new install, partition table messed up, can't install grub

[J_Me]

In brief, I installed kubuntu 14.04.2 but can't install the grub bootloader.

Steps taken
1- built grub on another computer and copied it over to a usb with the kubuntu iso file.(because of UEFI and Atom chips)
2- installed kubuntu with 'guided use whole disk'
3- booted into the fresh install and built grub again but I get an error.

grub error snippet

me@here:~/grub$ cd grub-core
me@here:~/grub/grub-core$ ../grub-install -d . --efi-directory /boot/efi/ --target=i386
Installing for i386-efi platform.
../grub-install: warning: disk does not exist, so falling back to partition device /dev/mmcblk0p1.
../grub-install: warning: disk does not exist, so falling back to partition device /dev/mmcblk0p1.
../grub-install: warning: disk does not exist, so falling back to partition device /dev/mmcblk0p1.
../grub-install: error: disk `hostdisk//dev/mmcblk0p1' not found.
me@here:~/grub/grub-core$

fdisk -l

me@here:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for me:

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/mmcblk0'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 31.3 GB, 31272730624 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3802 cylinders, total 61079552 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb05f7380

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/mmcblk0p1 1 61079551 30539775+ ee GPT

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot1: 4 MB, 4194304 bytes
4 heads, 16 sectors/track, 128 cylinders, total 8192 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot0: 4 MB, 4194304 bytes
4 heads, 16 sectors/track, 128 cylinders, total 8192 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


Disk /dev/sda: 7553 MB, 7553777664 bytes
256 heads, 63 sectors/track, 914 cylinders, total 14753472 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x1da45175

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 4294967295 2147483647+ ee GPT
me@here:~$


I did some poking around with the partition manager and also using a live usb.A couple of things that really stand out is my hard drive is listed as ntfs and that I have a restore partition of 7 gigs with windows files inside. I've taken snapshots as it's difficult to explain what's going on. I can upload the pictures if needed.

Thanks
specs
asus tranformer t100
intel atom processor
32gig SSD

[oldfred]

Fdisk does not work on gpt partitioned drives. Use parted or gdisk.
You have to have gpt partitioned drive to install in UEFI boot mode.
Will you be dual booting with Windows? It only boots in UEFI mode from gpt partitioned drives.

Do not know details of 32 bit UEFI other than originally Linux did not support it and that may be why Windows created a 32 UEFI for 64 bit systems. Just to prevent Linux installs.

Instructions to install Ubuntu 14.10 on ASUS EeeBook X205TA - Atom Bay Trail 32 bit UEFI
https://github.com/lopaka/instructions/blob/master/ubuntu-14.10-install-asus-x205ta.md
Linux 3.15 Kernel Gains EFI Mixed Mode Support
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTY0OTI
Sound issues on Bay Trail
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2255425
New 32 bit UEFI class 3 (no CSM) Only with recompile UEFI/grub/Ubuntu
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2189855

Most of the links in my signature below are just for 64 bit standard installs. But some general info on UEFI may be useful.

[J_Me]

Thanks for the reply
This is what parted says running from a live usb

kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ sudo parted -l
Warning: Unable to open /dev/sda read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sda
has been opened read-only.
Model: USB DISK 2.0 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 7554MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 7553MB 7552MB ntfs Basic data partition hidden, diag


Model: SanDisk Cruzer (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 16.0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 16.0GB 16.0GB fat32 boot


Error: /dev/mmcblk0rpmb: unrecognised disk label

Error: /dev/mmcblk0boot0: unrecognised disk label

Error: /dev/mmcblk0boot1: unrecognised disk label

Model: MMC HBG4e (sd/mmc)
Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 31.3GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB fat32 boot
2 538MB 29.2GB 28.7GB ext4
3 29.2GB 31.3GB 2027MB linux-swap(v1)


kubuntu@kubuntu:~$


Instructions to install Ubuntu 14.10 on ASUS EeeBook X205TA - Atom Bay Trail 32 bit UEFI
Yes that's the tutorial I followed and only got stuck on the last part of installing grub on this machine.

Will you be dual booting with Windows? It only boots in UEFI mode from gpt partitioned drives.
No just kubuntu

You have to have gpt partitioned drive to install in UEFI boot mode.
So what would the easiest thing be. To reinstall kubuntu after I've formatted and partitioned the drive to GPT using parted/gdisk or can I fix the current situation without reinstalling.

Do not know details of 32 bit UEFI other than originally Linux did not support it and that may be why Windows created a 32 UEFI for 64 bit systems. Just to prevent Linux installs.
It's possible, I've heard of microsoft doing underhanded things in the past just out of spite.

Thanks

[oldfred]

It already shows the MMC as gpt partitioned with the FAT32 formatted partition with boot flag to be the ESP - efi system partition.

So drive looks like it is configured correctly. But I do not know about Disk label error?
Try gdisk just to see if it reports different errors or use it to rewrite gpt partition table.
GPT fdisk Tutorial - user srs5694 in forums
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1439794
http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/

[J_Me]

Arrrrrrrgh........ grub installed OK, stupid error on my part.

@oldfred Thanks for your help things look clearer now. So this laptop does have a second internal hard drive and it's used for restoring windows. Sometimes I can't see the wood for the tree's lol.

Thanks again

[turova]

Could you please (always) post the solution now that you've figured it out? I'm making the same stupid error...

Edit: Ahh, right... Needed to use "sudo ../grub-install -d . --efi-directory /boot/efi/ --target=i386".