Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error

[Bean]

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 6:05 AM, Fulvio Scapin <address@hidden> wrote:
> I am having a problem using Grub2 to boot some bootable partition stored
> on a usb stick.
> Basically I am trying to fit several distros, all fat partitions made
> bootable with syslinux, on a usb stick and use grub2 to select and boot
> one of them.
> I should say that I come across two distinct cases, one using a GPT
> label and a much worse one employing the usual dos label.
> First I tried the gpt label cause I didn't relish the idea of using
> extended partitions. On a 8GB stick I create a BIOS Boot Partition,
> marked it with parted, and grub embedded itself in it with no problem.
> Then a second partition containing the configuration of grub, and
> further on several partitions containing distros, all fat16 bootable
> thanks to syslinux. I discovered, to my surprise, that grub allows me to
> boot only the third and fouth partition, while anyone beyond the fourth
> gives me boot error. I even created a fifth partition containing the
> exact same files of the fourth, and while the fourth boots, the fifth
> still doesn't.
> Then, on another stick, a 4GB one, I tried with a dos label. This time,
> after countless tries to get grub installed, and having succeeded, I
> discover that I can't boot any partition, even when having just two
> partitions, one with the configuration of grub and the other a bootable
> fat16 fs with a distro.
> I tried Grub legacy and it works fine. I tried chainloading Grub2 from
> Grub Legacy, just to make an attempt, and still no luck booting from Grub2.
> I have to specify the with booting one of the volumes I mean
> chainloading syslinux on it, doing a "chainloader +1" on the volume.
> The Grub 2 console works fine (it's brilliant by the way) but I can't
> chainload anything (with the GPT restricted exception detailed above. )
> I compiled and run grub2 (from cvs and from git) on a Gentoo system
> running on a Macbook, and tested the sticks on 2 common x86 machines and
> with qemu with the same results.
> I figuratively beating my head against the wall, so any help or comment
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> P.S.
>
> I suppose I could just use Grub Legacy, but I just like Grub 2
> immensely, so I'll keep that solution as a last resort, or maybe
> chainload Grub2 from Grub Legacy at least to use the shell.
>

Hi,

First, you can check the size of partition, for example, does the ones
that doesn't boot cross any boundary, like 4G/2G ?

Also, you mention it apply to qemu as well, how do you test it, can
you produce a qemu image that illustrate the problem ?

-- 
Bean