LPIC-2 Linux Kernel and System Startup Practice Question
After creating a new partition table on /dev/sda, what command should be run to install GRUB2 to the Master Boot Record?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse installing GRUB to a partition (e.g., /dev/sda1) with installing it to the MBR of the whole disk (/dev/sda), because they think the bootloader should reside on the root filesystem partition, but the MBR is a disk-level structure, not a partition-level one.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
grub-install /dev/sda
After creating a new partition table on /dev/sda, the Master Boot Record (MBR) resides on the disk device itself, not on a partition. The `grub-install /dev/sda` command installs GRUB2's boot code into the MBR (first 440 bytes) and embeds the core image in the post-MBR gap. This makes the disk bootable by the BIOS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Why it's wrong here
This regenerates the configuration file, not installing the boot loader.
- ✗
update-grub
Why it's wrong here
Similar to grub-mkconfig, it does not install the boot loader to disk.
- ✗
grub-install /dev/sda1
Why it's wrong here
Installing to a partition would use the partition's boot sector, not the MBR; the correct target for MBR is the whole disk.
- ✓
grub-install /dev/sda
Why this is correct
This installs GRUB to the MBR of /dev/sda.
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