The Problem:
I recently upgraded a system from Fedora Core 6 to Fedora 8 using the
YumUpdateFaq as a guide. When I tried to reboot the system with kernel
2.6.23.9-85.fc8 the system hung in the boot process with the message "No
Setup Signature". However I could boot the system with kernel
2.6.22.14-72.fc6.
The investigation:
I tried reinstalling the kernel without success. I found on a mailing
list a case where this problem was fixed by running grub-install. When I
did this it also resolved my problem. I also remembered there has a note
in the YumUpdateFaq about possibly needing to do this with a TODO note
by Mads Kiilerich asking when this was required.
I contacted Mads, who acted as a sounding board as I investigated why I
needed to run grub-install. I determined by running "less -f
/boot/grub/stage2" on a backup taken before I ran grub-install that the
version of the GRUB files in /boot/grub was 0.92 whereas the current
GRUB version, since Fedora Core 5, is 0.97.
I determined that when YUM/RPM upgrades or installs GRUB, the files in
/boot/grub do not get updated. This only happens when grub-install is
run. When the system is upgraded from CD/DVD, Anaconda runs
grub-install, although this can be bypassed. I had updated the system
several times up to Fedora Core 6 using CD/DVD but skipped the GRUB
update part of the install.
To run grub-install in Fedora 8 (or 7) it is necessary that
/boot/grub/device.map has the new drive device naming. This file, which
is created by Anaconda, needs to be modified from "(hd0) /dev/hda" to
"(hd0) /dev/sda" if it was created in Fedora core 6 or earlier.
The Solution:
Mads and I came up with the following changes to the YumUpdateFaq.
1> In section 4 "Do the upgrade", the following was added
Before booting you should usually install the bootloader from your
new grub by running
* grub-install BOOTDEVICE
- where BOOTDEVICE usually is /dev/sda
2> To the end of the first paragraph under "Fedora Core 6->Fedora 7"
discussing the IDE drive device name change, the following was added.
In /boot/grub/device.map change /dev/hd.. to /dev/sd.. before
running grub-install - and don't change (hd0). Changing
/boot/grub/grub.conf may also be required.
Regards,
Roy Rankin
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