seeking HOWTO fix a bootable HDD
by SaintDanBert from LinuxQuestions.org on (#6HHY7)
Colleagues,
How do I modify an HDD so that it no longer thinks that it is bootable?
I have a removable HDD that used to hold a full Linux Mint (v19.x) I want to use this drive for other things but it holds several partitions that I don't want to clobber.
I was able to use gparted to remove the various Linux partitions that are not wanted. When I try to boot the workstation from power off, things get tangled in the bootable parts of this drive and those of base workstation. The result is that the box fails to boot.
I seek two sets of information:
I am willing to learn,
Thank you in advance,
~~~ 0;-/ Dan
Follow-Up:
I've tried every form of one-time-boot that I could find. The workstation is a ThinkPad X220. The "external drive" is a module installed into the Lenovo docking station. The drive has a GPT partition table. I do not use Secure Boot.
NOTE: The workstation boots and runs Mint v21.2 without trouble absent this drive.
When the boot fails, I get something like the following:
Code: DMAR: [Firmware Bug]: No firmware reserved region can cover this
RMRR: [ hex ] contact BIOS vendor for fixes
... TPM chip errors
You are in emergency mode. After logging in type "journalctl -xb" to view
system logs. "systemctl reboot" to reboot, "systemctl default" or "exit"
to boot into default mode.
Press ENTER for maintenamce
(or press Control-D to continue)_______________________________________
* wizard - If you remember Fantasia and the Sorcerer's Apprentice, I know where the wizard keeps his hat and I've learned how to swim. (^o^)
How do I modify an HDD so that it no longer thinks that it is bootable?
I have a removable HDD that used to hold a full Linux Mint (v19.x) I want to use this drive for other things but it holds several partitions that I don't want to clobber.
I was able to use gparted to remove the various Linux partitions that are not wanted. When I try to boot the workstation from power off, things get tangled in the bootable parts of this drive and those of base workstation. The result is that the box fails to boot.
I seek two sets of information:
- Is there some way to force power on boot to ignore this drive?
- Is there some way to remove the boot details from the partition table so that workstations won't get confused in the future?
I am willing to learn,
Thank you in advance,
~~~ 0;-/ Dan
Follow-Up:
I've tried every form of one-time-boot that I could find. The workstation is a ThinkPad X220. The "external drive" is a module installed into the Lenovo docking station. The drive has a GPT partition table. I do not use Secure Boot.
NOTE: The workstation boots and runs Mint v21.2 without trouble absent this drive.
When the boot fails, I get something like the following:
Code: DMAR: [Firmware Bug]: No firmware reserved region can cover this
RMRR: [ hex ] contact BIOS vendor for fixes
... TPM chip errors
You are in emergency mode. After logging in type "journalctl -xb" to view
system logs. "systemctl reboot" to reboot, "systemctl default" or "exit"
to boot into default mode.
Press ENTER for maintenamce
(or press Control-D to continue)_______________________________________
* wizard - If you remember Fantasia and the Sorcerer's Apprentice, I know where the wizard keeps his hat and I've learned how to swim. (^o^)