Errors in /boot/grub2/grubenv file for NEW installations of f44

Ask Fedora Common Issues Proposed Common Issues
1

Problem

New installations of Fedora 44 Workstations will have an error in /boot/grub2/grubenv that flash 2 error messages on the screen at the beginning of boot

Cause

There is an error in the indicated file that causes this error. It is in the noted file on the installation iso and thus cannot be changed so will appear with every new installation.

The very first line of the /boot/grub2/grubenv file, when viewed with the command sudo grub2-editenv - list shows env_block=512+1 which apparently was carried over from the cloud release and is an error for installation on x86_64 machines.

Related Issues

Bugzilla report: #2464264

Also see Grub error with new Fedora 44 install

Solution

Edit the grubenv file using the command sudo grub2-editenv - unset env_block and the errors on boot will disappear.

No indication of problems other than the error during boot so it is benign and not harmful to be ignored.

This also does not appear on systems that are upgraded from earlier fedora releases.

2

Yes, this was even discussed during blocker review, in 2457333 – Grub environment block is corrupted at first boot . The decision was that this is purely a cosmetic issue that we didn’t feel safe enough to fix so shortly before the release.

Personally I wouldn’t put it into Common Issues, because it has no negative consequences, and we should keep the signal-to-noise ratio of Common Issues high. But tell me your opinion, if it varies.

I also wouldn’t recommend general audience to poke into grub2 env blocks. It is much safer to wait for an official fix, especially given that this is cosmetic only.

3

I do agree with that. There are users which make it to a daily task to hunt errors and remove them.
You might could let this proposal open as long as we not have a solution.

What do you think how could a fix for that look like? A new boot ISO replacing the actual one or would we point to a respin for users which can not live or have a real issue with it?

4

Well my assumption is that a grub update will fix this eventually. It would be just a standard update.

We don’t release updated official Live images, and certainly not for cosmetic issues. But there are unofficial Live respins available that are regularly updated, so once this is fixed in grub, it would eventually be also available as a new Live compose. I don’t see why that would matter, but :person_shrugging: :slight_smile: