Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda5' failed. This is a fatal error

Question

I apologize in advance for my bad english. I was trying to dual boot Windows 7 and Kubuntu 11.10, and i get this error 'Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda5' failed. This is a fatal error.'. every time when i try install GRUB on boot partition.Tried this on my desktop and laptop and always get this error. Hope anyone can help.Thanks!

Answer 1

Grub is installed on the hard drive, not on the partition. I'm assuming you want to create a seperate partition to mount on /boot, but grub-install should be used on a drive (/dev/sda in this particular case), not on a partition.

As long as you set everything right (mountpoints, that is), grub-install will automatically detect your settings and adjust itself accordingly.

Answer 2

ok do this: with a live cd

   sudo fdisk -l

to know where is installed you linux

   sudo mount /dev/sdaX/ mnt

X is where your kubuntu is installed

then

   sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt/ /dev/sda

then reboot normally and then

do this

   sudo update-grub

Answer 3

Here is how it worked for me:

Choose Try Ubuntu without installation

The system boots up with desktop on which there is Install Ubuntu copy the command of this icon (right click - properties - command)

Now open a terminal and do

sudo bash

run the copied command from here (I think the command was as below)

ubiquity %k ubuntu-desktop

And success.

I was installing 11.10 x64 on my desktop considering dual-boot where Windows XP x64 is already installed. I had kept provision of a boot partition in advance. The installation order does not matter.

/sda1 /boot 260M (primary)

/sda2 win-xp     (primary)
..
(2 more logical partitions)
..
/sda7 /    10g
/sda8 swap

While I was trying to install Ubuntu, I was getting fatal error while installing grub on /dev/sda1. I tried on /dev/sda without success.

Then I employed to run the installation from root shell. It worked.