[Bug 972411] Re: writing GRUB to boot device failed - error: out of partition

Tue Apr 3 16:05:49 UTC 2012

*** This bug is a duplicate of bug 972250 ***
    https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/972250

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

** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Confirmed

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to grub2 in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/972411

Title:
  writing GRUB to boot device failed - error: out of partition

Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  During updates today I got:-

  Debconf
  Configuring grub-pc
  [tick box] writing GRUB to boot device failed - continue?

  help button gives
  GRUB failed to install to the following devices:
  /deb/sda6
  Do you want to continue anyway? if you do, your computer may not start up properly.

  dpkg.log gives
  half-configured grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1

  log/dpkg.log
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 configure grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1 <none>
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:49 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status half-configured grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status installed grub-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 configure grub2-common 1.99-20ubuntu1 <none>
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub2-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status half-configured grub2-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status installed grub2-common 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 configure grub-pc-bin 1.99-20ubuntu1 <none>
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-pc-bin 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status half-configured grub-pc-bin 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status installed grub-pc-bin 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 configure grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1 <none>
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status unpacked grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1
  2012-04-03 09:57:50 status half-configured grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1

  /var/log/apt/term.log
  Setting up grub-common (1.99-20ubuntu1) ...
  Setting up grub2-common (1.99-20ubuntu1) ...
  Setting up grub-pc-bin (1.99-20ubuntu1) ...
  Setting up grub-pc (1.99-20ubuntu1) ...
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition-less disk or to a partition.  This is a BAD idea..
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: non-sector-aligned data is found in the core file.
  (END)

  then I ticked the checkbox and forward button and this was added the term.log file re grub.
  Generating grub.cfg ...
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-21-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-21-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-20-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-20-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-19-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-19-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-18-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-18-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-17-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-17-generic
  Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
  Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
  Found Mac OS X on /dev/sda2
  Found Ubuntu 11.04 (11.04) on /dev/sda7
  done

  and in dpkg.log I got this extra line
  2012-04-03 11:42:09 status installed grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1

  By way of precaution and exploration I did:-

  sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc
  [sudo] password for hettie: 
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition-less disk or to a partition.  This is a BAD idea..
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible.  GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists.  However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
  /usr/sbin/grub-setup: error: non-sector-aligned data is found in the core file.
  Generating grub.cfg ...
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-21-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-21-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-20-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-20-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-19-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-19-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-18-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-18-generic
  Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-17-generic
  Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-17-generic
  Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
  Found Windows 7 (loader) on /dev/sda1
  Found Mac OS X on /dev/sda2
  Found Ubuntu 11.04 (11.04) on /dev/sda7
  done

  in the dialogs I selected all defaults (ie empty, then splash quiet,
  then only sda6 as I have another boot loader in mbr)

  After reboot:-

  error: out of partition.
  Press any key to continue...

  it then boots fine anyway regardless of if I press a key.

  This is a worry as many multi boot arrangements are such that each
  systems grub is installed to its respective root partition and
  previously I have had no issues with this.  And out of partition sound
  particularly bad to me.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  Package: grub-pc 1.99-20ubuntu1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-21.34-generic 3.2.13
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-21-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
  ApportVersion: 2.0-0ubuntu3
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Tue Apr  3 13:29:02 2012
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
  ProcEnviron:
   LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
   TERM=xterm
   LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: grub2
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grub2/+bug/972411/+subscriptions