[Bug 252047] Re: Install with large hard drive fails grub install

[Brian Murray]

** Tags added: ubiquity-1.8.7

** Tags added: hardy

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Title:
  Install with large hard drive fails grub install

Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: ubiquity

  I have just installed Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron on a 320GB external USB
  hard drive. I do not believe that this problem is because of the fact
  of the hard drive being USB or external.

  EXPLANATION AND HISTORY

  I used the manual partitioner because I wanted to have as big a
  partition as possible as the first partition and set as fat so that
  the partition would be easily viewable from Windows without twiddling.

  The first time through I created a 5GB root partition for everything
  as the last partition on the drive. The new install failed to boot
  with the BIOS claiming Operating System not found. Trying to get grub
  to install manually failed. Grub couldn't find the partition.

  Some research uncovered the 1024 cylinder limit. I then reinstalled by
  setting a 50MB /boot partition just below the 1024th cylinder and a /
  partition higher.

  DEFECT

  The first boot failed with Operating System not found. Booting from
  the install CD and attempting grub-install also failed. However, I
  could manually run grub and install onto the /boot partition.

  MODIFICATIONS REQUESTED
  1. The installer should identify that a /boot partition above the 1024th cylinder will fail. Either a warning message should display or this configuration should be denied depending on common that 1024 cylinder limit is.
  2. The installer or grub-install should still manage to successfully install without manual intervention.

  WORKAROUND
  1. Create a /boot partition of at least 50MB and ensure all of it is below the 1024th cylinder. You will need to use fdisk manually to work out exactly where to put this. You can partition the rest as you like.
  2. Expect the first boot to fail.
  3. Boot from the install CD.
  4. Open a terminal window and start grub.
  5. Follow a guide, such as http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Applications_GUI_Multimedia/Set_up_Grub_by_hand, to identify what grub calls your boot partition and then setup grub on it.

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