Ubuntu install not working

Conanius · 9 May 2012 at 21:15

having a total mare trying to install Ubuntu

Trying to install from CD the latest 64bit release on a 4 Drive RAID 5 array. Tried in AHCI and RAID setting in the BIOS, drive array set to bootable, etc

I will get the whole way through the install and then get the error

Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda

Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda' failed.

This is a fatal error

I've had a quick look round the net, but nothing is screaming at me THIS IS THE PROBLEM!

Am I being retarded?

KIA · 9 May 2012 at 21:42

Have you tried manually installing the boot loader from the live CD?

Conanius · 10 May 2012 at 19:16

mind expelling how to do that please?

Bigsy · 10 May 2012 at 19:27

You using the auto partitioning? If so do it manually just select manual when asked in the installer.

1. Create a small 500mb partition as ext4 and set as your \boot partition

2. Make another partition as swap, you can choose your own size but if you intend to hibernate it will need to be bigger than your ram amount.

3. Create your other normal mount points, the simplest being is to use the rest of the disk space formatted as ext4 and mount it as \

Conanius · 10 May 2012 at 20:51

Hi Bigsy,

Did as you said, no joy... exactly the same error.

I had been doing auto partitioning ....

Bigsy · 10 May 2012 at 21:17

In which case you will have to resort to doing what KIA suggested and manually installing grub on your raid array and not /dev/sda.

I'll have a quick look for a guide...

EDIT: You'll have to have ago at the suggested workarounds here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1559762

inSilica · 11 May 2012 at 18:19

Bigsy said:
You using the auto partitioning? If so do it manually just select manual when asked in the installer.

1. Create a small 500mb partition as ext4 and set as your \boot partition

2. Make another partition as swap, you can choose your own size but if you intend to hibernate it will need to be bigger than your ram amount.

3. Create your other normal mount points, the simplest being is to use the rest of the disk space formatted as ext4 and mount it as \

500mb

How many kernels you planning on running? Mine is 32mb and I can fit 2-3 kernels comfortably.

Also I would choose ext2 as the partition format for boot.

For the swap space I don't have any, depends how much RAM you have. I don't have any swap space. If I want some I could easily create / mount a swap space.

And ext4 is the way to go unless your planning one of the partitions for multimedia / video

Bigsy · 11 May 2012 at 18:26

The reason I gave them is because this error has been reported when you have boot formatted as ext2 and also on small boot partitions.

Heres one thread on it: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1863379

Conanius · 12 May 2012 at 20:59

I'm having no joy here... I thought Linux was supposed to be easy now ?

Other than Ubuntu, what's worth giving a go? Fedora core ?

Conanius · 13 May 2012 at 11:33

Ok.

So I got rage, and installed Linux Mint.

Exactly the same error at the end. Anyone have a scooby about what is wrong? its a P35 motherboard with onboard RAID that I've got the 4 drive RAID 5 array installed on. Everything worked perfectly before I removed windows.

Bigsy · 13 May 2012 at 14:50

It's because /dev/sda isn't your raid drive.

Have your tried this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9923813&postcount=6 ?

Conanius · 13 May 2012 at 20:47

That last guide worked a treat, thanks bigsy