Bug#539648: rescue formatter option for grub2 switchover

[Felix Zielcke]

Am Montag, den 03.08.2009, 08:42 -0700 schrieb Mark Hedges:
> 
> On Sun, 2 Aug 2009, Felix Zielcke wrote:
> 
> > tag 539648 wontfix
> > thanks
> > Am Sonntag, den 02.08.2009, 10:36 -0700 schrieb Mark Hedges:
> > >
> > >
> > > It would be great for the grub2 switchover if it first offered
> > > the option to format a cd-rom or usb stick which would restore
> > > a backup of the old boot partition if grub2 doesn't work.
> > >
> > > Mark
> > >
> >
> > This is not grub's business.
> > We already provide an option to chainload grub2 from grub-legacy.
> > I think that's enough for the vast majority of users.
> > Just backing up /boot and restoring it wouldn't help.
> > The MBR and in case of grub-legacy also the embed are between MBR and
> > 1st partition would also need to be backuped.
> > And why should we make a mini-OS which restores the backup
> > automatically.
> > Live CDs can be used fine to restore it.
> > You only need to make the backup yourself.
> 
> Yeah you're right.  Oh yeah I meant backing up the MBR.

Even if we would provide an option to backup MBR and embed area, you
would still need to know how to restore it with dd.
I don't think it would make sense for grub-install to have a
--restore-mbr option.

> Some warning, maybe the upgrade before, that it's coming?

A warning itself would be useless.
I don't think it would be really that needed that we ask the user for
confirmation if he's sure if the device given is the right one.
rm -r / won't stop you either.

> I'm sure it will work great I just remember in woody totally
> screwing up my MBR with grub on trashy machines.

I never used woody, but grub2 should work now better as grub-legacy.

-- 
Felix Zielcke
Proud Debian Maintainer