refit and grub issues on install

**PhysMeistro** · July 19th, 2009

Seems like a good discussion for me to join.

I'm having the exact same problems as Frank B. I recently upgraded to a new Barracuda 1.5 TB drive (but I don't think that would be the problem since hard drive failure seems to be their most commonly reported flaw).

I got the grub fatal error upon installation as well (trying to install to sda3). Booting from live CD, I type

Code:

sudo grub
root (hd0,2)

I get

Code:

Error 18: Selected cylinder exceeds maximum supported by BIOS

Then I try

Code:

find /boot/grub/stage1

and get

Code:

Error 15: File not found

Any help would be appreciated. And cyberdork, just so you know, you saved me when I triple booted this machine last December. I'm hoping you can work your magic here, too. Thanks.

-Zac

**Brightbelt** · August 3rd, 2009

Hi,
This thread is slightly dated, so I thought I'd *Bump* this in case there is any new news or new developments that may have come along to help this issue.

Many Thanks, Frank B.

**pxwpxw** · August 3rd, 2009

If you have nothing to lose, it could be worth installing karmic amd64 alpha3 using the Desktop CD, to get the default grub2 (grub-pc) install, which should be smarter about drives than old grub1 you seem to have.

Daily build Desktop CD (or the Alternate)
http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/alpha-3/

http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/releases/...ktop-amd64.iso

I have just now installed using the karmic Desktop CD on IMAC81 but with single HD. I am using it now after restart. The alpha3 comes with some bugs, but should be enough to show if grub2 is the answer. Need to use the Custom/Manual partitioning.