Cannot install grub to external HDD

[Darko Čošić]

Installation process went normal, but the end when it should install grub. fails

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: ubiquity 2.8.7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic i686
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
CasperVersion: 1.287
Date: Tue Nov 15 18:45:54 2011
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Exception during installation:
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: Traceback (most recent call last):
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 1641, in <module>
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: install.run()
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 55, in wrapper
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: func(self)
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 210, in run
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: self.remove_extras()
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 1423, in remove_extras
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: self.do_remove(regular)
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/share/ubiquity/plugininstall.py", line 1021, in do_remove
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: install_misc.chroot_setup(self.target)
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: File "/usr/lib/ubiquity/ubiquity/install_misc.py", line 110, in chroot_setup
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: f = open(policy_rc_d, 'w')
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py: IOError: [Errno 30] Read-only file system: '/target/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d'
Nov 15 18:45:50 ubuntu plugininstall.py:

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Reviewing your log files attached to this bug report it seems that there is a problem with your installation media (CD/DVD) or with your hardware. Please retry your installation with new media and if it still fails I'd recommend testing your CD drive with other media. In the event that is is not in fact an error with your installation media or hardware please set the bug's status back to New. Thanks and good luck!

[Darko Čošić (darko-cosic)]

Hi thank you for quick response.
Probably was caused by the fact that I was trying to install grub to /dev/sdc instead of /dev/sda. Same thing happens during every install attempt.
However reinstaling grub manually to /dev/sdc seems to fix.
Probably same issue as https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/821436

[dino99 (9d9)]

This version has expired for some time