Replacing old hard disk with a new one

[Paul Smith]

On 10/26/05, jdow <jdow at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >> >> > > Could you please tell me how to install grub to MBR?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > reboot to the CD1
> >> >> > hit F5
> >> >> >
> >> >> > on the command line type   linux rescue
> >> >> >
> >> >> > it should find your Fedora installed system and enter
> >> >> >
> >> >> > chroot /mnt/sysimage
> >> >> >
> >> >> > /sbin/grub-install /dev/hda
> >> >> >
> >> >> > that should put Grub back to MBR.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks, Yonas, but no success:
> >> >>
> >> >> # /sbin/grub-install /dev/hda
> >> >> Not found or not a block device.
> >> >>
> >> >> If I replace hda with hdb or hdc, grub-install gives the same result.
> >> >>
> >> >> Any further ideas?
> >> >
> >> > Now, I am using a Knoppix liveCD, and having some progress:
> >> >
> >> > $ grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/hdc1/boot/ /dev/hda
> >> > /dev/hda does not have any corresponding BIOS drive.
> >> > $
> >> >
> >> > Can we go further?
> >>
> >> Have you partitioned the drive yet, Paul?
> >>
> >> {^_^}
> >
> > No, I have not, Jdow. How can I do that?
>
> "fdisk /dev/hda"
>
> But PLEASE PLEASE read partitioning HOWTOs and documentation first so you
> know what you are doing, first.
>
> Of course, you could bring up the same partitioning tool you saw when
> installing, DiskDestroyer or something like that, and use it. But you
> still want to read the partitioning HOWTOs to get a notion of how you
> want to partition the drive.
>
> I realize grub documentation is impenetrable by sane people. But do give
> it a try. After doing so I recommend a visit with your local shrink if
> you think you understand grub's documentation. {^_-}
>
> {^_^}

Thanks again, Jdow. Perhaps, the best solution for a inexpert like me
is to install some operating  system on hda, and the partitioning will
be done. Tried:

$ fdisk /dev/hda

Unable to open /dev/hda
$

Paul