lubuntu noble install; full disk ; failure to install grub (legacy/BIOS)

[Chris Guiver]

Lubuntu jammy daily QA test install to
- hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 8gb amd/ati rv610/radeon hd2400 pro/xt)

This is an old (2005) machine (upgraded RAM, cpu & gpu only); no uEFI of any kind, thus I did NOT expect any issues with install.

The installation media was booted from VENTOY media, but I wrote the ISO to different thumb-drive using my normal procedure (mkusb & dd write) and it failed with identical message - https://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/450/builds/291294/testcases/1701/results/

** expected result

calamares install completes; reboot & first login

** actual result

Calamares reports

"Installation Failed"
"Bootloader installation error"

Details
---
The bootloader could not be installed. The installation command <pre>grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck --force /dev/sda</pre> returned error code 1.
---

I've had a recent error on an jammy install; this thus could be duplicate; but I'm unsure at this stage. I'll amend when at my primary box & have searched.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: calamares 3.3.0-alpha6-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-9.9-generic 6.5.3
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-9-generic x86_64
.etc.calamares.modules.after_bootloader_context.conf:
 ---
 dontChroot: false
 timeout: 120
 firmwareType:
     "*": "-rm ${ROOT}/home/${USER}/Desktop/lubuntu-calamares.desktop"
.etc.calamares.modules.finished.conf:
 ---
 restartNowMode: user-checked
 restartNowCommand: "systemctl -i reboot"
.etc.calamares.modules.fstab.conf:
 crypttabOptions: luks,keyscript=/bin/cat
 efiMountOptions: umask=0077
.etc.calamares.modules.shellprocess_logs.conf:
 ---
 dontChroot: true
 timeout: 30
 script:
     - calamares-logs-helper ${ROOT}
.etc.calamares.modules.unpackfs.conf:
 ---
 unpack:
     - source: "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.squashfs"
         sourcefs: "squashfs"
         destination: ""
ApportVersion: 2.27.0-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CasperVersion: 1.487
CurrentDesktop: LXQt
Date: Sat Dec 9 18:17:46 2023
LiveMediaBuild: Lubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" - Daily amd64 (20231208)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 calamares-settings-ubuntu-common 1:24.04.8
 calamares-settings-lubuntu 1:24.04.8
 xfsprogs 6.5.0-1ubuntu1
 btrfs-progs 6.3.2-1
SourcePackage: calamares
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

I've experienced this RECENTLY ON an uEFI install; though that was JAMMY and thus may not relate at all
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/calamares/+bug/2045410

(sorry, I forgot which release I was installing when I made this comment/link; even repeated mixups & thus had to amend this later)

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

The original ISO was written to ventoy thumb-drive; and it was that install that created this bug report (ubuntu-bug calamares)

The ISO was written to a different thumb-drive using my default tool (mkusb using `dd` write method) and i had the identical failure.

[sudodus (nio-wiklund)]

Testing the current Lubuntu Jammy iso file (dated Dec 8) in a Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-19W with a generation 3 Intel i5 CPU in BIOS mode (alias CSM alias legacy mode), Swedish, using the whole drive. The drive was previously used with a GUID partition table, GPT, in UEFI mode and Lubuntu Noble installed successfully. Calamares finished successfully and the installed system works. (There is still a GPT on the internal drive.)

So installing in BIOS mode into this computer works. It is old (bought 2013) but newer than the c2d machine where the bug was found.

[sudodus (nio-wiklund)]

Testing the current Lubuntu Noble iso file (dated Dec 8) in a Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-19W with a generation 3 Intel i5 CPU in BIOS mode (alias CSM alias legacy mode), Swedish, using the whole drive. The drive was previously used with a GUID partition table, GPT, in BIOS mode and Lubuntu Jammy installed successfully. Calamares finished with an error message (in Swedish but translated: The boot handler could not be installed ... so matching the original message in the bug description:

The bootloader could not be installed. The installation command <pre>grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck --force /dev/sda</pre> returned error code 1.

So installing in BIOS mode into this computer fails in BIOS mode. It is old (bought 2013) but newer than the c2d machine where the bug was found (and I installed into it in UEFI mode recently.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[sudodus (nio-wiklund)]

affects Noble

[sudodus (nio-wiklund)]

Installing Lubuntu Noble today failed in UEFI mode too (with the same type of error as in BIOS mode):

Starthanterare kunde inte installeras. Installationskommandot <pre>grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=ubuntu --force</pre>returnerade felkod 1.

[Leó Kolbeinsson (leok)]

Another confirm - testing Lubuntu Noble daily ISO dated 08-12-2013

Test machine booting in UEFI+secure boot mode and failed with error - boot loader installation error.

[Julian Andres Klode (juliank)]

This should be fixed in the the 12ubuntu4 grub that just migrated and be a duplicate of

https://launchpad.net/bugs/2045944

[Simon Quigley (tsimonq2)]

Thank you for your help, Julian!

[Chris Guiver (guiverc)]

My ISO manifest showed on ISO

grub-common 2.12~rc1-12ubuntu3
grub-gfxpayload-lists 0.7
grub-pc 2.12~rc1-12ubuntu3
grub-pc-bin 2.12~rc1-12ubuntu3
grub2-common 2.12~rc1-12ubuntu3

so fingers crossed :)

[sudodus (nio-wiklund)]

Testing the current Lubuntu Noble iso file (dated Dec 10 01:29 CET) in a Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-19W with a generation 3 Intel i5 CPU in UEFI as well as BIOS mode (alias CSM alias legacy mode), Swedish, using the whole drive. The drive was previously used with a GUID partition table, GPT, in UEFI mode. Calamares finished successfully and the installed system works. (There is still a GPT on the internal drive.)

Bugfix comfirmed :-)