ASUS X205TA - Unable to install GRUB in /dev/mmcblk2

[F.M. Woudstra]

I am trying tot install ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 on a ASUS EeeBook X205TA, but nearly at the end the installation process stops with the message:

   Running ¨grub-install/dev//mmcblk2"...

   Unable to install GRUB in /dev/mmcblk2
   Executing ǵrubb-install/dev/mmcblk2" failed
   This is a fatal error

After that, the installation process generates and sends an debug report to Ubuntu.

Possible cause: The ASUS X205TA needs a 32 bit UEFI bootloader, while its processor an operatingystem are 64 bit.

Apparently the ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 installation does not yet include this 32bit UEFI bootloader option, e.g. choice 64 bit UEFI bootloader(default) and 32 bit UEFI bootloader (optional).

So in summary the ASUS X205TA and similar computers needs ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 with a 32 bit bootloader.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
Package: ubiquity 22.04.19
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.19.0-32.33~22.04.1-generic 5.19.17
Uname: Linux 5.19.0-32-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.3
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CasperVersion: 1.470.2
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Aug 4 16:31:45 2023
InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash ---
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64 (20230223)
RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
SourcePackage: grub-installer
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Steve (sasqu40)]

Experienced same as OP. Used bootia32.efi to boot off USB. Was able to successfully install 20.04 so confirmed that recent versions will work/install on this device. Seems like a bug was introduced since that release.

[F.M. Woudstra (efenemenwe)]

Hello Steve,

Like you now, on Friday, August 4, I copied the file bootia32.efi into the
/EFI/boot directory of the ubuntu-22.04.2-desktop-amd64 USB installation
stick to allow the ASUS X205TA to boot from the stick. Unfortunately, the
installation ended prematurely with the error I reported "Executing
´grubb-install/dev/mmcblk2´failed" (bug 2030121)

Today, August 16, I tried to install the recent
ubuntu-22.04.3-desktop-amd64 from the USB stick on the ASUS X205TA. But
unfortunately also this time the installation ended prematurely with the
same "Executing ´grubb-install/dev/mmcblk2´failed" error as in bug 2030121

In your response you mention that you have now successfully installed a
recent ubuntu-22.04 version on an ASUS X205TA.

Can you tell me which recent ubuntu-22.04 version that is?

Why is the bootia32.efi file not in the /EFI/boot directory of the
ubuntu-22.04.*-desktop-amd64 installation iso by default?

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Op di 15 aug 2023 om 06:10 schreef Steve <email address hidden>:

> Experienced same as OP. Used bootia32.efi to boot off USB. Was able to
> successfully install 20.04 so confirmed that recent versions will
> work/install on this device. Seems like a bug was introduced since that
> release.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2030121
>
> Title:
> ASUS X205TA - Unable to install GRUB in /dev/mmcblk2
>
> Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I am trying tot install ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 on a ASUS EeeBook
> X205TA, but nearly at the end the installation process stops with the
> message:
>
> Running ¨grub-install/dev//mmcblk2"...
>
> Unable to install GRUB in /dev/mmcblk2
> Executing ǵrubb-install/dev/mmcblk2" failed
> This is a fatal error
>
> After that, the installation process generates and sends an debug
> report to Ubuntu.
>
> Possible cause: The ASUS X205TA needs a 32 bit UEFI bootloader, while
> its processor an operatingystem are 64 bit.
>
> Apparently the ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 installation does not yet
> include this 32bit UEFI bootloader option, e.g. choice 64 bit UEFI
> bootloader(default) and 32 bit UEFI bootloader (optional).
>
> So in summary the ASUS X205TA and similar computers needs
> ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64 with a 32 bit bootloader.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
> Package: ubiquity 22.04.19
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.19.0-32.33~22.04.1-generic 5.19.17
> Uname: Linux 5.19.0-32-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
> ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.3
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
> CasperVersion: 1.470.2
> CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
> Date: Fri Aug 4 16:31:45 2023
> InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz
> file=/cdrom/pre...

[Steve (sasqu40)]

Hi F.M. I was able to install 20.04 not 22.04 (so go back a version). I still need to finish installing some apps to see if it really and completely works, but so far wifi and sound are working and I was able to install the latest updates from v20. That's part of why I think a bug was introduced between v20 and v22.