error 17 on external disk

[whoopus]

Hello all,

Well I took the big step in trying to install Deb 4 on a USB 40 gig hard drive. However, when it came to the boot loader I tried (And failed) to load grub properly. Here is my scenario: when it came to install grub , I decided not to use MBR on main harddrive but used hd1,0. Now in bios I set USB-FDD and so so far so good. When it boots up Grub 1.5 does works, but when I choose Deb it says something of the media format (I will clarify if neccesary) and then gives me error 17. If I choose Windows XP os no problem what so ever. Is it something that can be fixed? Or what command is needed to make this drive bootable? Also if I dont have the USB drive plugged in, everything is fine. How bad?

Thanks
Peter

[monday90]

You would have to work out what Debian saw the harddrive as initially. Did you have any other USB devices plugged in that could have been assigned that address?

The definition of a grub error 17 is:
17 : Cannot mount selected partition
This error is returned if the partition requested exists, but the filesystem type cannot be recognized by GRUB.

This implies that whatever GRUB is trying to mount is not what it is expecting. EG it could be an NTFS/FAT formatted drive.

[devils casper]

Boot up from any LiveCD and post the contents /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst files here.

[whoopus]

Hello folks,

I did post b4 on an error 17 on external drive before. I do have the problem isolated and been trying (Surfing and experimenting) and I feel that I am so close.

Here is my problem: When I boot up from USB-HDD grub functions fine, when I click that I want Debian it does give me error 17. So I used the "e" command under grub and line 1 is the problem. I tried many times to remove it, but no luck.

Line 1 states hd(1,0) which is wrong. If I delete (After hightlighted) with the "d" it will not stay gone.

I did find a temp fix for this: I highlight line 2 which is the proper boot up, press "b" and it works.

How in the heck do I delete my first command or in this case line 1?

I am using Deb as we speak to write this inconvenience.

P.S. I did try several commands under GRUB and TERMINAL being su. Tried install-grub, setup and others.

Thanks,
Peter
Still not giving up.



Plese advise if more

[njuguna]

Hello all,

Well I took the big step in trying to install Deb 4 on a USB 40 gig hard drive. However, when it came to the boot loader I tried (And failed) to load grub properly. Here is my scenario: when it came to install grub , I decided not to use MBR on main harddrive but used hd1,0. Now in bios I set USB-FDD and so so far so good. When it boots up Grub 1.5 does works, but when I choose Deb it says something of the media format (I will clarify if neccesary) and then gives me error 17. If I choose Windows XP os no problem what so ever. Is it something that can be fixed? Or what command is needed to make this drive bootable? Also if I dont have the USB drive plugged in, everything is fine. How bad?

Thanks
Peter

Installed debian i the xternal hard drive? if so, change the boot sequence to start with your internal hard drive. it might work.