[Bug 1013595] Re: Ubuntu installer installed grub-efi (instead of grub-pc) on non-GPT disk --> does not boot

[TJ]

A note to clarify expectations on an UEFI system.

If the installer boots in UEFI mode the installer detects this through
the presence of the EFI variables node in the sysfs at
/sys/firmware/efi/vars. In this case the grub-efi package and its
dependencies is selected, installed, and configured.

The installation target disk-label (MBR or GPT) has *no* place in the
choice of grub-efi or grub-pc. The UEFI standard mandates support for
UEFI boot from GPT (with an EFI System Partition [0xEF00 in gdisk
tools]) or MBR (with partition type 0xEF) partitioned devices.

On UEFI systems to ensure an installation for CSM (Compatibility Support
Module)/Legacy BIOS + grub-pc boot the *installer* must be booted using
the CSM/Legacy mode.

To fix this after the installer has completed (only in Try .. mode on
Live images) the user needs to manually change the installation via
terminal commands and a 'chroot'. Satisfy yourself the installation is
correct and successful before rebooting. If unclear ask for help on IRC
channel #ubuntu on the Freenode network; mention the phrase "bug
#1013595" in your request.

( lines beginning with # are only comments and should not be typed)
E.g:

sudo -i

[ -d /target/etc ] || echo "Root file-system is not mounted at /target/,
please fix that and retry this command before continuing"

# mount the kernel file-systems in the target
for n in proc sys run dev dev/pts etc/resolv.conf; do mount --bind /$n /target/$n; done

chroot /target
# now operating in the installed environment; should have network access and DNS

mount -a
umount /boot/efi

# remove the EFI file-system from the auto-mount table
sed -i '/boot\/efi/ d' /etc/fstab

apt-get remove 'grub-efi*'
apt-get install grub-pc
lsblk -f
grub-install /dev/sdX # replace X with the correct disk id
update-grub

# check the installation is correct

exit

# back in the installer environment
reboot

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1013595

Title:
  Ubuntu installer installed grub-efi (instead of grub-pc) on non-GPT
  disk --> does not boot

Status in grub2 package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in ubiquity package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  A standard installation of ubuntu-desktop on a HP Compaq 6200 PC
  installs grub-efi and is not able to boot after first restart.

  Grub complains about "no such partition". It is not able to load its
  own modules to continue with the boot process.

  After booting into a rescue system and manually replacing the grub-efi
  package with grub-pc and re-installing grub to the MBR the computer
  boots fine.

  Why is grub-efi installed automatically?

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  Package: grub-efi (not installed)
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-25.40-generic 3.2.18
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-25-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu8
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Fri Jun 15 12:01:19 2012
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
  SourcePackage: grub2
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  --- 
  ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu13
  Architecture: amd64
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
  InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/install/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed priority=low --
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  Package: ubiquity (not installed)
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-30.48-generic 3.2.27
  Tags:  precise
  Uname: Linux 3.2.0-30-generic x86_64
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
  UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo vboxusers

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