[nzlug] When Grub clobbers other grub.conf files

[Simon Bridge]

On Fri, 2007-12-14 at 21:46 +1300, Patrick Connolly wrote:

> I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had the bizarre (IMHO)
> experience of an install DVD refusing to recognising the method if it
> hasn't been through the check media routine before it starts.  I can't
> see any logic in it, but if nobody else has had that experience
> (meaning only my DVD does it), there's a different type of logic-lack
> happening.  Can a media check actually miss something wrong with the
> media?
> 
FWIW: No. Not only that' but I have not heard of fedora doing that
before, ever. I have seen issues with optical drives where install media
is "not there" unless it's been spun a few times. Even had one disk that
wouldn't exist unless it was inserted in a narrow range of orientations.
All these were associated with drives that were beginning to fail or
scratched media (and DVDs are very sensitive to scratches - shudder to
think what HD-DVDs will be like.)

It is possible that the media check is only coincidental to getting the
install going. Part of the process is "pushing the right button" but
anaconda dosn't actually *require* the media check itself.

> 
> |> It should be possible to fix this without a reinstall... use
> |> grubinstall to stick grub in the required partition, then edit the
> |> main config to chainload it.
> 
> Can I run that from booting into Rescue mode?
Yes, you can.

>   In any case, I'd
> already given up on it and got over that problem simply enough, even
> if it was rather long-winded (and maybe created another).  I'll play
> with it some more when I get time.  Meantime, I'll go back to using
> Mepis.  Seems to be a lot less hassle.
> 
The solution you have is probably more robust. Note: sharing your /home
partition between distros can also create problems. It's usually best to
share a work directory (so your files are all available from
everywhere), copy over basic settings, but otherwise let each distro run
it's own config.

Distros are fighting for product differentiation now, and developers are
implimenting stuff to fit different design philosophies.

> BTW: Does anyone still use newsgroups theses days?  I see there are
> still plenty of them, but none have 'fedora' in their name (at least
> with Slingshot's selection).  Judging by how many of them have no new
> posts, I get the impression usenet's going the way of gopher.

Can't say I've been involved with usernet myself much.