Grub loads, but doesn't display menu.

[rbivins]

I've got a problem. Grub loads, but only into commandline mode.

If I issue configfile /boot/grub/grub.conf at the comand line then my boot menu shows up. The entries in the boot menu work (well, the first and third ones do, anyway).

This is my grub.conf, if that makes a difference:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=10
title Knoppix (2.4.24)
root (hd2,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.24-xfs ro root=/dev/hde3
initrd /boot/System.map-2.4.24-xfs
title Knoppix Biv (2.4.42)
root (hd2,2)
kernel /boot/bzImage-biv-2.4.42 ro root=/dev/hde3
initrd /boot/System.map
title Windows 2000
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
makeactive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haven't even had a chance to figure out why Knoppix Biv doesn't start. Sigh.

Did I incorrectly install Grub?

Thanks, in advance,
--Robert

[knixkw]

Try to rename grub.conf to menu.lst (the name of the Grub config file is menu.lst).

If You need more info see also http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#Configuration (it's a long document.....)

Good luck.

[rbivins]

Try to rename grub.conf to menu.lst (the name of the Grub config file is menu.lst).

If You need more info see also http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#Configuration (it's a long document.....)

Good luck.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll give that a try and let you know how this works out.

--Robert

[rbivins]

Well, that didn't work. The documentation also suggests that simply having the file menu.lst would work, but it doesn't.

I just need to know how to get grub to find and load the menu.lst or grub.conf file automatically. Does anyone have an idea?

Thnks,
--Robert

[knixkw]

hmm, GRUB doesn't know where the menu.lst is located.

For partition 1 on Your first ide disk these are the commands on GRUB commandline:

# Tell GRUB where /boot/grub/menu.lst is located
root (hd0,0)
# write MBR
setup (hd0)

Pay attention on the crazy GRUB numbering of disks and partitions, please...

Good luck!

[rbivins]

hmm, GRUB doesn't know where the menu.lst is located.

For partition 1 on Your first ide disk these are the commands on GRUB commandline:

# Tell GRUB where /boot/grub/menu.lst is located
root (hd0,0)
# write MBR
setup (hd0)

Pay attention on the crazy GRUB numbering of disks and partitions, please...

Good luck!

OK, my /boot partition is on (hd0,1). I had to shrink my windows partition and create a new partition at the end of my hdd in order to install grub. However, I still like the chainloading thing from grub.

Oh well, I'll give it a try, wish me luck!

--Robert

[garyng]

the place GRUB looks for menu is hardcoded in stage2(forgot), just copy the menu.lst to where it is expected and you will be fine. I usually just do a 'type stage2'(lots of rubbish on screen but also the menu file name) and noted it and copy the file over.

[rbivins]

Found the problem. I had previously intuited that I just didn't know where to put the menu.lst file (and whether or not the name was menu.lst -- "list" or menu.1st -- "first") so I made one menu.lst in the /boot directory and sym links everywhere I could think of to get grub to find it.

The subtle problem is that I used the absolute filename ( menu.lst --> /boot/menu.lst ) for the link targets. Mistake, grub finds the files differently then does linux once its running (I guess). I changed the link targets to relative references ( menu.lst --> ../menu.lst ) and now it works like a charm.

Thanks for the help guys.

--Robert