Description of problem: Anaconda on the Fedora 16 beta image allows only selecting /dev/sda as the MBR. However, on my system the MBR is on the drive detected as /dev/sdb. It should be possible to install the bootloader on the correct partition. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): Fedora 16 beta x86_64 install DVD How reproducible: Every time Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install Fedora 2. Try to select a boot partition other than /dev/sda or /dev/sdb1 Actual results: Impossible to select the correct drive for the bootloader Expected results: Should be possible to choose to install on the MBR of /dev/sdb Additional info: The reason behind this is that I have a laptop with an existing OS on the internal HD, and I want to install Fedora 16 on a drive connected via eSATA. I want the bootloader for Fedora 16 to be on the eSATA drive so that I can select it to boot first in the BIOS when the drive is connected and otherwise use the standard bootloader on the internal drive when it's not attached.
I have the same problem. Upgrading my Fedora 15 system with the DVD image on an USB key the only MBR I can write the boot loader to is the one on /dev/sdb although this is the USB key.
Additional info: The bahaviour I encountered closely matches the one described in https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=738964 which (judging from https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=738964#c83) hasn't been fixed. My system is a Thinkpad X200s. Let me know if you need anything else.
Ok, so just FYI, I booted the system with the USB stick and could then install grub2 easily by executing grub2-install /dev/sda as root.
I have the same problem on a Dell Latitude E6410, and a Dell Latitude D620, so this is not just a problem on Thinkpad. I tried to install the beta to a USB flash drive, but was not able to select the USB flash drive to install the bootloader on the MBR. I have been able to do this with previous Fedora releases, and has been the standard way I test out new Fedora beta releases. Similarly, I also use this method to install a "rescue" Fedora system on a bootable USB flash drive.
Proposing for blocker status under the criteria: "The installer must be able to create and install to any workable partition layout using any file system offered in a default installer configuration, LVM, software, hardware or BIOS RAID, or combination of the above"
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 744088 ***