dual boot but grub not installed in MBR

[mme oscar]

Hi all,

I just did a fresh install of Windows 7 and then Ubuntu 12.04 (because of this problem (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2013754)). My problem is that grub did not install in the MBR (Windows starts automatically). I'm able to boot in Ubuntu using the Ultimate boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) and "Super Grub 2", which easily finds the grub config file on /dev/sda6.

So I tried the usual


sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda

but still nothing.

I saw several threads about the same subject but they were quite complex cases, whereas I don't see anything special in my config?
and it's not the first time I install an Ubuntu with this kind of config. am I missing something stupid?

Also don't know if that matters but I did the installation using a USB drive (I checked that my hard drive was /dev/sda, anyway that should have worked the second time at least).

Here is the bootinfoscript output:


Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 122,882,047 122,880,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 122,882,048 368,642,047 245,760,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 368,642,048 625,141,759 256,499,712 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 368,644,096 471,044,095 102,400,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 471,046,144 544,774,143 73,728,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 544,776,192 618,504,191 73,728,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 618,506,240 625,141,759 6,635,520 82 Linux swap / Solaris


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 781A64FB3C86B129 ntfs
/dev/sda2 7D9A7E49385BFDF9 ntfs shared
/dev/sda5 a05e448e-1a28-4939-8fa7-e4fb216f0da7 ext4 data
/dev/sda6 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ext4
/dev/sda7 3634f488-e56a-4df9-866f-509d4744d644 ext4 linux2
/dev/sda8 8aa76b03-2f9a-4bb2-a42a-ade389eaefd4 swap

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda1 /media/windows fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
/dev/sda2 /media/shared fuseblk (rw,nosuid,nodev,allow_other,default_permissions,b lksize=4096)
/dev/sda5 /media/data ext4 (rw)
/dev/sda6 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sda7 /media/linux2 ext4 (rw)


=========================== sda6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_IE
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 781A64FB3C86B129
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /media/data was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=a05e448e-1a28-4939-8fa7-e4fb216f0da7 /media/data ext4 defaults 0 2
# /media/linux2 was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=3634f488-e56a-4df9-866f-509d4744d644 /media/linux2 ext4 defaults 0 2
# /media/shared was on /dev/sda2 during installation
UUID=7D9A7E49385BFDF9 /media/shared ntfs defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 0
# /media/windows was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=781A64FB3C86B129 /media/windows ntfs defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 0
# swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=8aa76b03-2f9a-4bb2-a42a-ade389eaefd4 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

242.835166931 = 260.742275072 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
226.026367188 = 242.693963776 boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic 2
226.745834351 = 243.466485760 boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic 1
226.026367188 = 242.693963776 initrd.img 2
226.745834351 = 243.466485760 vmlinuz 1




Thanks for your help!

[oldfred]

Boot script looks normal except that you do not have grub2's boot loader in the MBR (and core.img) in / (root).

This command should have installed grub2's boot loader correctly. Did it report any errors?

sudo grub-install /dev/sda

Another bit more complete way:

#to get grub2 to remember where to reinstall on updates:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc
#Enter thru first pages,spacebar to choose/unchoose drive, enter to accept, do not choose partitions

And it that does not work, you could try uninstalling & reinstalling. If you can boot you do not need liveCD.

HOWTO: Purge and Reinstall Grub 2 from the Live CD
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1581099


If you prefer a gui, this often helps you find issues and offers repairs.

Boot Repair -Also handles LVM, GPT and separate /boot.:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
You can repair many boot issues with this or 'Create BootInfo' report (Other Options) & post the link it creates, so we can see your exact configuration.

[mme oscar]

Boot script looks normal except that you do not have grub2's boot loader in the MBR (and core.img) in / (root).

This command should have installed grub2's boot loader correctly. Did it report any errors?


there were no errors:


sudo grub-install /dev/sda
Installation finished. No error reported.



Another bit more complete way:

#to get grub2 to remember where to reinstall on updates:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc
#Enter thru first pages,spacebar to choose/unchoose drive, enter to accept, do not choose partitions


Yes, this works! except that I had to install the package using

sudo apt-get install grub-pc

and then when I rebooted the grub menu was there.

I'd like to understand what happened: is it normal that this package was not installed? Could it be what caused the problem?

Thank you very much!

[oldfred]

Glad that worked.

Not sure why, did you by any chance have grub legacy installed not grub2 (grub-pc) or even grub-efi? Not sure how it would not have grub2 installed. Both use grub install the same, I think, but I do not know why the original command did not complain either?

[efflandt]

Many people seem to have a similar problem, and when I used "Other" for partitioning during install, it seemed to default to something other than sda. It might be interesting to run bootinfoscript with the USB you booted from for install attached and see if grub was installed to that.

[mme oscar]

ok, so in order to see what happened I did a second installation on a different partition using exactly the same process. Indeed I select the "Other" partitioning, and this time I carefully checked that the target device for grub was /dev/sda -> at the beginning it was /dev/sdb (not totally sure, the USB drive anyway) but once I had selected the partition it automatically changed to /dev/sda.
However the result was the same: grub was not installed in the MBR (I would have been able to see the difference, simply because I had changed the time out for the one installed earlier).



Not sure why, did you by any chance have grub legacy installed not grub2 (grub-pc) or even grub-efi? Not sure how it would not have grub2 installed. Both use grub install the same, I think, but I do not know why the original command did not complain either?I don't know what are these different versions of grub but here are the grub* packages installed right after the process:


erwan@erwan-R530:~$ dpkg --get-selections | grep grub
grub-common install
grub-efi install
grub-efi-amd64 install
grub-efi-amd64-bin install
grub2-common install


It might be interesting to run bootinfoscript with the USB you booted from for install attached and see if grub was installed to that.
and here is the bootinfoscript output with the USB attached:



Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos6)/boot/grub on this drive.
=> Syslinux MBR (4.04 and higher) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7: NTFS
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab

sda8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: SYSLINUX 4.06 4.06-pre1
Boot sector info: Syslinux looks at sector 11007680 of /dev/sdb1 for
its second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the
directory. No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /syslinux/syslinux.cfg
/efi/boot/bootx64.efi /ldlinux.sys

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 122,882,047 122,880,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 122,882,048 368,642,047 245,760,000 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda3 368,642,048 625,141,759 256,499,712 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 368,644,096 471,044,095 102,400,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 471,046,144 544,774,143 73,728,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 544,776,192 618,504,191 73,728,000 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 618,506,240 625,141,759 6,635,520 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sdb: 8000 MB, 8000110592 bytes
160 heads, 19 sectors/track, 5139 cylinders, total 15625216 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 32 15,625,215 15,625,184 b W95 FAT32


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 781A64FB3C86B129 ntfs
/dev/sda2 7D9A7E49385BFDF9 ntfs shared
/dev/sda5 a05e448e-1a28-4939-8fa7-e4fb216f0da7 ext4 data
/dev/sda6 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ext4
/dev/sda7 ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 ext4
/dev/sda8 8aa76b03-2f9a-4bb2-a42a-ade389eaefd4 swap
/dev/sdb1 E03B-7886 vfat PENDRIVE

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda7 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro)
/dev/sdb1 /media/PENDRIVE vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed ,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush,uhelper=udisks)


=========================== sda6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_IE
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=60
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 781A64FB3C86B129
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (on /dev/sda7)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda7)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 ro recovery nomodeset
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UUID=781A64FB3C86B129 /media/windows ntfs-3g umask=007 0 0
UUID=7D9A7E49385BFDF9 /media/shared ntfs-3g umask=007 0 0
UUID=a05e448e-1a28-4939-8fa7-e4fb216f0da7 /media/data ext4 defaults 0 2
UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 / ext4 defaults 0 1
UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 /media/linux2 ext4 defaults 0 0
UUID=8aa76b03-2f9a-4bb2-a42a-ade389eaefd4 swap swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

242.939407349 = 260.854202368 boot/grub/core.img 1
242.939376831 = 260.854169600 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
226.026367188 = 242.693963776 boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic 2
226.745834351 = 243.466485760 boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic 1
226.026367188 = 242.693963776 initrd.img 2
226.745834351 = 243.466485760 vmlinuz 1

=========================== sda7/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_IE
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "${linux_gfx_mode}" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
echo 'Loading Linux 3.2.0-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 781A64FB3C86B129
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (on /dev/sda6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 3.2.0-23-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic root=UUID=59b6ce17-6b15-4bbc-a70a-5cf6857f09a7 ro recovery nomodeset
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda7/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=ae2f5a06-7cf8-4880-94c6-564bc239ffb6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=8aa76b03-2f9a-4bb2-a42a-ade389eaefd4 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

278.156070709 = 298.667806720 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
261.308593750 = 280.577966080 boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-23-generic 2
273.903060913 = 294.101172224 boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-23-generic 1
261.308593750 = 280.577966080 initrd.img 2
273.903060913 = 294.101172224 vmlinuz 1

=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if loadfont /boot/grub/font.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod gfxterm
terminal_output gfxterm
fi

set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray

menuentry "Try Ubuntu without installing" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Install Ubuntu" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Check disc for defects" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper integrity-check quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

========================= sdb1/syslinux/syslinux.cfg: ==========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# D-I config version 2.0
include menu.cfg
default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 50

# If you would like to use the new menu and be presented with the option to install or run from USB at startup, remove # from the following line. This line was commented out (by request of many) to allow the old menu to be presented and to enable booting straight into the Live Environment!
# ui gfxboot bootlogo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

?? = ?? boot/grub/grub.cfg 1

================= sdb1: Location of files loaded by Syslinux: ==================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

?? = ?? ldlinux.sys 1
?? = ?? syslinux/chain.c32 1
?? = ?? syslinux/gfxboot.c32 1
?? = ?? syslinux/syslinux.cfg 1
?? = ?? syslinux/vesamenu.c32 1

============== sdb1: Version of COM32(R) files used by Syslinux: ===============

syslinux/chain.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)
syslinux/gfxboot.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)
syslinux/vesamenu.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

xz: (stdin): Compressed data is corrupt
I can give you more feedback about my config if you tell me what to do. (and probably only tomorrow because I'm going to bed now!)

[oldfred]

For whatever reason you are getting grub-efi, not the grub2 or grub-pc.

Because you do not have the efi partition nor booting with UEFI grub-efi will not correctly install. It really seems like a bug that it is not correctly identifying UEFI or are you not selecting the BIOS/AHCI/legacy version. It has to be installing the efi version to have grub-efi.

I install with BIOS but gpt partitions with an extra bios_grub partition. And I have grub-pc


fred@fred-Precise:~$ dpkg --get-selections | grep grub
grub-common install
grub-gfxpayload-lists install
grub-pc install
grub-pc-bin install
grub-rescue-pc install
grub2-common install

[YannBuntu]

Hello
This is a severe bug that we should report to GRUB devs.

@mme oscar: Please could you create a bug report here (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+filebug), with
* title "Ubiquity installs grub-efi on non-GPT disk"
* description : description of the problem + link to this thread + your full BootInfo URL (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info) (created from your Ubuntu CD)
* attached files: /var/log/installer/syslog and /var/log/installer/partman files which are in your installed Ubuntu.

Then indicate the link to your report here so that we follow it. Thanks!

[mme oscar]

Hello
This is a severe bug that we should report to GRUB devs.

@mme oscar: Please could you create a bug report here (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+filebug), with
* title "Ubiquity installs grub-efi on non-GPT disk"
* description : description of the problem + link to this thread + your full BootInfo URL (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info) (created from your Ubuntu CD)
* attached files: /var/log/installer/syslog and /var/log/installer/partman files which are in your installed Ubuntu.

Then indicate the link to your report here so that we follow it. Thanks!

Done, the bug report is at
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1026616

don't know if I should mark this thread as solved now?

[darkod]

Make sure you are not booting the cd/usb in uefi mode. Newer boards with uefi options seem to have all boot devices twice, a "standard" bios mode version and uefi version.

The ubuntu cd/usb can be booted as both, so if in the boot devices list cd-rom (uefi) is before cd-rom (normal), it will boot it in uefi mode in which case it will try to install grub-efi (and it seems it successfully is).
But since you are not using uefi boot and have no uefi system partition, you can't boot like that, it's incomplete.

[oldfred]

If system is working, you can change to "solved".

And thanks for reinstalling and confirming that it was installing grub-efi not grub-pc. Bug report should help developers and knowing the issue will help those of us in the forum suggest the work around to others with the same issue.

[YannBuntu]

Done, the bug report is at
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1026616

Thanks!