grub-install does nothing

snasim2002 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:37 am **Posts:** 37

i recently began building a minimal linux system. For booting the Kernel, i needed to install grub.
when i run "sudo grub-install /dev/sdb", grub says "installation finished. No errors detected."; But i can see that it has done nothing. no changes are made to the device. I'm using GRUB2, so i do not have access to the grub shell.

iansjack · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:04 am

Grub2 does have a command-line interface.

Are you sure you have set sdb as the boot device in the BIOS?

How are you determining that no changes have been made to /dev/sdb?

snasim2002 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:37 am **Posts:** 37

1) my BIOS can boot from a pendrive.
2)the /boot directory is empty, no files are there.

FallenAvatar · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:58 pm **Posts:** 283

where is it stated that /boot == /dev/sdb?

snasim2002 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:37 am **Posts:** 37

i meant no files are installed under <my device>/boot/.

i have previously used grub-mkrescue to make ISO9960 readonly images. grub's files were installed in <image>/boot/grub.

FallenAvatar · **Joined:** Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:58 pm **Posts:** 283

You used 2 different commands (grub-install vs. grub-mkrescue)

What linux distro are you running this on? What version?
What version of grub are you using?
What config files did you create? What is in them?

- Monk

iansjack · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:53 am

snasim2002 wrote:

i meant no files are installed under <my device>/boot/.

You only specified that the mbr be installed on /dev/sdb, no other files. Read the grub2 manual for the correct command.

OSDev.org

grub-install does nothing

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