Installing on ext HD problems

[jamescarruthers]

Hi all,


I've installed Suse 10.1 on an external hard drive, and put the bootloader on there too.

I did the USB stuff to make it work (followed instructions off a tutorial)

Added all these to the initrd_modules:

ehci-hcd
ohci-hcd
uhci-hcd
usb-storage
sd_mod


then this:

'mount -tproc none /proc'
'mkinitrd'


That all seemed to go nicely - so I reboot - use the Dell's boot menu to select USB hard drive - and the bootloader comes up and asks me what OS I want to use - I select Suse - and wait.... it then bombs out to an $ prompt.

When I installed the OS to the ext HD - the hard drive was sdc. The stuff before the $ prompt seems to be telling me that sdc/d/e/f are now my card reader (internal 3.5" thing that takes CF/SD cards etc)

When I unplugged the ext HD and put it back in - it tells me that its sdg...

My only thoughts are that I have enabled too many of the start up modules - I don't want ones that control the flash memory reader? That's a total guess though

Any help anyone?




James

[jamescarruthers]

Here's my GRUB

setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,1) (hd0,1)
setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0) (hd0,1)
quit



Reading up - I think I understand why this isnt working?

I need to point it to my USB - but I have no idea what hd number my USB is... as I have so many other USB devices making numbers

[devils casper]

check the contents of /boot/grub/device.map file.





Casper

[jamescarruthers]

(hd1) /dev/sda
(hd0) /dev/sdc
(hd2) /dev/sdb



so number 2

what do I change it to?

I'm guessing this is a kind of "mid install" menu? Usually it should be different...?

[devils casper]

this is a problem with External USB disks.. installer detect these as Secondry Disk during installation but when you boot from it, BIOS detects it as Primary Disk.
i discussed same issue a few days back. check this thread. it will give you a little bit idea.





Casper

[jamescarruthers]

Sorry... I'm still confused as to what to change :o(

How come the USB drive comes up as sdf when I boot up?

Is it perhaps that I edited my initrd modules to include ones that find my card readers - where as the installer CD doesn't (I never had any option to install to them - these drives didn't show up)

They are "static" drives so they always show up even when they don't have a card in - in Windows they are drives that are always there.

[devils casper]

you have to change menu.lst and device.map file. check the output of 'fdisk -l' command. check last post of GungHo in that thread.

They are "static" drives so they always show up even when they don't have a card in - in Windows they are drives that are always there.

as i mentioned earlier, Linux Installer detects it Secondry Harddisk but when you select it in BIOS or through Dell's Boot Menu, External Disk get Primary tag.





Casper

[jamescarruthers]

This is my menu.lst - which seems to be correct? hd(0,1) - primary drive - 1st partition?

# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Tue Jan 16 20:58:21 UTC 2007
color white/blue black/light-gray
default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title SUSE Linux 10.1
    root (hd0,1)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sdf2 vga=0x317    resume=/dev/sdc1  splash=silent showopts
    initrd /boot/initrd

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
    chainloader (hd1,1)+1

###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- SUSE Linux 10.1
    root (hd0,1)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sdc2 vga=normal showopts ide=nodma apm=off acpi=off noresume edd=off 3
    initrd /boot/initrd

[devils casper]

This is my menu.lst - which seems to be correct? hd(0,1) - primary drive - 1st partition?

(hd0,1) means Primary Harddisk, Partition 2
'title Windows' is also pointing to second partition of Secondary Harddisk.
post the output of 'fdisk -l' command.





Casper

[jamescarruthers]

I can only boot from my Suse installation using the rescue mode...

It lists my sda and sdb - my internal drives

Then /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc1 ... id 82 ... Linux swap/Solaris
/dev/sdc2 ... id 83 ... Linux
/dev/sdc3 ... id 83 ... Linux