Re: [Bug-grub] GRUB fails where loadlin works

[Carel Fellinger]

On Fri, Jan 25, 2002 at 08:55:42AM +1100, Jason Thomas wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 24, 2002 at 05:39:12PM +0100, Carel Fellinger wrote:
> > I am trying to bootstrap a Debian install with GRUB, but I fail:(
> > After some hours trying and reading I give up and turn to you guys.
> > 
> > I've put the necessary files in /debian on a fat32 partition on hda1.
> > If from a dos prompt I do:
> 
> what are the files, if they are grub images they should be in /boot.
> why not just install it on the linux partition rather than windows?

Okee you asked for it, now you'll get the gory details:)

I've a mirror of the Debian Woody archive on a disk, I plan to go to
my brother with that disk to sanitize some machines of his.  This disk
is filled as it is, so no room to install a small linux version on it.
Maybe some of his machines won't boot from CD, and I wanted to forgoo
having to make a bunch of floppies, so I thought of bootstrapping with
GRUB.  I could put those files in a small fat32 partition, boot dos and
use loadlin.  I guess I could also install grub on that disk and put
those files in the apropriate places, but being stubburn I want to
understand why what I tried didn't work.

The files in question are a straightforward linux kernel and a DOS
FS floppy disc image to be loaded with initrd.


> > All's swell, but when I try GRUB menu's like:
> 
> how did you install grub?

GRUB is installed on a floppy, and works when booting my regular (non
initrd based) linux installations.  I have it also installed on
harddisk, working there too.  Some weeks ago it also worked with a
linux kernel with initrd, but in that case the root device was on the
harddisk. Now I'm trying to have GRUB/linux setup a ramdisk and mount
that ramdisk as root.

Booting DOS and using loadlin works, but I fail to get GRUB to do the
same with what basicly looks like the same command.

    dosutils\loadlin linux root=/dev/ram initrd=images-1.44/root.bin \
                     disksize=1.44

vs.
    root    (hd0,1)
    kernel  /debian/linux root=/dev/ram
    initrd  /debian/images-1.44/root.bin disksize=1.44

or

    root    (hd0,1)
    kernel  /debian/linux root=/dev/ram initrd=/debian/images-1.44/root.bin \
            disksize=1.44

I know of many ways to solve my needs, but I like to understand why I
can't get GRUB to play along.

-- 
groetjes, carel