Repairing GRub

[The PIT]

As often the case Grub fails after transferring to another hard disk.

The install is Debain I've tried there net install CD which allows you to install the Grub loader but but then insists on wanting to format the drives instead.

Suse Live CD can't see the disk.

Knoppix live CD won't boot on the machine hanging on the RTC clock.

Unbunto Live CD hangs after loading X windows. Couldn't see options on start up.

Any other ideas??

[Nowhere]

Ask on Linux specific forums? (ubuntuforums are quite helpfull, and with no RTFM attitude...)

[The PIT]

Ask on Linux specific forums? (ubuntuforums are quite helpfull, and with no RTFM attitude...)

Got an answer to RTFM I haven't got one. Posted the same question elsewhere.

[Nowhere]

Really? Hmmm...never had this answer (even if asking things that can be fairly easily found), perhaps try in "beginner" section of the forums under different nick/lie a bit.

[The PIT]

Would help if the Linux guru at work wasn't away.

He did pay the author who created the Kiosk a complement. "He's done a good job of locking it down". Problem was I couldn't slow him down long enough to see what he was altering so we could modify it. If he done that I could just re-installed a new copy.

[WxDude]

Hey PIT.

Do you know flavor of linux was running on this box? Maybe try using the install boot cd from that version and
go into it's rescue mode (assuming it has one).

Another option would be to try the first disk from any Redhat/Fedora/CentOS set? At the boot prompt, enter
"linux rescue". This will eventually get you down to a console. If it was a Redhat/etc. install, it should find it and
mount the installation under /mnt/sysimage. If it didn't find any system, then you have to search on the disk. I'd
personally use fdisk, do a "p" to see the partition table, and then "q" to quit. This will give you an idea of how the
drive is partitioned. If you can find ext2/3 partitions on the drive, then mount them to /mnt/sysimage. There might be a
small /boot partition. Make sure you mount the / partition to /mnt/sysimage and them mount the /boot partition to
/mnt/sysimage/boot. Under redhat, the grub.conf file is located in the /boot directory, so you need to make sure
it is there or you can't reinstall grub.

Once you have located your OS and mounted it, then just do a "chroot /mnt/sysimage". This will change the root of
the system from the linux rescue image to the root of the hard drive OS. Then run "grub-install /dev/xxx" where xxx
is hda, sda, whatever the main drive is. This will re-read the grub.conf on the hard drive and install the appropriate
grub boot loader configuration to the hard drive.

The other live cd's may not have worked because the system might be formatted with some filesystem they don't
understand (like xfs, reiserfs, reiser4).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

- Mike

[The PIT]

Hey PIT.

Do you know flavor of linux was running on this box? Maybe try using the install boot cd from that version and go into it's rescue mode (assuming it has one).

Another option would be to try the first disk from any Redhat/Fedora/CentOS set? At the boot prompt, enter "linux rescue". This will eventually get you down to a console. If it was a Redhat/etc. install, it should find it and mount the installation under /mnt/sysimage. If it didn't find any system, then you have to search on the disk. I'd personally use fdisk, do a "p" to see the partition table, and then "q" to quit. This will give you an idea of how the
drive is partitioned. If you can find ext2/3 partitions on the drive, then mount them to /mnt/sysimage. There might be a small /boot partition. Make sure you mount the / partition to /mnt/sysimage and them mount the /boot partition to /mnt/sysimage/boot. Under redhat, the grub.conf file is located in the /boot directory, so you need to make sure
it is there or you can't reinstall grub.

Once you have located your OS and mounted it, then just do a "chroot /mnt/sysimage". This will change the root of the system from the linux rescue image to the root of the hard drive OS. Then run "grub-install /dev/xxx" where xxx is hda, sda, whatever the main drive is. This will re-read the grub.conf on the hard drive and install the appropriate
grub boot loader configuration to the hard drive.

The other live cd's may not have worked because the system might be formatted with some filesystem they don't
understand (like xfs, reiserfs, reiser4).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

- Mike

Debian is the distro. Hadn't had time to look at the machine today due to other commitments and having to go to the doctors again. Debians net install CD image doesn't have a rescue option. I tried downloading the DVD version today but it crapped out on saving to the desktop.

So I'll have another go Monday. Hopefully the Linux dude is back and has the CD's. Some Bugger nicked mine and my mates as well.

[WxDude]

Well, you could try using one of the RedHat/Fedora/CentOS boot cd's (Disc 1) to get access to the system. That
is what I would try if your linux guy isn't in today.

Good Luck

-Mike

[The PIT]

Fedora Cd1 did the trick following your instructions. Thanks mate

[WxDude]

Cool! Glad I could help!

-Mike

[The PIT]

Now I wish I could make this Linux Kiosk move to different hardware. Now that would be really useful.

[WxDude]

Is there some special piece of hardware it needs that prevents you from moving it? Like a touch screen physically
mounted in something?

Have you tried putting the hard drive into another computer? It should work. Linux isn't quite as picky about changing
hardware out from under it assuming you are using the same basic stuff. It's not too picky about chipset stuff. Biggest
thing to worry about would be changing drive interfaces.

Before moving it, edit the inittab and have it boot to a command line rather than X. That will take an additional possible
problem out of the way before moving it.

Feel free to PM or email me with any questions. I'd be glad to help

- MIke

[The PIT]

Is there some special piece of hardware it needs that prevents you from moving it? Like a touch screen physically
mounted in something?

Have you tried putting the hard drive into another computer? It should work. Linux isn't quite as picky about changing
hardware out from under it assuming you are using the same basic stuff. It's not too picky about chipset stuff. Biggest
thing to worry about would be changing drive interfaces.

Before moving it, edit the inittab and have it boot to a command line rather than X. That will take an additional possible
problem out of the way before moving it.

Feel free to PM or email me with any questions. I'd be glad to help

- MIke

Funny you say it's not picky. I tend to find if you move Linux to different hardware it falls over and dies very rapidly. Worst one is Kernel panic. The other problem if it's unsupported hardware normally you're snookered while with Windows you can normally get buy on standard drivers. Pity Linux doesn't have a sysprep like Windows or does it and no one mentions it.

[WxDude]

No, It doesn't have sysprep. Probably the best thing you can do is to edit the /etc/modprobe.conf file (or something similar
under Debian, which I am not really sure about) to reflect you new hardware, and the regenerate your initrd file in /boot.
Then you would have the drivers available for the new hardware. In the Redhat world, they have a tool that detects
hardware changes and makes the required updates on bootup.

[Wombat]

If they've done a "good job of locking it down," then it may not have modules/drivers compiled for any hardware other than the models/chipsets it was originally meant for.

Also, anything in modules.conf to give you a hint?

Is it "straight off the CD" Debian, or is it "special kiosk-brand Debian?"