---
name: "grub-bios-setup"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "grub"
version: "2:2.16-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/grub-bios-setup"
---

# grub-bios-setup(8)

set up a device to boot using GRUB

## NAME

grub-bios-setup - set up a device to boot using GRUB

## SYNOPSIS

**grub-bios-setup** \[*OPTION*...\] *DEVICE*

## DESCRIPTION

Set up images to boot from DEVICE.

You should not normally run this program directly.  Use grub-install instead.

- **-a**, **--allow-floppy**

  make the drive also bootable as floppy (default for fdX devices). May break on some BIOSes.

- **-b**, **--boot-image**=*FILE*

  use FILE as the boot image \[default=boot.img\]

- **-c**, **--core-image**=*FILE*

  use FILE as the core image \[default=core.img\]

- **-d**, **--directory**=*DIR*

  use GRUB files in the directory DIR \[default=/boot/grub\]

- **-f**, **--force**

  install even if problems are detected

- **-m**, **--device-map**=*FILE*

  use FILE as the device map \[default=/boot/grub/device.map\]

- **--no-rs-codes**

  Do not apply any reed-solomon codes when embedding core.img. This option is only available on x86 BIOS targets.

- **-s**, **--skip-fs-probe**

  do not probe for filesystems in DEVICE

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  print verbose messages.

- \-?, **--help**

  give this help list

- **--usage**

  give a short usage message

- **-V**, **--version**

  print program version

Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional for any corresponding short options.

DEVICE must be an OS device (e.g. */dev/sda*).

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-grub@gnu.org\>.

## SEE ALSO

[**grub-install**(8)](/grub-install/8.md), [**grub-mkimage**(1)](/grub-mkimage/1.md), [**grub-mkrescue**(1)](/grub-mkrescue/1.md)

The full documentation for **grub-bios-setup** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **grub-bios-setup** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info grub-bios-setup**

should give you access to the complete manual.