[SOLVED] why does my grub doesn't boot gentoo?

[Imin]

hi

i successfully installed gentoo 2004.2 and installed grub as the bootloader. then i reboot the pc for the first time, and the grub menu appears, but then my screen goes blank--nothing happens.

i don't think there's any error with my grub configuration, because after numerous reboot attempt, i press 'e' button at the grub menu and try to alter the grub configuration file, where I deliberately make some error, in order to check if there was some error in my grub configuration file. Then i try to boot into gentoo and then some error msg indicating an error in my grub configuration file. then the grub configuration file is restored to the original, then i reboot my pc, then after the grub menu appears, once again, my screen goes blank--nothing happens, not even any error msg :(

what's wrong? i plan to try to install lilo, but how should i do it at this time?

any help is greatly appreciated. thanks in advance

[Hayl]

the problem is that you have made an error during the install.

i think you should fix grub rather than installing lilo.

could you at least post your partitioning scheme and grub config file?

[Imin]

thanks...i would send them later.. but actually i do my partitioning scheme exactly like in the 2004.2 handbook..and the grub config file too. i erased my hard drive just to install gentoo

[Hayl]

If you won't post them here then we can't help you because we can't check them for errors.

You aren't providing enough information.

Does it actually start to load the kernel after the grub boot screen or not at all?

[saikee]

I may be wrong here but the problem appears to be other than Grub. It is also a classic case that the display driver has been mismatched. The system has been correctly booted but the display has failed.

Press F1 to see if you can drop into the terminal mode to do repair.

[Hayl]

I agree which is why I asked him if it was loading the kernel.

[Imin]

after the grub boot screen, there was something written but it's very fast i can't even read it. the 'pause' key won't even stop the screen for even a little while. right after that the screen goes blank, without any activity.

i don't think it's the problem with my grub configuration, since i tried meddling with my grub configuration and then some error message appears. in this case, the screen doesn't goes blank-it's just stop at the error msg.
perhaps, maybe it's the display driver as saikee suggested. i'll try pressing the F1 button and see if i can drop into the terminal mode to repair.

as Hayl asked, "Does it actually start to load the kernel after the grub boot screen or not at all?" ..ermm.. actually i'm not really sure. i'm sorry cause i can't tell if the kernel has been loaded or not, since the screen goes blank very fast..as i've described above.

[Hayl]

I think it is loading the kernel but it doesn't have a display.

post your kernel config.

are you trying to use framebuffer?

[Imin]

erm..where do i get the kernel config?
btw, yes, if i'm not mistaken i use framebuffer.

[Hayl]

/usr/src/linux/.config

[Imin]

i'm sorry i won't be able to access the gentoo-installed pc until the end of this week.i'll send the configuration here by the end of this week...please bear with me..

[Parcival]

erm..where do i get the kernel config?
btw, yes, if i'm not mistaken i use framebuffer.

Try to set up your kernel to run with nothing but the vesa driver for your graphic card and without the framebuffer. This configuration should help you to get something onto your display.

Once you got that, change your kernel again and try to boot your computer with the correct driver for your graphic card. Once you have mastered that you can start to fiddle with the framebuffer until you get a satisfying result. :)

[Imin]

Thank God it works :)
Thanks a lot, i set up my kernel without framebuffer and now i can boot into my gentoo linux. (actually i reformat my hard disk to reinstall gentoo)

Thanks a lot everyone for helping. Now i'm trying to install XServer :cool:

Btw i need to install windows XP after this (i still need to install it, since i'm not the only one who use the pc, but i hope i can slowly influence everyone in my house to use linux ;) ), but the problem is windows XP bootloader always overwrite gentoo :mad: ... is there any way i can install xp without it overwrite my mbr?
or how can i reinstall gentoo in the mbr after i've installed xp?

btw my pc doesn't have any floppy drive (the connector at the mobo has broke :p )..only cdrom drive..

thanks a lot for helping.. :)

[Parcival]

is there any way i can install xp without it overwrite my mbr?

No.

or how can i reinstall gentoo in the mbr after i've installed xp?

Yes. Boot a liveCD (such as Knoppix), install GRUB in your MBR
grub-install /dev/hda

modify grub.conf and reboot with the liveCD removed, and finally dance when everything's working. :)

BTW, when doing a dual boot with Windows, there is a good reason why Windows is always the first OS to be installed. ;)

[Imin]

thanks a lot :D