(Solved) another grub2 issue; booting HFS+ partition (no EFI)

[jonthomas]

The last distro I successfully installed was Hardy, due to problems with the included ATI driver in later versions. I was very happy to see that Lucid installed so easily, and seems relatively bug free.

My problem is with Grub2, which I have very little experience with.

I have an OSX partition (Tiger), which Grub2 identified & added the relevant entry. When I try boot from it my system reboots.

The grub-legacy entry to boot this partition was very simple:

title chainload Mac OSX no_efi
root (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader --force +1


the entry that grub2 has added is quite complex:


menuentry "Mac OS X (32-bit) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod hfsplus
set root='(hd0,3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 2f2550fb6cd195eb
insmod vbe
set do_resume=0
if [ /var/vm/sleepimage -nt10 / ]; then
if xnu_resume /var/vm/sleepimage; then
set do_resume=1
fi
fi
if [ $do_resume == 0 ]; then
xnu_uuid 2f2550fb6cd195eb uuid
if [ -f /Extra/DSDT.aml ]; then
acpi -e /Extra/DSDT.aml
fi
xnu_kernel /mach_kernel boot-uuid=${uuid} rd=*uuid
if [ /System/Library/Extensions.mkext -nt /System/Library/Extensions ]; then
xnu_mkext /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
else
xnu_kextdir /System/Library/Extensions
fi
if [ -f /Extra/Extensions.mkext ]; then
xnu_mkext /Extra/Extensions.mkext
fi
if [ -d /Extra/Extensions ]; then
xnu_kextdir /Extra/Extensions
fi
if [ -f /Extra/devprop.bin ]; then
xnu_devprop_load /Extra/devprop.bin
fi
if [ -f /Extra/splash.jpg ]; then
insmod jpeg
xnu_splash /Extra/splash.jpg
fi
if [ -f /Extra/splash.png ]; then
insmod png
xnu_splash /Extra/splash.png
fi
if [ -f /Extra/splash.tga ]; then
insmod tga
xnu_splash /Extra/splash.tga
fi
fi
}


I have added an entry to my 40_custom file to try and boot, so far without success:

menuentry "MacOS X Tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root='(hd0,3)'
makeactive
chainloader --force +1
}

which gives an "HFS+ Partition error" message

I have spent several hours on this without success. I can boot my partition using a "super grub boot disk" by just selecting "boot partition" and pointing it at "Tiger".

I have the feeling the this might a very simple problem to solve, would anybody be kind enough to suggest a solution, or translate the old entry into Grub2 correctly for me please?

If I could just boot this partition with Grub2, I would be happy to continue learning how to use lucid properly , and figure out my Leopard partition in due course.

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

The grub-legacy entry to boot this partition was very simple:

title chainload Mac OSX no_efi
root (hd0,2)
makeactive
chainloader --force +1

I have added an entry to my 40_custom file to try and boot, so far without success:

menuentry "MacOS X Tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root='(hd0,3)'
makeactive
chainloader --force +1
}

which gives an "HFS+ Partition error" message

Change your 40_custom to reflect:

menuentry "MacOS X Tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root='(hd0,2)'
makeactive
chainloader --force +1
}

[jonthomas]

Re: another grub2 issue

Thanks for your quick reply snowhog.

I have tried your suggestion, unfortunately it still won't boot. I just get a blinking cursor when I use (hd0,2) as you suggest.

I had noticed the the (hd0,3) reference in Grub2 as compared to the (hd0,2) used in the grub-legacy version (that works); but I thought it was due to the different partition numbering system in grub2 (1 higher than in grub-legacy I think).
I got this info from the "ones and zeros" section of this post:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3110850.0

I didnt mention it in my original post as it was long enough already, but I think there is also another bootloader (darwin) involved -maybe that is causing problems, but i dont see why.

Specifically, when I successfully boot the "Tiger" partition it first asks me which partition I want to boot, listing all the NTFS and HFS+ partitions on the drive it can see. Unfortunately the default is set to an "XP Pro" partition. Not very elegant I know, but I have never managed to find a way to change the default, and I did try.

Seriously, thanks for trying to help me though...I appreciate it

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

Thanks for your quick reply snowhog.

I have tried your suggestion, unfortunately it still won't boot. I just get a blinking cursor when I use (hd0,3) as you suggest.

My post said to change that to (hd0,2).

[jonthomas]

Re: another grub2 issue

Apologies Snowhog, that was a typo...oops

I meant (hd0,2), that gives me a blinking cursor. (hd0,3) gives me the "HFS+ Partition error"

I have altered my last reply to correct the typo, hopefully it will now make more sense to anyone reading it.

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

I'm at work, not at home on my laptop, so....

There is a difference in the way Grub Legacy and Grub 2 enumerate drives and partitions. I'll look myself when I get home - I have notes/links to goodies - and find what needs to be known on this.

You need to reference the partition that your Mac OSX is installed on 'using Grub 2 enumeration syntax.'

[jonthomas]

Re: another grub2 issue

yes, thats what i was trying to say. Specifically that grub-legacy numbers partitions starting from 0 and grub2 starting from 1. So in my case my "Tiger" partition is (hd0,2) in grub-legacy and (hd0,3) in grub2.

I have made some progress...

I found out that the "makeactive" comand has been replaced in grub2 by parttool.

So my 40_custom entry now reads:

menuentry "MacOS X Tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root='(hd0,3)'
parttool (hd0,3) boot+
chainloader --force +1
}

still getting the "HFS+ Partition error" though...

thanks again.

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

I think that the problem is in the syntax of the 40_custom entry, specifically, the set root= line. You have (hd0,3) in single quotes. I don't think those quotes are supposed to be there.

See GRUB2 as the only boot loader: it's possible! from the InsanelyMac web sight.

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

While written for Grub Legacy, see also Installing the bootloader where it says:

If you have an "HFS+ partition error", copy all the files from /usr/standalone/i386 of the Darwin CD to a partition in NTFS, FAT or ext but not hfs on your hard disk, and put this in menu.lst :

title OSX_X86
rootnoverify (hd0,2) <- replace hd0,2 by the partition where you have copied chainloader files.
makeactive
chainloader /chain0

It might be helpful in at least directing you in the right direction.

[oshunluvr]

Re: another grub2 issue

I've done it both with and without the quotes and it seems to make no difference.

On my system, the 9.10 grub-pc version (1.96) didn't have the quotes, but the 10.04 version (1.98) did have the quotes.

I'm currently booting with the 1.98 version but my hand-made grub.cfg does not have the quotes. This is the basis for my conclusion.

[oshunluvr]

Re: another grub2 issue

I found this on Ubuntu forums

Try these stanzas:

menuentry "MacOS X, tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root=(hd0,3)
multiboot /boot
}

Or if you have several renamed boot files in OS X's partition root you try this:

menuentry "MacOS X, tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
search --file --set=root /tiger.rc3.boot
multiboot /tiger.rc3.boot
}

edit to fit your boot file and version

[jonthomas]

Re: another grub2 issue

many thanks guys. It will take me a day, perhaps two, to work through those references & suggestions -some of them look quite interesting.

now im off for some exercise (cycling) -trying for a balance of mind and body 8)

[jonthomas]

Re: another grub2 issue

good news, I booted my Tiger partition. woohoo

I tried all the code suggested here without success. Then I used your grub-legacy reference from Snowhog(Installing the bootloader), translated it into grub2 as best I could, a bit of random tweaking & It booted.

For anyone else in the same situation I'll lay out the steps I took to get it to boot:

heres my partition layout:

(hd0,1) NTFS Win XP Pro
(hd0,2) NTFS Data Storage
(hd0,3) OS X Tiger (no EFI)
(hd0,4) Kubuntu Lucid


1) I downloaded the Darwin bootloader CD .iso from apple, its free:
http://www.opensource.apple.com/darw...x86-801.iso.gz
My reference said that you have to enter your apple ID to download, I have one but wasnt asked for it.

2) I used Winrar to extract the files from the downloaded archive listed above.

3) I copied the files from /usr/standalone/i386/ (just a few hundred k) to the root of my NTFS data partition (hd0,2)

4) I edited my 40_custom file (sudo nano /etc/grub.d/40_custom) by adding the following entry:

menuentry "MacOS X Tiger" {
insmod hfsplus
set root=(hd0,2) #<- this is where I copied the darwin files
parttool (hd0,3) boot+ #<- this sets my Tiger partition to Active
chainloader /chain0 #<- this boots it using those (Darwin) files
}


5) I updated Grub2 to incude the new entry (sudo update-grub)

et voila - bob's your uncle

Note:that I wiped my Leopard partition for now (I have a backup), but the Darwin bootloader lists all the NTFS or HFS+ partitions it finds & asks which you would like to boot.

Many thanks guys, we cracked it. Now I can go back to my usual state of moderate confusion & learn Lucid whilst I iron out the few small bugs in my install(s)

[Snowhog]

Re: another grub2 issue

Very good. I know how it feels when you figure it out.