bugGNU GRUB - Bugs: bug #27058, Save current MBR before Grub...

 
 

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bug #27058: Save current MBR before Grub installs itself & provide undo commmand

Submitted by:  mike <mikec001>
Submitted on:  Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:34:27 PM UTC  
 
Category: InstallationSeverity: Major
Priority: 5 - NormalItem Group: Feature Request
Status: InvalidPrivacy: Public
Assigned to: NoneOriginator Name: mike
Open/Closed: ClosedRelease: n/a
Release: NoneReproducibility: None
Planned Release: None

Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:55:19 PM UTC, comment #1:

It's already in task list. Patches are welcome

Vladimir Serbinenko <phcoder>
Project Administrator
Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:34:27 PM UTC, original submission:

New Feature Request:

Save current MBR before installing grub to MBR and
provide an new mbrUndo command to restore MBR to previous state.
----------------------------------------------------------------
As a Gnu/Linux user of many many years I have found that the most common problem/complaint of grub users is the
accidental installing of GRUB onto a computer's MBR.

This is usually due to either a discrete user error - or due to a wayward distribution's automatic install to the MBR without asking the user for confirmation of the action.

(e.g At time of writing a standard Ubuntu 9.04 desktop install, is a classic example of an distribution that installs
grub to the MBR without seeking prior approval or confirmation)

To counteract this, I propose that GRUB take the initiative by:

1. First backing up the current MBR to a file, before installing itself to the MBR ( or to the first sector of a partition).
2. Provide a new MBR 'undo' command that would reinstate a previous MBR of the users choosing.

e.g.
Grub could store the previous MBR in a file in /boot/grub/MBR.000
/boot/grub/MBR.001
etc.

A new grub 'undo' command could restore the MBR to a previous state, thus providing
a user with a quick remedy to the situation.

mbrUndo <filename>

e.g mbrUndo /boot/grub/MBR.001

Invoking mbrUndo without a filename could default to the last MBR.xxx file created.

By doing this, a user who accidentally installed grub to the MBR, or to a partitions first sector, could
quickly rectify the situation.

mike <mikec001>

 

No files currently attached

 

Depends on the following items: None found

Items that depend on this one: None found

 

Carbon-Copy List
  • -unavailable- added by phcoder (Posted a comment)
  • -unavailable- added by mikec001 (Submitted the item)
  • -unavailable- added by mikec001
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    Follow 3 latest changes.

    Date Changed By Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced By
    Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:55:19 PM UTCphcoderStatusNone=>Invalid
      Open/ClosedOpen=>Closed
    Mon 20 Jul 2009 04:34:27 PM UTCmikec001Carbon-Copy-=>Added mikec001

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