same error here. Kubuntu 8.10 desktop amd 64

(the german version: (so that this thread can be found) 
GRUB konnte nicht nach (hd0) installiert werden
Die Ausführung von >> grub install (hd0)<< ist fehlgeschlagen.
Dies ist ein schwerwiegender Fehler.  )

I also tried to install Grub to (hd0,4) and (hd0,5) - same error.

/var/log/syslog:
info: installing grub on '(hd0)'
info: grub-install supports --no-floppy
info: running chroot /target grub-install --no-floppy "(hd0)"
you shouldn´t call /sbin/grub-install.  Please call /usr/sbin/grub-intall instead!
probing devices to gueass BIOS drives. this may take a long time.
       // which does not, finished in the same second
Searching for GRUB installation directory ...
found: /boot/grub
The file /boot/grub/stage1 is not read correctly
error: Running 'grub-install --no-floppy "(hd0)"' failed.


I can´t find any grub-files inside the cd-root (nothing in /etc or /boot).

Inside the /target:

/boot/grub/  contains

default      (empty file, just comment)
device.map   (hd0)  /dev/sda       (hd1)  /dev/sdb
e2fs_stage1_5
fat_stage1_5
jfs_stage1_5
Minix_stage1_5
reiserfs_stage1_5
stage1       (512 byte, binary, last line contains: root@ubuntu:/target/boot/ )
stage2       (121460 byte, 'cat stage2' causes beep and clearscreen)
xfs_stage1_5

/etc only contains:
grub.d     (folder contains 20_memtest86+)

I wonder where the menu.lst is located!

fstab seems to be ok.


My system:
----------
1. Samsung 1,5TB sata
partitions:  
primary 50gb ntfs
primary 50gb ntfs
primary 50gb (no fs)
log 50gb ext3     / target for kubuntu 8.10 Desktop AMD64
log 50gb (no fs)
log 50gb (no fs)
log 4gb  linux swap
log 340gb ntfs
log 1000gb ntfs

2. Samsung 1,5TB sata
partitions:
pri 50gb (no fs)
log 4gb linux swap
400gb ntfs
1000gb ntfs


My mainboard (Biostar t-power n750 with nforce 750sli chipset) allows the configuration of the sata-drives with 'sata' 

and 'ahci' modes, the ahci mode with the additional option 'Change the AHCI DID for Linux'
The Bios manual says:
This item appears only when SATA mode is set to Linux AHCI.  Options: Disabled (Default) / Enabled
(not really sure what it means. DID seems to be the Device ID and I expect this to be the PCI-Vendor and Device-ID on 
wich the suitable driver is chosen. I figured out that Windows does not boot with LINUX DID enabled, Knoppix accesses 

the harddisks fine, with linux-did enabled or disabled.)
I tried all options (sata, ahci without and with Linux DID) but the error remains.


Before I did this partitioning, I had the same kubuntu64 installed on a primary partition with a less complex 

paritioning, which I don´t exactly remember.

So I tried another attempt:
Installation of kubuntu to the third primiary partition. Manually choosen to install grub to (hd0,2)

Here I found following output: (translated from german to english)
The partition tables of the following devices have been changed:
SCSI5(0,0,0) (sda)
SCSI6(0,0,0) (sdb)
And the dialogue-box: 
creating ext3 filesystem on partition 3 on scsi5 
(Why scsi5 ??)

But it worked!
The Acronis-Bootmanager in MBR starts grub in sda3 without any problem.

I checked the stage1 file of the installed system, which differs from the one mentioned above. 
The last line does not content anything like  " root@ubuntu:/target/boot/ " as it did in the first installation attempt.

And something else, I didn´t expect: I did this last installation with the bios-option 'SATA' and changed it to 'AHCI' 

(without linux did) and expected a kernel-panic. But Linux booted sucessfully. (Windows xp + vista always get a 

bluescreen if this option is changed.)

Now I will compare the two installations and try to fix that one in the extended partition. 
Where has grub to be installed if I want linux in an extended partition but grub not in the MBR?

I hope this helps for diagnostics. For further questions you can try to contact me: launchpad at jaeke de

Greetings

al