grub-install fails with "out of disk" error

[Carlos Eduardo Moreira dos Santos]

grub-install (GRUB) 1.99-21ubuntu3.1 in Ubuntu 12.04 32 bits

# grub-install --recheck /dev/sdb
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: out of disk.
Auto-detection of a filesystem of /dev/mapper/vg-striped failed.
Try with --recheck.
If the problem persists please report this together with the output of "/usr/sbin/grub-probe --device-map="/boot/grub/device.map" --target=fs -v /boot/grub" to <email address hidden>

Output of grub-probe command above is attached. Everything was fine until I installed another OS in a pre-existent partition. Now I can't put grub back in the MBR and I must use a usb stick to boot. My root partition is an ext4 3-disk LVM volume and has /boot.

# fdisk -l /dev/sdb
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000571a2

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 2048 62916607 31457280 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdb2 62916608 1953525167 945304280 8e Linux LVM

[Rarylson Freitas (rarylson)]

Hi Carlos,

Could you check the output of this grub-probe command (with three times 'v'):

    /usr/sbin/grub-probe --device-map="/boot/grub/device.map" --target=fs -vvv /boot/grub

If your LVM where /boot is instaled is large, it's possible that its bug (with a proposed patch) is your same case: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/1475337.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Rarylson Freitas (rarylson)]

If its a duplicate (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/1475337), its already fixed in Ubuntu 14.04 or newer.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

Closing due to lack of response.