/boot partition option

[vikrang]

I have salix 13.1.2 Xfce CD ...I ran the installer ...I have a 160 GB HDD with an older BIOS (Cylinder 1024 limit) As a result , when I want to install an OS in a cyclinder which is beyond the recognized limit of 137GB , GRUB or GRUB2 fails and gives the error - "error - out of Disk"..

One solution is that I have to install the boot partition within the 137GB for GRUB/2 to pick it up , the OS will be able to read the partition..

This is the main reason , I am not able to run cfdisk as it immly gives the error - Error in partition Table

I have the partitions ready ,but I find the installer asks to mount Root partition and Swap but not allowing me to define /boot Partition ..

How to do that?

I have already prepared a partition for boot 200 MB type -ext2

[garby]

IMO, it is a BIOS-related issue (http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Large-Disk-HOWTO-4.html).

May I suggest to reinstall grub with ata-module enabled. If you cannot access to the current installation, then I suggest to use http://www.supergrubdisk.org/wiki/SuperGRUB2Disk and then boot to your installation. And when you get booted:

Code: Select all

grub-install --disk-module=ata

Hope this helps.

[vikrang]

Thanks Garby ...

In fact I wanted to mention that I had tried your solution!

The main problem with using ata is that the OS loads much slower than usual...

Hence I thought better option would be to have /boot < 137 GB

[vikrang]

Ok I think better option would be to copy the kernel to my already existing /boot of another OS (Peppermint) from which GRUB2 is loaded ...

I have to manually change the GRUB2 files so that the kernel and initrd is read from the mother partition (peppermint) while I specify root= /dev/sdx where sdx is Salix partition.

I will try this and post the outcome

[garby]

In that case, just upgrade to a new version or flash your BIOS with a new one compatible with the chip.

And it is right that with ata module, the OS runs pretty slow, I agree

[vikrang]

Regarding updating BIOS version, I am helpless as I have an old Dell Inspiron 8600 PC - Centrino processor...My BIOS is the latest which has been provided by DELL till date!

They stopped support for this model long time back I guess

If there is any version or alternate way of updating BIOS pl let me know...

Also considering the risk of flashing the BIOS, I might live with this old fella who is still giving good performance but for the display which shows a white halo in the background ..not much to complain considering this is a spare one!

[garby]

Read in this bug report (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... bug/477430) that removing this line in grub.cfg:

if [ -n ${have_grubenv} ]; then save_env recordfail; fi

solves the issue. You can test.

[JRD]

I have the partitions ready ,but I find the installer asks to mount Root partition and Swap but not allowing me to define /boot Partition ..

How to do that?

If you not choose "autoinstall" you have the choice to add other partitions, /boot included. You could also do this using the Live CD which has a simpler and easier installer in my opinion.
That will do the trick.

[vikrang]

Dear Garby , The deletion of the Grub line did not worK

On the brighter side , I installed a salix by allocating a separate partition from manual Install itself, After selecting the "/" and swap partition , it lists other linux partitions ..At that point , I selected the boot partition ..On selection , it immediately asks how to boot the partition ...I typed "/boot"
and then the installation went smoothly

Thanks

[garby]

@vikrang: good to learn that the issue is solved!! Enjoy Salix!