Grub-common failed to update (and install)

[MR ZenWiz]

I'm running Xubuntu 16.04 in a VB VM (on Windows 7).

I tried to do a software update, and I got an error while the updater
tried to update grub-common - it says the service is not running.

When I tried to force the install, I got this:

Preparing to unpack .../grub-common_2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.17_amd64.deb ...
Failed to stop grub-common.service: Unit grub-common.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript grub-common, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
Failed to stop grub-common.service: Unit grub-common.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript grub-common, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing archive
/var/cache/apt/archives/grub-common_2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.17_amd64.deb
(--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
update-rc.d: warning: start and stop actions are no longer supported;
falling back to defaults
Failed to start grub-common.service: Unit grub-common.service not found.
invoke-rc.d: initscript grub-common, action "start" failed.
● grub-common.service
   Loaded: not-found (Reason: Not a directory)
   Active: inactive (dead)
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 5
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/grub-common_2.02~beta2-36ubuntu3.17_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Is ther a way around this and what?

Thanks.

MR