grub-install /dev/sdx silently fails when grub-efi but no grub-pc

[YannUbuntu]

When grub-efi but no grub-pc, grub-install /dev/sda fails to install on the MBR but reports success.
It should report an error instead.

Examples:
1) on 12.10 http://askubuntu.com/questions/224857/ubuntu-12-10-windows-8-dual-boot-tried-boot-repair-dual-os-option-not-show
2) fails with 2.00 , worked with GRUB1.99 worked: Bug #1087153
3) another case: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1403585
4) another case with Windows8 manually installed on MsDos disc: http://paste.ubuntu.com/1409671 . GRUB2 could not write into the MBR. GRUB Legacy could (but fails to display menu): http://paste.ubuntu.com/1413462/
5) another case: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=12391440&postcount=15

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Djalal (djalal)]

I was affected by this as well on my Intel NUC.
The custom installed grub-install (the efi version) fails to write on the mSATA, ramdisk and USB-stick without reporting any errors!

I could boot flawlessly using LILO or change to grub-pc:

sudo apt-get remove grub-efi grub-efi-amd64
sudo apt-get install grub2
sudo grub-install /dev/sdx

[Marcus Tomlinson (marcustomlinson)]

This release of Ubuntu is no longer receiving maintenance updates. If this is still an issue on a maintained version of Ubuntu please let us know.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for grub2 (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]