GRUB2.00 recognizes ext4 as ext2

[YannUbuntu]

GRUB2.00 recognizes ext4 as ext2. Extract of the log on http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=12431947&postcount=17 :

#grub-install -v
grub-install (GRUB) 2.00-7ubuntu11

#grub-install --force /dev/sda4
/usr/sbin/grub-bios-setup: warning: File system `ext2' doesn't support embedding.
/usr/sbin/grub-bios-setup: warning: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
Installation finished. No error reported.

#parted -l
Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54502 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 20.5kB 210MB 210MB fat32 EFI System Partition boot
2 210MB 193GB 192GB hfs+ Customer
3 193GB 193GB 650MB hfs+ Recovery HD
4 193GB 203GB 9998MB ext4 LINUX
5 203GB 204GB 1073MB linux-swap(v1) UBUNTU 2
6 204GB 250GB 45.7GB ntfs BOOTCAMP

Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sr0
has been opened read-only.

Error: /dev/sr0: unrecognised disk label

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

This is normal. ext3 and ext4 are effectively ext2 with additional features enabled. Grub does not differentiate.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

The title might not accurately describe the problem, but the problem is nonetheless valid. I just ran into it.

The issue is not that grub deals with ext4 as ext2, albeit the wording might be improved in this area (issue 1, minor). The real problem is that the grub is again the bitch it's always been. I'm sorry, but what exactly was I supposed to do now to get grub installed on this new hard disk of mine? Grub won't tell me and neither does google. That's CERTAINLY a bug.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

After much reading in all kinds of places I came across https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing#BIOS.2BAC8-GPT_Notes which uses a lot of cryptic lingo. I created another partition just like I was told, I also set the bios_grub flag for it. I even tried this for the /boot partition. It's all still the same. This needs to be better documented and the error message needs to get better. It seems that grub does not like fat, ntfs, btrfs or ext[234] whenever it thinks it needs to embed something. The set of the remaining filesystem choices from gparted in that case is [], the empty set. So, once again, what does this code from hell want me to do again? If booting from GPT on a non-EFI BIOS is not supported at all, then simply say so, but do it in clear terms. Yikes, why do I even need to bother with all of these terms I couldn't care less about?

BTW, I am not a total newbie, look at my profile if you like. In any case, Ubuntu should be more user-friendly even IF I was a newbie.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

As far as I can tell, your comments are essentially that you can't figure out how to install grub. This is not a bug and has nothing to do with this old bug report, which is still invalid.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

> As far as I can tell, your comments are essentially that you can't figure out how to install grub.

I'll spell it out more clearly for you. The bug is that grub doesn't install (1) and does not give helpful information on what needs to be done to complete successfully (2).

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

In other words, it's for the most part a usability bug and in that dimension grub has been sucking golf-balls through a hose for years. There you got your bug.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

I'm sorry, but that is just not a bug. It also has nothing to do with this report that you keep trying to take over, where grub in fact, did install successfully. Please stop trying to take over this old bug and make it into a vague complaint.