Kirk Schnable
January 10th, 2013, 03:51 PM
Background Information
Over the past few days, I have been troubleshooting an issue with GRUB updates. After spending two days staying after work hours until midnight and then 9PM last night, I've come up with a workaround for my difficulties, described in the threads below.
Here are my other threads which were related to this issue, if anyone wants to see them:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12448235
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12447070
The Original Problem
root@hostname:~# grub-install --boot-directory=/boot /dev/sda/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: This GPT partition label has no BIOS Boot Partition; embedding won't be possible!.
/usr/sbin/grub-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..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
(Anyone interested in a workaround, see my other two threads).
My Evolved Question
As my understanding of the issue progressed, my question evolved, resulting in my ultimate decision to make two, now three different threads.
Presently, this is my partition layout on a computer which gets this error message.
root@hostname:~# parted /dev/sda print
Model: ATA ST9250315AS (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 17.4kB 248GB 248GB ext4 primary
2 248GB 250GB 2000MB linux-swap(v1) primary
I have come to realize that this is not a proper layout for a GPT partitioning scheme, and that's why GRUB is giving me error messages.
My difficulty with this, is the Internet seems to have a few conflicting ideas about how to do a proper GPT partition layout.
Depending on what I'm reading, there should be 2 partitions for EFI System, or 1 partition, it should be 50MB, or it shouldn't be more than 2MB... etc. None of this has ever really mattered to me before, I've always done two partitions, an ext4 and a swap. (or 3 with an extra for /home).
I would just appreciate a clear-cut response on what partitions I need. I am trying to go with a partition layout which is fully compatible with GRUB, and will prevent this error message from happening in the future.
If there is any standard partition layout which will not be compatible with the way that 8 year old computers boot, I would like to avoid that one, and go with a more compatible standard.
Thanks!
Kirk
Over the past few days, I have been troubleshooting an issue with GRUB updates. After spending two days staying after work hours until midnight and then 9PM last night, I've come up with a workaround for my difficulties, described in the threads below.
Here are my other threads which were related to this issue, if anyone wants to see them:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12448235
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12447070
The Original Problem
root@hostname:~# grub-install --boot-directory=/boot /dev/sda/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: This GPT partition label has no BIOS Boot Partition; embedding won't be possible!.
/usr/sbin/grub-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..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.
(Anyone interested in a workaround, see my other two threads).
My Evolved Question
As my understanding of the issue progressed, my question evolved, resulting in my ultimate decision to make two, now three different threads.
Presently, this is my partition layout on a computer which gets this error message.
root@hostname:~# parted /dev/sda print
Model: ATA ST9250315AS (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 17.4kB 248GB 248GB ext4 primary
2 248GB 250GB 2000MB linux-swap(v1) primary
I have come to realize that this is not a proper layout for a GPT partitioning scheme, and that's why GRUB is giving me error messages.
My difficulty with this, is the Internet seems to have a few conflicting ideas about how to do a proper GPT partition layout.
Depending on what I'm reading, there should be 2 partitions for EFI System, or 1 partition, it should be 50MB, or it shouldn't be more than 2MB... etc. None of this has ever really mattered to me before, I've always done two partitions, an ext4 and a swap. (or 3 with an extra for /home).
I would just appreciate a clear-cut response on what partitions I need. I am trying to go with a partition layout which is fully compatible with GRUB, and will prevent this error message from happening in the future.
If there is any standard partition layout which will not be compatible with the way that 8 year old computers boot, I would like to avoid that one, and go with a more compatible standard.
Thanks!
Kirk