Bug#541286: Update-grub guesses wrong root

[Harald Braumann]

Package: grub-pc
Version: 1.96+20090725-1
Severity: critical
Justification: system unbootable after update

Hi,

after updating grub-pc, the system was unbootable. The problem is, that
update-grub is run in postinst and it guesses the wrong boot partition.
I have a mixed IDE/SATA system and the disks are ordered differently by
the BIOS and Linux.

For this reason I have set the label SYSBOOT on the boot partition and
added

set root=SYSBOOT

to /boot/grub/grub.cfg. This works like a charm, however:
- update-grub is called in postinst and overwrites grub.cfg (naughty!)
- I haven't found a way to configure the boot partition for update-grub
to use.

I think the only real solution is for update-grub to stop thinking it'd
be smarter than it actually is. A lot of automagic is done which broke
my boot a view times already. There is no straightforward way to tell
grub to do as I say and make it obey its master's wishes. This `smart'
system made me do too much working around and circumventing, already.
Combined with the fact that it is also very inflexible (e.g. only one
kernel cmdline for all entries), it is my opinion that it should be
replaced by something very different, which does less guessing and
gives more power to the user.

If you don't agree, at least make it configurable so I can prevent
update-grub from ever running. Please let me configure my system as I
like.

Cheers,
harry
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