Bug#540125: grub-pc: upgrade renders system unbootable

[Robert Millan]

On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 03:05:04PM +0200, Michal Suchanek wrote:
> 2009/8/26 Michal Suchanek <hramrach at centrum.cz>:
> > 2009/8/26 Robert Millan <rmh at aybabtu.com>:
> >> On Thu, Aug 06, 2009 at 10:24:57AM +1000, Jayen wrote:
> >>> Package: grub-pc
> >>> Version: 1.96+20090725-1
> >>> Severity: critical
> >>> Justification: breaks the whole system
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I know On i386-pc (and amd64), the grub package never updates the installed
> >>> version of GRUB automatically.  However, this has rendered the system
> >>> unbootable for me twice now.  I know I'm running something unstable, but users
> >>> should NOT be expected to know how to fix an unbootable system.  There should
> >>> at least be a debconf question of whether to run grub-install.
> >>>
> >>> The error I'm getting is "Unknown command: initrd" similar to #513592 and
> >>> #497791 (and probably others).
> >>
> >> What happens if you comment out the "search" commands?  (all of them)
> >>
> >> And if you add "insmod linux" at the beginning of grub.cfg?
> >>
> >
> > Neither helps.
> >
> > "You have to load kernel first."
> >
> > I tried loading the kernel by hand which sort of works but then I do
> > not get the 'boot' command so I cannot start it.
> >
> > With grub rescue CD I managed to do this so I suspect there is
> > something deficient in the on-disk installation of grub.
> >
> 
> With a newer grub (1.96+20090808-1)  I can at least load the kernel
> manually as I could with the rescue CD. The menu still fails to boot
> with the same message, though.

Please try with 1.96+20090826-3

-- 
Robert Millan

  The DRM opt-in fallacy: "Your data belongs to us. We will decide when (and
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  still allow you to remove your data and not access it at all."