dev/sdb; safety check can't be performed.



On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 5:38 PM, Angelo Moreschini <
mrangelo.fedora(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:

>  Hj,
>
>  I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my computer
>  and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
>  (at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).
>
>
>  I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
>  I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..
>
>
>  I tried this operation using the command :
>  grub2 install /dev/sdc
>
>  The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
>   give me this output :
>  er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5
>
>  I used the command  grub2 install /dev/sdc, thinking fedora is installed
>  on /dev/sdc...
>
>  -------------------------
>  Actually I can start fedora only using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery" but
>  I would like start the computer regularly....
>
>
>  My ask is : what is the correct value of the parameter /dev/sdX in the
>  command grub2-install
>
>  In other words.. how I can know which is the partition where is fedora ?
>
>  Thank you for an answer
>
>  Regards
>
>  Angelo
>
>
>

[stan]

On Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:51:18 +0200
Angelo Moreschini <mrangelo.fedora(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:

>  the command lsblk give me :
>  [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ lsblk
>  NAME            MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
>  sda               8:0    0 465.8G  0 disk
>  └─sda1            8:1    0 465.8G  0 part
>  sdb               8:16   0 931.5G  0 disk
>  ├─sdb1            8:17   0   500M  0 part /boot
>  └─sdb2            8:18   0   931G  0 part
>    ├─fedora-root 253:0    0    50G  0 lvm  /
>    ├─fedora-swap 253:1    0   3.9G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
>    └─fedora-home 253:2    0 877.1G  0 lvm  /home
>  sdc               8:32   0 465.8G  0 disk
>  ├─sdc1            8:33   0  97.7G  0 part
>  ├─sdc2            8:34   0     1K  0 part
>  └─sdc5            8:37   0 368.1G  0 part
>  sr0              11:0    1    12M  0
>  rom  /run/media/angelo_user/ISOIMAGE
>  
>  
>  ----------
>  I tried:
>  ----------
>  [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb1*
>  /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: File system ‘ext2’ doesn't
>  support embedding.
>  /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB
>  can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However,
>  blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
>  /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
>  --------------------
>  and also :
>  [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb2*
>  /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: unable to identify a filesystem in
>  hostdisk//dev/sdb; safety check can't be performed. 
The MBR is for the disk, not the partition.  So the above are incorrect.

>  
>  
>  
>  On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 5:38 PM, Angelo Moreschini <
>  mrangelo.fedora(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:
>  
>  > Hj,
>  >
>  > I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my
>  > computer and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
>  > (at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).
>  >
>  >
>  > I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
>  > I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..
>  >
>  >
>  > I tried this operation using the command :
>  > grub2 install /dev/sdc 
This is the correct syntax to install it to the MBR of /dev/sdc.  Is
there enough room for the larger MBR on that hard drive?  I think that
grub2 requires at least 1 MB at the start of the drive.  What does
fdisk show?  What offset does /dev/sdc1 start at?

>  >
>  > The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
>  >  give me this output :
>  > er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
>  > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5
>  >
>  > I used the command  grub2 install /dev/sdc, thinking fedora is
>  > installed on /dev/sdc...
>  >
>  > -------------------------
>  > Actually I can start fedora only using the "disk GRUB 2 for
>  > recovery" but I would like start the computer regularly....
>  >
>  >
>  > My ask is : what is the correct value of the parameter /dev/sdX in
>  > the command grub2-install 
I think your issue isn't the install of grub2 on the MBR, it is the
boot order in the bios of your computer.  The bios has to point to the
hard drive that has the MBR you want to boot from.  So, in your case,
you should make sure the boot order in the bios looks at /dev/sdc.  In
most modern bioses, there is a function key you can hit to select the
boot device at boot time.  Or a key to hit to edit the bios
configuration.

[Angelo Moreschini]

thank you for your answer..

I have problem with the identification of the hard drive that has the MBR .

In the screen that the BIOS show me,   I see three HD:
  -    ST 3500418AS
  -    WDC WD10EZEX 60Z
  -    WDC WD50000AZRX-0

*(I have to select one of those )*
---------------------

This information say me nothing about what is the HD with MBR..

Only from the command : sudo blkid
I get :

/dev/sda1: LABEL="data_storing" UUID="080CD0150CCFFC1E"
TYPE="ntfs"
PARTUUID="2c5f2c5e-01"
/dev/sdb1: UUID="4b1e5e09-306b-4c17-8c2f-653b32e1b956" TYPE="ext4"
PARTUUID="0008635c-01"
/dev/sdb2: UUID="Vtbdeq-eq6H-sbMY-Mpme-UyFk-jx77-I5Z20K"
TYPE="LVM2_member"
PARTUUID="0008635c-02"
/dev/sr0: UUID="2014-05-16-21-49-27-00" LABEL="ISOIMAGE"
TYPE="iso9660"
PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sdc1: UUID="DE7CD8197CD7EA73" TYPE="ntfs"
PARTUUID="f043f043-01"
/dev/sdc5: UUID="62F0169EF016790D" TYPE="ntfs"
PARTUUID="f043f043-05"
/dev/mapper/fedora-swap: UUID="54d55595-8c35-4e84-8566-89d8b6f340e8"
TYPE="swap"
/dev/mapper/fedora-root: UUID="2d224b16-d37f-4eee-820a-dfcd5929e05e"
TYPE="ext4"
/dev/mapper/fedora-home: UUID="3c3f7a2e-82fa-4510-ac11-0c67fbbd85c0"
TYPE="ext4"
---------------------

I am also not sure how to interpret these data in order to know the
partition that have the MBR..

(perhaps is     /dev/sdb1 ---- ???
because is the only partition with file system EXT4   ??? )

In any case:  ... how I can individuate the HD to start at boot, knowing
the  partition
????????????


Thank you for any suggestion





On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 9:04 PM, stan <stanl-fedorauser(a)vfemail.net&gt; wrote:

>  On Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:51:18 +0200
>  Angelo Moreschini <mrangelo.fedora(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:
>
>  > the command lsblk give me :
>  > [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ lsblk
>  > NAME            MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
>  > sda               8:0    0 465.8G  0 disk
>  > └─sda1            8:1    0 465.8G  0 part
>  > sdb               8:16   0 931.5G  0 disk
>  > ├─sdb1            8:17   0   500M  0 part /boot
>  > └─sdb2            8:18   0   931G  0 part
>  >   ├─fedora-root 253:0    0    50G  0 lvm  /
>  >   ├─fedora-swap 253:1    0   3.9G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
>  >   └─fedora-home 253:2    0 877.1G  0 lvm  /home
>  > sdc               8:32   0 465.8G  0 disk
>  > ├─sdc1            8:33   0  97.7G  0 part
>  > ├─sdc2            8:34   0     1K  0 part
>  > └─sdc5            8:37   0 368.1G  0 part
>  > sr0              11:0    1    12M  0
>  > rom  /run/media/angelo_user/ISOIMAGE
>  >
>  >
>  > ----------
>  > I tried:
>  > ----------
>  > [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb1*
>  > /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: File system ‘ext2’ doesn't
>  > support embedding.
>  > /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: warning: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB
>  > can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However,
>  > blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
>  > /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
>  > --------------------
>  > and also :
>  > [angelo_user@zorro ~]$ *sudo grub2-install /dev/sdb2*
>  > /usr/sbin/grub2-bios-setup: error: unable to identify a filesystem in
>  > hostdisk//dev/sdb; safety check can't be performed.
>
>  The MBR is for the disk, not the partition.  So the above are incorrect.
>
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > On Thu, Nov 19, 2015 at 5:38 PM, Angelo Moreschini <
>  > mrangelo.fedora(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:
>  >
>  > > Hj,
>  > >
>  > > I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my
>  > > computer and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
>  > > (at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
>  > > I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > I tried this operation using the command :
>  > > grub2 install /dev/sdc
>
>  This is the correct syntax to install it to the MBR of /dev/sdc.  Is
>  there enough room for the larger MBR on that hard drive?  I think that
>  grub2 requires at least 1 MB at the start of the drive.  What does
>  fdisk show?  What offset does /dev/sdc1 start at?
>
>  > >
>  > > The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
>  > >  give me this output :
>  > > er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
>  > > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5
>  > >
>  > > I used the command  grub2 install /dev/sdc, thinking fedora is
>  > > installed on /dev/sdc...
>  > >
>  > > -------------------------
>  > > Actually I can start fedora only using the "disk GRUB 2 for
>  > > recovery" but I would like start the computer regularly....
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > My ask is : what is the correct value of the parameter /dev/sdX in
>  > > the command grub2-install
>
>  I think your issue isn't the install of grub2 on the MBR, it is the
>  boot order in the bios of your computer.  The bios has to point to the
>  hard drive that has the MBR you want to boot from.  So, in your case,
>  you should make sure the boot order in the bios looks at /dev/sdc.  In
>  most modern bioses, there is a function key you can hit to select the
>  boot device at boot time.  Or a key to hit to edit the bios
>  configuration.
>  --
>  users mailing list
>  users(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
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>  Have a question? Ask away: http://ask.fedoraproject.org
>

[Michael Schwendt]

On Sat, 21 Nov 2015 12:18:19 +0200, Angelo Moreschini wrote:

>  thank you for your answer..
>  
>  I have problem with the identification of the hard drive that has the MBR .
>  
>  In the screen that the BIOS show me,   I see three HD:
>    -    ST 3500418AS
>    -    WDC WD10EZEX 60Z
>    -    WDC WD50000AZRX-0
>  
>  *(I have to select one of those )*
>  
>  This information say me nothing about what is the HD with MBR.. 
Odd. When you add a harddisk to your system, you can retrieve information
about it either before partitioning it or afterwards, too. If not via
kernel messages, run command-line tools such as hdparm or smartctl. They
print details. You may need to install missing packages for these tools.

Examples:

hdparm -i /dev/sda
smartctl -i /dev/sda

[Joachim Backes]

On 19.11.2015 16:38, Angelo Moreschini wrote:
>  Hj,
>
>  I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my
>  computer and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
>  (at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).
>
>
>  I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
>  I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..
>
>
>  I tried this operation using the command :
>  grub2 install /dev/sdc
>
>  The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
>    give me this output :
>  er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
>  brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5
>
>  I used the command grub2 install /dev/sdc,thinking fedora is installed
>  on /dev/sdc... 
This is wrong: you must use "grub2_install /dev/sdc"

Kind regards

Joachim Backes


-- 

Fedora release 23 (Twenty Three)
Kernel-4.2.6-300.fc23.x86_64


Joachim Backes <joachim.backes(a)rhrk.uni-kl.de&gt;
http://www-user.rhrk.uni-kl.de/~backes/

[Joachim Backes]

On 19.11.2015 17:51, Joachim Backes wrote:
>  On 19.11.2015 16:38, Angelo Moreschini wrote:
> > Hj,
> >
> > I arranged differently  the position of the HD(s) installed on my
> > computer and then, because this, Fedora didn't start regularly...
> > (at  boot I  got only the emergency prompt of GRUB).
> >
> >
> > I was able to start Fedora using the "disk GRUB 2 for recovery"..
> > I and after this  tried to install grub back to the MBR..
> >
> >
> > I tried this operation using the command :
> > grub2 install /dev/sdc
> >
> > The command  ls -l /dev/sd*
> >    give me this output :
> > er@zorro ~]$ ls -l /dev/sd*
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  0 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8,  1 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sda1
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 16 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 17 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb1
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 18 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdb2
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 32 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 33 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc1
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 34 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc2
> > brw-rw----. 1 root disk 8, 37 Nov 19 16:49 /dev/sdc5
> >
> > I used the command grub2 install /dev/sdc,thinking fedora is installed
> > on /dev/sdc...
>
>  This is wrong: you must use "grub2_install /dev/sdc" 
Sorry for typo:

Must be: grub2-install /dev/sdc

Joachim Backes
´

-- 

Fedora release 23 (Twenty Three)
Kernel-4.2.6-300.fc23.x86_64


Joachim Backes <joachim.backes(a)rhrk.uni-kl.de&gt;
http://www-user.rhrk.uni-kl.de/~backes/

[Gordon Messmer]

On 11/19/2015 07:38 AM, Angelo Moreschini wrote:
>  My ask is : what is the correct value of the parameter /dev/sdX in
> the 
>  command grub2-install 
It doesn't matter where Fedora is installed, it only matters which disk 
your BIOS finds and boots from.  Typically that would be /dev/sda.

You may also need to update /boot/grub2/device.map after moving disks:

$ cat /boot/grub2/device.map
# this device map was generated by anaconda
(hd0)      /dev/sda
(hd1)      /dev/sdb
(hd2)      /dev/sdc