Dale wrote: > Michael wrote: >> On Sunday, 28 April 2024 19:39:16 BST Dale wrote: >>> Grant Edwards wrote: >>>> On 2024-04-28, Grant Edwards <grant.b.edwa...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> With DOS disk lables, Grub uses empty space between the boot sector >>>>> and the first partition as a location to store it's core image file. >>>>> That empty space does not exist when using GPT disk label. When using >>>>> a GPT disk label, Grub requires that you need to create a "BIOS Boot" >>>>> or "Grub Boot" partition so that Grub has somwhere to store it's core >>>>> image[1]. >>>> And it bears repeating that the bios/grub boot partition only needs to >>>> be 1 or 2MB in size, is _not_ formatted with a filesystem, and is >>>> _not_ the same as either >>>> >>>> 1) The "boot" directory where the kernel images and grubs other files >>>> >>>> are installed within a Linux filesystem. [Which you still need >>>> when booting in Legacy/BIOS mode.] >>>> >>>> or >>>> >>>> 2) The UEFI partition that's formated with a FAT filesystem and used >>>> >>>> in UEFI boot mode [which you don't need when booting in >>>> Legacy/BIOS mode.] >>> I think I got a grasp on this now. Basically, partitions should be like >>> this. >>> >>> >>> First spot is the alignment thing. Usually a few MBs or so and unused. >> This is created automatically by the partitioning tool, in your case cgdisk, >> when you create the first partition on the disk and accept the default >> starting sector. >> >> >>> Grub boot partition with ef02 setting, not to be formatted. >>> >>> /boot partition for kernel and init thingy. Usually 1GB or so, enough >>> for memtest, bootable rescue image etc. >>> >>> / or root partition that is around 150GBs or so. Enough to expand a bit >>> and includes /usr and /var. >>> >>> /home rest of disk unless some needed for something else. >>> >>> >>> Do you recall when running grub-install what that command looks like? >>> Lets say the Grub partition with ef02 setting is sda1, would it be >>> grub-install /dev/sda1 or just sda and it finds the empty partition on >>> its own? >> The unformatted and empty /dev/sda1 'BIOS Boot Partition' will be found by >> GRUB when you run grub-install and it will store its core.img in there. >> >> You install GRUB's boot.img in the MBR and therefore you have to specify the >> disk, NOT a partition, e.g.: >> >> grub-install /dev/sda >> >> This command should: >> >> 1. Install GRUB's boot.img in the MBR of /dev/sda. >> 2. Install GRUB's core.img in /dev/sda1 which you created as a 'BIOS boot >> partition', type EF02. >> 3. Create directory /boot/grub to install all the grub fs drivers and files. >> >> If you have mounted /boot, all is well. If you are repairing an >> installation >> from a liveUSB you can mount the /boot partition, e.g. /mnt/gentoo/boot and >> specify this in the CLI: >> >> grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/gentoo/boot /dev/sda >> >> NOTE: As per the link Grant helpfully posted you can create the 'BIOS boot >> partition' with cgdisk "... by setting the partition type to 0xEF02 and >> giving >> it a label of gptbios". >> >> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/GRUB#BIOS_with_GPT >> > That's what I was thinking. I think I got it. I need to make notes of > this tho. Before I forget. :/ > > Thanks to all. > > Dale > > :-) :-) >
One last update. I found a video. They were using gdisk but the crucial part, he got it to display the partition layout. It was like I described as for as the alignment thing, tiny partition with ef02 and then carry on as usual from there. I need to do this on a disk complete with notes, so I don't forget. My brain is going fast. One day, I'll forget how to turn the puter on. :'( I already forget what I went to the kitchen for, it's only 20 feet away. :/ Thanks again. Dale :-) :-)
