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SOLVED - "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

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    SOLVED - "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

    Installing Kubuntu Feisty Fawn from LiveCD (32-bit non-Alternate). I have a single 120GB HD, preinstalled with Windows Vista. I've already shrunk the partition and set up the unallocated space for Linux with GParted. My disk layout:

    Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
    255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
    Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

    Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
    /dev/sda1 1 192 1536000 27 Unknown
    Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
    /dev/sda2 * 192 7604 59541504 7 HPFS/NTFS
    /dev/sda3 7605 8648 8385930 83 Linux
    /dev/sda4 8649 14593 47753212+ 5 Extended
    /dev/sda5 8649 14332 45656698+ 83 Linux
    /dev/sda6 14333 14593 2096451 82 Linux swap / Solaris

    On step 6 of 6, I click the Advanced button. The default GRUB installation location is given as (hd0,0). I don't want GRUB installed into the MBR, so I change it to (sd0,2) in order to have it installed on my / partition (/dev/sda3). When the installation gets to the point where GRUB is to be installed, I get:

    "Unable to install GRUB in (sd0,2). Executing 'grub-install (sd0,2)' failed. This is a fatal error."

    Why? If my HD was an IDE, then fdisk would identify it as /dev/hda. As it is a SATA, fdisk reports it as /dev/sda, so why does the installation have a problem putting GRUB on (sd0,2) as I tell it to? Am I missing something in my understanding of how to designate a drive/partition for GRUB?
    Windows no longer obstructs my view.
    Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
    "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

    #2
    Re: "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

    Grub only knows "HD". It doesn't recognize "SD". Try hd0,2.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

      Originally posted by Detonate
      Grub only knows "HD". It doesn't recognize "SD". Try hd0,2.
      Okay. Googled and came up with:

      http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/man...ing-convention

      So fdisk gives drive-type specifications while GRUB only has one - hdx,x. I'll try the installation again, and specify hd0,2.
      Windows no longer obstructs my view.
      Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
      "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

      Comment


        #4
        Re: "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

        A little more explanation.

        To Grub:
        sda1=hd0,0
        sda2=hd0,1
        sda3=hd0,2
        sda4=hd0,3
        sda5=hd0,4
        sda6=hd0,5

        Comment


          #5
          Re: "Unable to install GRUB ... This is a fatal error."

          Specifying (hd0,2) worked. I have "Installation complete" and am preparing to check it all out.

          Thanks for pointing out the simple correction.
          Windows no longer obstructs my view.
          Using Kubuntu Linux since March 23, 2007.
          "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." - Sherlock Holmes

          Comment

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