ext4fs not allowing to install grub1.98 in my usb stick

[rprasanth]

Hi,

Recently I am trying to install Grub 1.98 version on my USB drive. Where I came to notice this issue.

1. Using Ubuntu-18 and above e2fsprogs version - 1.44.1 in Ubuntu-18

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1
$ sudo linux64 chroot .
bash-5.1# grub-install /dev/sdX
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: unknown filesystem.
Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed.
Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly.

If the file format of /dev/sdX1 is ext2, no error occurs.

$ sudo mkfs.ext2 /dev/sdX1
$ grub-install /dev/sdX
Installation finished. No error reported.

The same USB formatted with the 1.44 version in ubuntu-18 can't be used in lower version distros too, like Ubuntu-16.

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Whereas the same format procedure was done in Ubuntu-16 e2fsprogs version - e2fsprogs 1.42.13

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1

$ sudo linux64 chroot .
bash-5.1# grub-install /dev/sdb 
Installation finished. No error reported.

I don't see the issue.

Summary, mkfs.ext4 used in Ubuntu-16 allows grub to be installed on all machines(higher version distros too). whereas mkfs.ext4 used in ubuntu-18 & above doesn't allow in any machine.

Query: is there any change relevant to this

Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly.

Could you help with the exact step for using the correct argument to be passed as mentioned above?

Thanks, Prasanth R