Grub loading stage1.5 reading error

[mrrangerman43]

I have searched google/linux and this forum and even dogpile, but have found nothing relevent to this error.

I installed Ubuntu 5.04 on my Dell poweredge server raid5, for whatever reason that was the only Linux I could get to install. I did a server install base system everything installed with no errors, but when I boot to the os I get this Grug error. Grub loading stage1.5 reading error I can boot to a floppy with grub stage2 on it and get the os to start. But for some reason Grub will not start on a normal boot.

I've compared my grub menu.lst against my other pc's and everything looks right.

From the floppy I can give the geometry (hd0) command and it returns the proper info.

I then tried to install grub to the MBR.
root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)

It says it installed no errors but still I get the same error at boot.
I've edited the system.map and that look good.

I have 4 scsi drives in the raid5 array sda-d from within the OS I've given the command as root (well Ubuntu's idea of root) sudo fdisk -l and it sees all the drives.

So my question is, Does anyone have any idea what I can try next?

I'm at work now but when I get home I'll post the menu.lst and the system.map

Thanks for any help
Dan

[ph34r]

You loading the driver as a module or is it built into the kernel? I get the same problem/error with my IDE controller card (PCI, not built in)

[mrrangerman43]

ph34r

I checked to see what modules are being loaded at boot here's the list.

ide-cd
ide-disk
ide-generic
lp
mousedev
psmouse

The raid and scsi drivers are built into the kernel.

And this is my menu.lst

title  Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.10-6-686-smp
root (hd0,0)
kernel   /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.10-6-686-smp  root=/dev/sda1  ro quiet  splash
initrd   /boot/initrd.img-2.6.10-6-6786-smp
savedefault
boot

Here's may device.map

(hd0)    /dev/sda

Is there a way I can wipe the MBR in linux or do I need to use a DOS boot disk? If thats the case I don't think dos can see the scsi drives.

[Icarus]

I'm running SLES9 on a (few) PowerEdges without any problems. Check the boot devices in the BIOS and make sure it's booting from the raid.

For compairison, here's my menu.lst and device.map

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Mon Jun 12 18:06:14 2006


color white/blue black/light-gray
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title Linux
    kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda2 vga=0x317 selinux=0 splash=silent console=tty0 resume=/dev/sda1 elevator=cfq showopts
    initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
    root (fd0)
    chainloader +1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe
    kernel (hd0,1)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda2 showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off vga=normal noresume selinux=0 barrier=off iommu=noforce maxcpus=0  3
    initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd

cat /boot/grub/device.map
(hd0)   /dev/sda
(fd0)   /dev/fd0

This was a very straight forward install and not much was changed for installing, just booted from the install DVD and was done.

[mrrangerman43]

Icarus

Thanks for the reply I've made sure that I set the bios to boot to scsi, makes no change at all. I'm tring a full install of Ubuntu 5.10 to see if it will work, but already I have my doubts.

If I boot to the floppy all I have to do is give the command root (hd0,0) enter and then hit Esc it will put me at the boot menu, and from there its a normal boot. Guess I'll just keep lookin for the answer.

Thanks again
Dan

[saikee]

I don't use RAID and couldn't comment how Grub would see your RAID5 disks.

You have confirmed that the /boot/grub/device.map looks OK to you. How about verifying it with another check? While in a Grub prompt after booting by a Grub floppy type

geometry (hd0)
geometry (hd1)
geometry (hd2)
geometry (hd3)

to see if Grub sees the 4 disks as the way you expected.

In your case I would boot into Ubuntu using the method that works, then do a

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

The above is just another way of putting Grub into the MBR except you are inside Ubuntu and so no need to tell Grub where is the root partition.

Can you confirm if you could boot Ubuntu manually in a Grub prompt by ?

root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
boot

or ?

root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst

Lastly if nothing works then you can always delete the stage1, stage1.5 and stage2 files in /boot/grub directory. You then locate the virgin files by Bash command

find / -name stage1

you can copy from this new found directory the Grub's stage files into /boot/grub directory and do a "grub-install" or "root"+setup" again.