Options for creating bios-grub? (legacy mode installation using GPT partitions)

[Member mikey777]

I have an old machine (Packard-Bell Easynote MX-37 laptop) which I want to multiboot with different linux distros, including AntiX.
In the past I have done this as a legacy mode installation using gpt partitions and it’s worked well,
using the method outlined in this link: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/tutorials/legacy-mode-installation-using-gpt-partitions/msg9051/#msg9051

The advantage over MBR partitions is that you are not limited by 4 primary partitions and there is no need to create an extended partition.

The problem I have is that when I install AntiX in legacy mode on a gpt partition, I don’t see an option for creating a bios-grub, which is a small partition of about 16MB normally created at /dev/sda1.

Any help with this is much appreciated. I’m new to AntiX and am really impressed already by how well it runs on a single-core (CPU @1.66GHz) Samsung netbook.

Cheers
Mike

• This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.

▪ 32-bit antix19.4-core+LXDE installed on :
- (2011) Samsung NP-N145 Plus (JP04UK) – single-core CPU Intel Atom N455@1.66GHz, 2GB RAM, integrated graphics.
▪ 64-bit antix21-base+LXDE installed on:
- (2008) Asus X71Q (7SC002) – dual CPU Intel T3200@2.0GHz, 4GB RAM. Graphics: Intel Mobile 4 Series, integrated graphics
- (2007) Packard Bell Easynote MX37 (ALP-Ajax C3) – dual CPU Intel T2310@1.46GHz, 2GB RAM. Graphics: Silicon Integrated Systems.

[Anonymous]

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inxi -Fzx
and
parted -l

[Member mikey777]

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Thankyou for your reply – the output from terminal for inxi is as follows:

mike@EasyNote-MX37:~$ <strong>inxi -Fzx</strong>
System:    Host: EasyNote-MX37 Kernel: 4.4.0-160-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Ubuntu 16.04 xenial
Machine:   System: Packard Bell BV product: EasyNote_MX37 v: PC10E00401
           Mobo: PACKARD BELL BV model: T12C v: 1.0
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 207 date: 10/11/2007
CPU:       Dual core Intel Pentium Dual T2310 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 5864
           clock speeds: max: 1467 MHz 1: 1067 MHz 2: 1467 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter
           bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: fbdev (unloaded: vesa)
           Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
           GLX Renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] Azalia Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:0f.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-160-generic
Network:   Card-1: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 191 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
           driver: sis190 v: 1.4 port: cc00 bus-ID: 00:04.0
           IF: enp0s4 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR242x / AR542x Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
           driver: ath5k bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 250.1GB (2.2% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Samsung_SSD_850 size: 250.1GB temp: 0C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 23G used: 5.2G (24%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 171 Uptime: 4 min Memory: 576.6/1873.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 mike@EasyNote-MX37:~$ sudo lshw -C display

and for parted -l is as follows:

mike@EasyNote-MX37:~$ <strong>sudo parted -l</strong>
[sudo] password for mike: 
Model: ATA Samsung SSD 850 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name                   Flags
 1      1049kB  17.8MB  16.8MB                                      bios_grub
 2      17.8MB  25.2GB  25.2GB  ext4         Linux Lite 3.8 64-bit

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.

▪ 32-bit antix19.4-core+LXDE installed on :
- (2011) Samsung NP-N145 Plus (JP04UK) – single-core CPU Intel Atom N455@1.66GHz, 2GB RAM, integrated graphics.
▪ 64-bit antix21-base+LXDE installed on:
- (2008) Asus X71Q (7SC002) – dual CPU Intel T3200@2.0GHz, 4GB RAM. Graphics: Intel Mobile 4 Series, integrated graphics
- (2007) Packard Bell Easynote MX37 (ALP-Ajax C3) – dual CPU Intel T2310@1.46GHz, 2GB RAM. Graphics: Silicon Integrated Systems.

[Anonymous]

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… a legacy mode installation using gpt partitions and it’s worked well …

There were some cases of people shooting themselves in the head and — they STAYED ALIVE!

Basically, you’d like to avoid the potential problems.

If you use EFI/UEFI, you’d like to have GPT partitioning.
If you use CSM/Legacy, you’d like to have MBR partitioning.

The advantage over MBR partitions is that you are not limited by 4 primary partitions and there is no need to create an extended partition.

… makes no big difference for the private PC, except if you have a few exabyte HDD’s and the disadvantage of potential problems is obvious.

https://www.heise.de/ct/ausgabe/2013-15-Loesungen-fuer-haeufige-UEFI-Pannen-2319431.html
https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Fragen-Antworten-Linux-UEFI-4350027.html
https://www.heise.de/ct/hotline/Parallele-Installation-im-UEFI-Modus-1361956.html

[Anonymous]

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It is difficult to read the output without code tags.
So

$ inxi -Fzx
System: Host: EasyNote-MX37 Kernel: 4.4.0-160-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Ubuntu 16.04 xenial
...
ID-1: /dev/sda model: Samsung_SSD_850 size: 250.1GB temp: 0C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 23G used: 5.2G (24%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2

$ sudo parted -l
Model: ATA Samsung SSD 850 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 17.8MB 16.8MB bios_grub
2 17.8MB 25.2GB 25.2GB ext4 Linux Lite 3.8 64-bit

Unfortunately, I have never used Ubuntu in my life. But it should behave like any Linux system.

Your bios_boot partition is already set up correctly.
You install antiX into another partition. When asked about the bootloader, you have two options.
Either continue without boot loader
or to install the bootloader in the PBR (PartitionBootRecord) of the antiX installation.

However, it may not do this and you may have to force the procedure later via terminal.

In all cases you will have to boot into Ubuntu and run update-grub after the reboot.
After that you should be able to select antiX in the grub menu and start it.

[Anonymous]

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@noClue

if you’d read first…
he has no uefi!

[Anonymous]

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YUP … having GPT without UEFI is a bad idea. 😉

[Member mikey777]

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Anonymous wrote:

It is difficult to read the output without code tags

My apologies – took me a while to work out how to do this as in other forums I use [code] & [/code] but notice this is more straighforward here: have corrected this in #26147 to make easier to read.

Quoting you again from above: “When asked about the bootloader, you have two options. Either
(1) continue without boot loader, or
(2) install the bootloader in the PBR (PartitionBootRecord) of the antiX installation.”

As it doesn’t give a bios-grub option during the installation process (at least I couldn’t find one) shall I just do option(1)? I’m just concerned that if I do (2) it may overwrite the bios-grub. I remember when I tried this once before the bios-grub was overwritten and became an ext4 partition when installing AntiX …

Many thanks – I really appreciate your advice 🙂

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.

▪ 32-bit antix19.4-core+LXDE installed on :
- (2011) Samsung NP-N145 Plus (JP04UK) – single-core CPU Intel Atom N455@1.66GHz, 2GB RAM, integrated graphics.
▪ 64-bit antix21-base+LXDE installed on:
- (2008) Asus X71Q (7SC002) – dual CPU Intel T3200@2.0GHz, 4GB RAM. Graphics: Intel Mobile 4 Series, integrated graphics
- (2007) Packard Bell Easynote MX37 (ALP-Ajax C3) – dual CPU Intel T2310@1.46GHz, 2GB RAM. Graphics: Silicon Integrated Systems.

[Member mikey777]

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Anonymous wrote:

YUP … having GPT without UEFI is a bad idea.

On modern computers, which have UEFI motherboards, this is true – UEFI is not compatible with an MBR formatted drive.

However with Legacy-only computers (i.e. before 2011-12), they can be formatted as either MBR or GPT.
The caveat is that if you’re doing a Legacy install with GPT on these older computers, it can only be done with either single, dual or multiboot Linux setups; not with Windows OS or Windows OS/Linux dual or multiboot setups.

Do read the tutorial link I gave in the first post, if you want further information on this.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.

▪ 32-bit antix19.4-core+LXDE installed on :
- (2011) Samsung NP-N145 Plus (JP04UK) – single-core CPU Intel Atom N455@1.66GHz, 2GB RAM, integrated graphics.
▪ 64-bit antix21-base+LXDE installed on:
- (2008) Asus X71Q (7SC002) – dual CPU Intel T3200@2.0GHz, 4GB RAM. Graphics: Intel Mobile 4 Series, integrated graphics
- (2007) Packard Bell Easynote MX37 (ALP-Ajax C3) – dual CPU Intel T2310@1.46GHz, 2GB RAM. Graphics: Silicon Integrated Systems.

[Anonymous]

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Well … that exactly is a strange thing about your “needs” …

Why not simply create MBR partitions and have it done in a matter of minutes?

It should multiboot antiX with something else and you “don’t see an option for creating a bios-grub, which is a small partition of about 16MB normally created at /dev/sda1.”

“Legacy Mainstream” Ju… Intel Pentium dual-core T2310 Computer (1,46 GHz) from 2008, in need of 128 partitions, each bigger than 2TB?? 😉

Why not …

🙂

P.S.

I don’t see an option for creating a bios-grub, which is a small partition of about 16MB normally created at /dev/sda1

Here you can see the basic structure (6.3.4.2).

Boot Live, start Gparted, make all necessary partitions first, start installer and choose ‘manual’ partitioning …

[Anonymous]

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@mikey777

No.
You already have a correctly configured bios_grub partition ! Why do you want to have another one?

Unfortunately I have this here only in German: https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/GRUB_2/Grundlagen/#MBR-mit-GUID-Partitionstabelle-GPT

It corresponds exactly to these requirements.
Number 1 is bios_grub
Number 2 is ubuntu

Number 3 becomes antiX

Whether you install the bootloader or omit it doesn’t matter. If you install it, then in number 3 (sda3)
Important in any case is the update-grub in Ubuntu.

Edit:
That doesn’t really emerge from your code tag…

Control with gparted that the flag of number 1 bios_grub
is!

[Member mikey777]

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Anonymous wrote:

@mikey777
Whether you install the bootloader or omit it doesn’t matter. If you install it, then in number 3 (sda3)

Many thanks male – this is the bit I needed to be sure of as it’s a while since I last did this.
I really like the Legacy/GTP on old laptops compared to the MBR/extended partitions setup – very easy to setup, and the partition structure is tidy, especially as I want to create more than 4 primary partitions. Thanks again male – your time/help is much appreciated.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by mikey777.

▪ 32-bit antix19.4-core+LXDE installed on :
- (2011) Samsung NP-N145 Plus (JP04UK) – single-core CPU Intel Atom N455@1.66GHz, 2GB RAM, integrated graphics.
▪ 64-bit antix21-base+LXDE installed on:
- (2008) Asus X71Q (7SC002) – dual CPU Intel T3200@2.0GHz, 4GB RAM. Graphics: Intel Mobile 4 Series, integrated graphics
- (2007) Packard Bell Easynote MX37 (ALP-Ajax C3) – dual CPU Intel T2310@1.46GHz, 2GB RAM. Graphics: Silicon Integrated Systems.

[Forum Admin rokytnji]

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Meh, reading all of this confusing stuff. I handled things like so

https://forum.mxlinux.org/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=50525

Since then. Hard drive died. I broke hard drive connection wiring swapping drives. It is a persistent usb laptop now.
Sits in bag till I have time .

Sometimes I drive a crooked road to get my mind straight.
Not all who Wander are Lost.
I'm not outa place. I'm from outer space.

Linux Registered User # 475019
How to Search for AntiX solutions to your problems

[Anonymous]

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@mikey777, you’re welcome

[Author]

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