grub-install failed /dev/sda fatal error

[elliotn]

I installed Ubuntu 12.10 alpha 2 and got this problem at the end of d installation. I now sit with an installed Ubuntu with no bootloader..... I tried millions of times from other liveCD of ubuntu 10.10 12.04 to reinstall grub but still grub won't install. anyone help plz

[elliotn]

no help

[lemming465]

I get the best results in these scenarios by using a live CD that matches the new install, combined with chroot. E.g.

0. Ideally, update your live boot media to something more recent than alpha2 first; if bandwidth is an issue, try using zsync and a daily image from cdimage.ubuntu.com. Write back if you need more directions for that.

1. Boot your 12.10 live media, and open a terminal window

2. Run sudo fdisk -lu or sudo parted -l to see what the device names and partition numbers are. I'll assume your Linux root partition is /dev/sda3 in what follows; adjust as necessary.

3. Mount the root and/or boot partitions of the new install, starting with root. e.g.

sudo -i
mkdir /fixme
mount /dev/sda3 /fixme

4. Prep a chroot environment, still all as root

cd /fixme
for fs in proc sys dev; do
  mkdir $fs
  mount -o bind /$fs $fs
done
chroot .

If /boot is a separate mount point, you'll need to do something about that now, e.g. mkdir /boot; mount /dev/sdaXX /boot.

5. Now fix grub. I'm assuming you want it on that MBR of the first disk

grub-install /dev/sda

[grahammechanical]

The best that I can offer is this link

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/gru...mentation.html

A lot depends on the partitioning table scheme used by windows 7. You are using 12.10 Alpha and that uses Grub 1.99. Whereas 12.10 now uses Grub 2.0. and there are differences. Grub 2.0 might be able to cope better with the partitioning table schemes of Windows 7 than Grub 1.99 does.

See this link for the issues with dual booting with Windows 7 and Grub 1.99

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2070332

Regards.

[elliotn]

i get the best results in these scenarios by using a live cd that matches the new install, combined with chroot. E.g.
0. Ideally, update your live boot media to something more recent than alpha2 first; if bandwidth is an issue, try using zsync and a daily image from cdimage.ubuntu.com. Write back if you need more directions for that.

1. Boot your 12.10 live media, and open a terminal window

2. Run sudo fdisk -lu or sudo parted -l to see what the device names and partition numbers are. I'll assume your linux root partition is /dev/sda3 in what follows; adjust as necessary.

3. Mount the root and/or boot partitions of the new install, starting with root. E.g.

sudo -i
mkdir /fixme
mount /dev/sda3 /fixme

4. Prep a chroot environment, still all as root

cd /fixme
for fs in proc sys dev; do
  mkdir $fs
  mount -o bind /$f $f
done
chroot .

if /boot is a separate mount point, you'll need to do something about that now, e.g. mkdir /boot; mount /dev/sdaxx /boot.

5. Now fix grub. I'm assuming you want it on that mbr of the first disk

here is what i get after follwing your direction... My ubuntu is in /dev/sda5

grub-install /dev/sda

buntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo -i
root@ubuntu:~# mkdir /fixme
mkdir: Cannot create directory `/fixme': File exists
root@ubuntu:~# mount /dev/sda5 /fixme
root@ubuntu:~# cd /fixme
root@ubuntu:/fixme# for fs in proc sys dev; do
> mkdir $fs
> mount -o bind /$f $f
> done
mkdir: Cannot create directory `proc': File exists
mount: Special device overlayfs does not exist
mkdir: Cannot create directory `sys': File exists
mount: Special device overlayfs does not exist
mkdir: Cannot create directory `dev': File exists
mount: Special device overlayfs does not exist
root@ubuntu:/fixme# chroot
chroot: Missing operand
try `chroot --help' for more information.
Root@ubuntu:/fixme#

1

[swissinvestor]

http://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/GRUB_2/Reparatur

Sorry, it's German but if you run it through a translator it should be no problem. I
I had a broken Grub2 but with copy/paste from this "how to repair Grub2" I could fix the problem within minutes. I had to use the Live DVD as I was unable to start the system at all.

[lemming465]

Sorry, at step 4 that should have been:

cd /fixme
for fs in proc sys dev ; do
  mkdir $fs
  mount -o bind /$fs $fs
done
chroot .

Note: the "." in "chroot ." matters; alternatively one could do "chroot /fixme". That's the directory name, not punctuation.

[fab.head]

I installed Ubuntu 12.10 alpha 2 and got this problem at the end of d installation. I now sit with an installed Ubuntu with no bootloader..... I tried millions of times from other liveCD of ubuntu 10.10 12.04 to reinstall grub but still grub won't install. anyone help plz

Could it be that you installed Ubuntu in BIOS/MBR mode on an EFI/GPT system?

A similar error happened to me some time ago on a UX31A: I didn't select UEFI at boot (by mistake), and at the end of the installation I got the very same error message (and no GRUB installed).

I then rebooted with the Escape key pressed to change the boot order (on your computer it may be a different key, e.g. F9 or something else) and set the system to boot from a USB stick in UEFI mode. The installation was just fine then.

[elliotn]

Sorry, at step 4 that should have been:

cd /fixme
for fs in proc sys dev ; do
  mkdir $fs
  mount -o bind /$fs $fs
done
chroot .

Note: the "." in "chroot ." matters; alternatively one could do "chroot /fixme". That's the directory name, not punctuation.

chroot: failed to run command '/bin/bash' : No such file or directory

[lemming465]

What does

df -m
cat /proc/mounts
ls /fixme

show after the mount /dev/sdXX in step 3?