grub-install does nothing

[snasim2002]

i recently began building a minimal linux system. For booting the Kernel, i needed to install grub.
when i run "sudo grub-install /dev/sdb", grub says "installation finished. No errors detected."; But i can see that it has done nothing. no changes are made to the device. I'm using GRUB2, so i do not have access to the grub shell.

[iansjack]

Grub2 does have a command-line interface.

Are you sure you have set sdb as the boot device in the BIOS?

How are you determining that no changes have been made to /dev/sdb?

[snasim2002]

1) my BIOS can boot from a pendrive.
2)the /boot directory is empty, no files are there.

[FallenAvatar]

where is it stated that /boot == /dev/sdb?

[snasim2002]

i meant no files are installed under <my device>/boot/.

i have previously used grub-mkrescue to make ISO9960 readonly images. grub's files were installed in <image>/boot/grub.

[FallenAvatar]

You used 2 different commands (grub-install vs. grub-mkrescue)

What linux distro are you running this on? What version?
What version of grub are you using?
What config files did you create? What is in them?

- Monk

[iansjack]

i meant no files are installed under <my device>/boot/.

You only specified that the mbr be installed on /dev/sdb, no other files. Read the grub2 manual for the correct command.