Gentoo installation handbook doesn't instruct to create a boot flag for GPT (GUID) boot partitions under instructions for parted to create partitions (instead of using fdisk). In fact, parted doesn't support such a boot flag similar to that found in fdisk. The boot flags supported in GPT ("set 1 boot on" or "set 1 bios_grub on") don't work with legacy GRUB (Version 0.97 + GPT patches) and/or certain BIOSes. Remedy: (1) After creating a GPT partition table under parted, exit GPT. (2) Enter fdisk (fdisk /dev/sda). You will be warned that fdisk doesn't work with GPT. Toggle the boot flag for the boot partition using the command "a" followed by the partition number. Do not change anything else. Save and exit using the command "w". (3) Run grub-install or grub in the chrooted environment if necessary. Now, legacy GRUB (Version 0.97 + GPT patches) can boot from the GPT partition on all BIOSes.
(In reply to comment #0) Typo: It should read "(1) After creating a GPT partition table under parted, quit parted."
Did you try this with gdisk from sys-apps/gptfdisk?
I didn't try gdisk. gdisk is not mentioned in the Gentoo installation handbook. Only fdisk and parted are mentioned.
By the way, I am using an Intel DG965WH motherboard with a Core 2 processor. The error prevented the GRUB screen from coming on during boot. The same problem happened with single-boot or multiboot configurations. Using fdisk to toggle the bootable flag on for the GPT boot partition solved the problem.
By itself, BIOSes that fail to have the system booted up properly because of a boot flag is an error by the BIOS. Are you aware of other systems or configurations that have this requirement? Perhaps it would be better suited to place in the Gentoo wiki? Or in its underlying knowledge base perhaps? http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Main_Page http://wiki.gentoo.org/index.php?title=Special%3AAllPages&from=&to=&namespace=500
I think it would probably be good to place a warning in the subsection of the installation manual that describes GNU parted to do the disk partition that some BIOSes (for example those with Intel motherboard) don't work without the bootable flag and users may want to either use fdisk or try to add a bootable flag using fdisk after using parted. Or, instead, perhaps point a Wiki knowledge base to them if they are having booting problems after using parted with legacy BIOSes. Certainly, the system not booting after a long installation is frustrating, and it would be good to minimize dead ends.
I think GNU parted should be able to create a bootable flag in the same way as fdisk does, both for msdos and gpt partitions. (The existing boot or bios_grub flags in parted are not the same.) Once GNU parted is updated to include this bootable flag, the Gentoo Installation Handbook should also be modified to include in the instructions under parted to make the boot partition bootable, similar to the instructions under fdisk.
if it's upstream software that needs patching, then this bug will be marked RESO LATER or RESO CANTFIX. otherwise, it seems like this bug duplicates issues already addressed in #383523 and #343151.
I think GNU parted should be patched to include a bootable flag as in fdisk for compatibility with certain BIOSes, and there should be placed an appropriate warning in the Gentoo Installation Handbook GNU-parted instructions until this happens.
(In reply to comment #5) > By itself, BIOSes that fail to have the system booted up properly because of > a boot flag is an error by the BIOS. Are you aware of other systems or > configurations that have this requirement? > > Perhaps it would be better suited to place in the Gentoo wiki? Or in its > underlying knowledge base perhaps? > > http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Main_Page > http://wiki.gentoo.org/index. > php?title=Special%3AAllPages&from=&to=&namespace=500 agreed. between this buggy BIOS behavior, and the fact that the proposed changes require upstream to patch their software, it's not something we can document in the gentoo handbook.
