GrubInstaller failed with code 1 (writing to SATA)

[Buteman]

Binary package hint: grub-installer

I have 3 hard discs in my machine. hd0 hd1 and sd0
hd0 had winXp on it
hd1 has data on it sdb is a 1Gig usb stick.
I installed Edgy Eft to sd0 with grub-install writing to hd0 (mbr I guess?)
I could select either to boot.
I also had another disc which has Mandriva 2006 on it.
I used it to replace hd0 and then edited /boot/grub/menu.lst so I could choose either Mandriva or Ubuntu. This also worked without trouble.
I want to remove my pata discs so with Mandiva and Ubuntu on hd0 and sd0
I booted up from the Egdy Eft live disc and tried installing edgy eft to my sata drive. I selected sd0/use whole disc and when it summerised what it was going to do I changed the option for grub on hd0 to sd0.

It failed to do this, however I can still boot and select ubuntu from the original.

I have left out parts of syslog which do not seem relevent and also most of the iterations appearing in /var/log/partman
( They seem to just repeat the same information )
Here is the error report from the crash:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 166, in ?
    main()
  File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 161, in main
    install(sys.argv[1])
  File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 57, in install
    ret = wizard.run()
  File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 305, in run
    self.process_step()
  File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 856, in process_step
    self.progress_loop()
  File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 628, in progress_loop
    raise RuntimeError, ("Install failed with exit code %s\n%s" %
RuntimeError: Install failed with exit code 1

/var/log/syslog
Dec 13 22:34:42 ubuntu linux-boot-prober: debug: running /usr/lib/linux-boot-probes/mounted
Dec 13 22:34:42 ubuntu grub-installer: info: Installing grub on '(sd0)'
Dec 13 22:34:42 ubuntu grub-installer: info: grub-install supports --no-floppy
Dec 13 22:34:42 ubuntu grub-installer: info: Running chroot /target /sbin/grub-install --no-floppy "(sd0)"
Dec 13 22:34:42 ubuntu grub-installer: Probing devices to guess BIOS drives. This may take a long time.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: Format of install_device not recognized.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: Usage: grub-install [OPTION] install_device
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: Install GRUB on your drive.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer:
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: -h, --help print this message and exit
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: -v, --version print the version information and exit
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --root-directory=DIR install GRUB images under the directory DIR
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: instead of the root directory
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --grub-shell=FILE use FILE as the grub shell
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --no-floppy do not probe any floppy drive
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --force-lba force GRUB to use LBA mode even for a buggy
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: BIOS
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --recheck probe a device map even if it already exists
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer:
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: INSTALL_DEVICE can be a GRUB device name or a system device filename.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer:
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: grub-install copies GRUB images into the DIR/boot directory specfied by
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: --root-directory, and uses the grub shell to install grub into the boot
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: sector.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer:
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: Report bugs to <email address hidden>.
Dec 13 22:34:43 ubuntu grub-installer: error: Running 'grub-install --no-floppy "(sd0)"' failed.
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: ubiquity: ['log-output', '-t', 'ubiquity', '--pass-stdout', '/usr/share/grub-installer/grub-installer', '/target'] exited with code 1
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: Exception during installation:
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: Traceback (most recent call last):
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 1404, in ?
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: install.run()
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 385, in run
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: self.configure_bootloader()
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 1163, in configure_bootloader
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: raise InstallStepError(
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python: InstallStepError: GrubInstaller failed with code 1
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu python:
Dec 13 22:34:49 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: ubiquity: ['log-output', '-t', 'ubiquity', '--pass-stdout', '/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py'] exited with code 1
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: debconffilter_done: Install (current: None)
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: Exception in GTK frontend (invoking crash handler):
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: Traceback (most recent call last):
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 166, in ?
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: main()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 161, in main
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: install(sys.argv[1])
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/bin/ubiquity", line 57, in install
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: ret = wizard.run()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 305, in run
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: self.process_step()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 856, in process_step
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: self.progress_loop()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/frontend/gtkui.py", line 628, in progress_loop
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: raise RuntimeError, ("Install failed with exit code %s\n%s" %
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: RuntimeError: Install failed with exit code 1
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: Traceback (most recent call last):
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 1404, in ?
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: install.run()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 385, in run
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: self.configure_bootloader()
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/install.py", line 1163, in configure_bootloader
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: raise InstallStepError(
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]: InstallStepError: GrubInstaller failed with code 1
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu ubiquity[27421]:
Dec 13 22:34:50 ubuntu last message repeated 2 times

/var/log/partman

parted_server: Closing infifo and outfifo
parted_server: main_loop: iteration 398
parted_server: Opening infifo
/lib/partman/finish.d/70aptinstall_xfs: *******************************************************
/lib/partman/finish.d/70aptinstall_xfs: IN: PARTITIONS =dev=hda
parted_server: Read command: PARTITIONS
parted_server: command_partitions()
parted_server: Opening outfifo
parted_server: OUT: OK

parted_server: OUT: 1 32256-1061061119 1061028864 primary linux-swap /dev/hda1

parted_server: OUT: 2 1061061120-6432168959 5371107840 primary ext3 /dev/hda2

parted_server: OUT: 5 6432201216-38650590719 32218389504 logical ext3 /dev/hda5

parted_server: OUT: 6 38650622976-39177008639 526385664 logical ext3 /dev/hda6

parted_server: OUT: 7 39177040896-60653214719 21476173824 logical ext3 /dev/hda7

parted_server: OUT: 8 60653246976-71387205119 10733958144 logical ext3 /dev/hda8

parted_server: OUT: 9 71387237376-120047961599 48660724224 logical ext3 /dev/hda9

parted_server: OUT: -1 120047961600-120056186879 8225280 pri/log free /dev/hda-1

parted_server: Partitions printed
parted_server: OUT:

parted_server: Closing infifo and outfifo
parted_server: main_loop: iteration 399
parted_server: Opening infifo
/lib/partman/finish.d/70aptinstall_xfs: IN: PARTITIONS =dev=hdb
parted_server: Read command: PARTITIONS
parted_server: command_partitions()
parted_server: Opening outfifo
parted_server: OUT: OK

parted_server: OUT: 1 32256-60022480895 60022448640 primary ext3 /dev/hdb1

parted_server: Partitions printed
parted_server: OUT:

parted_server: Closing infifo and outfifo
parted_server: main_loop: iteration 400
parted_server: Opening infifo
/lib/partman/finish.d/70aptinstall_xfs: IN: PARTITIONS =dev=sda
parted_server: Read command: PARTITIONS
parted_server: command_partitions()
parted_server: Opening outfifo
parted_server: OUT: OK

parted_server: OUT: 1 32256-160820674559 160820642304 primary ext2 /dev/sda1

parted_server: OUT: 5 160820706816-163921605119 3100898304 logical linux-swap /dev/sda5

parted_server: Partitions printed
parted_server: OUT:

parted_server: Closing infifo and outfifo
parted_server: main_loop: iteration 401
parted_server: Opening infifo
/lib/partman/finish.d/70aptinstall_xfs: IN: PARTITIONS =dev=sdb
parted_server: Read command: PARTITIONS
parted_server: command_partitions()
parted_server: Opening outfifo
parted_server: OUT: OK

parted_server: OUT: 1 16384-1039663103 1039646720 primary fat16 /dev/sdb1

parted_server: Partitions printed
parted_server: OUT:

parted_server: Closing infifo and outfifo
parted_server: main_loop: iteration 402
parted_server: Opening infifo
/lib/partman/finish.d/80parted: *******************************************************
/lib/partman/finish.d/80parted: IN: QUIT
parted_server: Read command: QUIT
parted_server: Quitting

----------------
Added by Duncan-Lithgow so it can be edited:
These bugs all have probelms installing GRUB on a SATA disc. Some with PATA present, some without. I do not have enough technical understanding to find exact duplicates.
Bug #8497 bug #75676 bug #32357 bug #110292

[Mike Dahlgren (dahlgren)]

Since there have been no updates on this bug and edgy is no longer supported, I was wondering if this is still an issue or can you reproduce it with a newer release?

 Thanks,
     ~ Mike

[knuckles (general-subnetsystems)]

I have no further issues or information to report. Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of Mike
Dahlgren
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 1:22 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 75676] Re: GrubInstaller failed with code 1 (writing to SATA)

Since there have been no updates on this bug and edgy is no longer
supported, I was wondering if this is still an issue or can you reproduce it
with a newer release?

 Thanks,
     ~ Mike

--
GrubInstaller failed with code 1 (writing to SATA)
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/75676
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7:07 AM

[Mike Dahlgren (dahlgren)]

I'm closing out this issue since it has most likely been fixed. If anything is found to the contrary, please re-open.
Thanks,
     ` Mike