Bug#667510: grub2-common: grub-install fail on gpt disk with error: will not proceed with blocklists

[Dominique Dumont]

Subject: grub2-common: grub-install fail on gpt disk with error: will not proceed with blocklists
Package: grub2-common
Version: 1.99-21
Severity: important

Dear Maintainer,
*** Please consider answering these questions, where appropriate ***

With update to grub 1.99-20 (and 21), grub install fails with the following message:

domi at frodo:~$ LANG=C sudo grub-install /dev/sda
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: This GPT partition label has no BIOS Boot Partition; embedding won't be possible!.
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, 
blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
/usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: will not proceed with blocklists.

I had no problem with my disk until upgrade from 1.99-18 -> 1.99-20.

Now, I get this error even if I downgrade to 1.99-17.

here's the partition table of my 2TB disk:
# parted
GNU Parted 2.3
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print                                                            
Model: ATA WDC WD20EARS-00M (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 2000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number  Start   End     Size    File system     Name  Flags
 1      17,4kB  40,0GB  40,0GB  ext4
 2      40,0GB  44,0GB  4000MB  linux-swap(v1)
 3      44,0GB  2000GB  1956GB  ext4

Now, it's possible that my partition is broken. On the other hand, 
this disk was partitioned in january 2010 using Debian installer, so other 
users may face a similar issue.

I've flagged this bug as important as this behavior is a regression.

Is there a way to work-around the issue ? (this bug broke my home-cinema PC 
and the kids are not happy :-p )


Feel free to contact me to get further details

All the best

-- System Information:
Debian Release: wheezy/sid
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (500, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing'), (1, 'experimental')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 3.0.24-std251-amd64 (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=fr_FR.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash

Versions of packages grub2-common depends on:
ii  dpkg          1.16.2
ii  grub-common   1.99-21
ii  install-info  4.13a.dfsg.1-9

grub2-common recommends no packages.

grub2-common suggests no packages.

-- no debconf information


Dominique