Can no longer use Grub2 to boot. Must use legacy Grub. package linux-image-4.4.0-77-generic 4.4.0-77.98 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1

[Jim Hargrove]

After using Ubuntu with few problems for the last ten years or so (currently using 16.04 LTS), three or four months ago there was a Grub2 update via the normal update channel, but this time it made my system unbootable. (My system is a DELL XPS ONE 2710 with Intel I7 cpu currently with BIOS A09 and 8Gig RAM and a 1.82 TiB hard drive).

For years on this machine I ran latest Ubuntu and Windows 8/7/10 via an EFI boot. I recently deleted Windows entirely for an Ubuntu-only load, but I can still only boot Ubuntu in BIOS mode with legacy Grub. EFI mode fails consistently regardless of numerous boot variations. Hard drive is formatted entirely as /dev/sda1 ext4 partition with a small /dev/sda2/3 swap partition.

Thank you for the many years I have enjoyed using Ubuntu!!!

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-77-generic 4.4.0-77.98
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-51.54~16.04.1-generic 4.8.17
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-51-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jim 1549 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Wed May 3 11:51:48 2017
Df:
 Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
 /dev/sda1 1919471616 4869004 1817076084 1% /
 udev 1605512 12 1605500 1% /dev
 tmpfs 324212 1280 322932 1% /run
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=3babab5a-5f11-44ec-91fc-35954fc1e51d
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-03 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS One 2710
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: root=UUID=44ffe4ba-9db0-4421-8da5-397dd6f99430 ro quiet splash
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc N/A
SourcePackage: grub
Title: package linux-image-4.4.0-77-generic 4.4.0-77.98 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/27/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A12
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 13
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 00
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA12:bd08/27/2013:svnDellInc.:pnXPSOne2710:pvr00:rvnDellInc.:rn:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct13:cvr00:
dmi.product.name: XPS One 2710
dmi.product.version: 00
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

EFI mode requires an EFI system partition. grub2 also can boot in bios mode. Choosing the "use entire disk" option when you install Ubuntu will set things up correctly.

[Jim Hargrove (jhargrove)]

Thank you Mr. Susi, but I have tried to install Ubuntu with the "use entire disk" option in both EFI and BIOS modes.

After installing in EFI mode, grub2 produces a visible menu, but the machine hangs when any menu entry is selected.

In BIOS mode, after installation the machine boots to either grub rescue or just the grub> prompt.

The only solution I have found is to use the boot-rescue program to repair the grub installation in legacy mode, which seems to install an older kernel. It is a peculiar problem, because I can't find anyone else suffering from it.