[Bug 1880283] [NEW] FATAL ERROR: Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda (dual boot; Ubuntu and W10 on separate drives); tried with and without EFI partition; my W10 is UEFI based

[Shounak Shirodkar]

Public bug reported:

I have a Dell G3 gaming PC with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD(W10) + 1TB HDD(where I want to install Ubuntu)
I have previously installed Ubuntu 18.04 on the same HDD (which I deleted later) without using a new EFI partition and the device for boot loader was set to the same HDD (and not the W10 HDD where Windows Boot Loader's EFI was already present)

Just so you know, I have fixed an issue that was coming up before this
one - the installer was freezing at 'detecting file systems'; an online
forum user had recommended I add acpi=off to the install command line -
this solved this issue --if this affects any of the things that
should/should'nt happen, for your judgement.

I have tried various combinations and almost all suggested fixes online and none of it will work -
with EFI, without EFI - all of it.
Please help as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance and god bless you!

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: ubiquity 20.04.15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-26-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckMismatches: ./pool/restricted/n/nvidia-graphics-drivers-390/libnvidia-decode-390_390.132-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CasperVersion: 1.445
Date: Sat May 23 12:59:53 2020
InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-budgie.seed quiet splash acpi=off ---
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu-Budgie 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423)
SourcePackage: grub-installer
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: grub-installer (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug focal ubiquity-20.04.15 ubuntu-budgie

** Description changed:

  I have a Dell G3 gaming PC with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD(W10) + 1TB HDD(where I want to install Ubuntu)
  I have previously installed Ubuntu 18.04 on the same HDD (which I deleted later) without using a new EFI partition and the device for boot loader was set to the same HDD (and not the W10 HDD where Windows Boot Loader's EFI was already present)
- I have tried various combinations and almost all suggested fixes online and none of it will work - 
+ 
+ Just so you know, I have fixed an issue that was coming up before this
+ one - the installer was freezing at 'detecting file systems'; an online
+ forum user had recommended I add acpi=off to the install command line -
+ this solved this issue --if this affects any of the things that
+ should/should'nt happen, for your judgement.
+ 
+ I have tried various combinations and almost all suggested fixes online and none of it will work -
  with EFI, without EFI - all of it.
  Please help as soon as possible.
  Thank you in advance and god bless you!
  
  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
  Package: ubiquity 20.04.15
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
  Uname: Linux 5.4.0-26-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckMismatches: ./pool/restricted/n/nvidia-graphics-drivers-390/libnvidia-decode-390_390.132-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
  CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
  CasperVersion: 1.445
  Date: Sat May 23 12:59:53 2020
  InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-budgie.seed quiet splash acpi=off ---
  LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu-Budgie 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423)
  SourcePackage: grub-installer
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1880283

Title:
  FATAL ERROR: Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda (dual boot; Ubuntu and
  W10 on separate drives); tried with and without EFI partition; my W10
  is UEFI based

Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I have a Dell G3 gaming PC with 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD(W10) + 1TB HDD(where I want to install Ubuntu)
  I have previously installed Ubuntu 18.04 on the same HDD (which I deleted later) without using a new EFI partition and the device for boot loader was set to the same HDD (and not the W10 HDD where Windows Boot Loader's EFI was already present)

  Just so you know, I have fixed an issue that was coming up before this
  one - the installer was freezing at 'detecting file systems'; an
  online forum user had recommended I add acpi=off to the install
  command line - this solved this issue --if this affects any of the
  things that should/should'nt happen, for your judgement.

  I have tried various combinations and almost all suggested fixes online and none of it will work -
  with EFI, without EFI - all of it.
  Please help as soon as possible.
  Thank you in advance and god bless you!

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
  Package: ubiquity 20.04.15
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-26.30-generic 5.4.30
  Uname: Linux 5.4.0-26-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckMismatches: ./pool/restricted/n/nvidia-graphics-drivers-390/libnvidia-decode-390_390.132-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
  CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
  CasperVersion: 1.445
  Date: Sat May 23 12:59:53 2020
  InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-budgie.seed quiet splash acpi=off ---
  LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu-Budgie 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423)
  SourcePackage: grub-installer
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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