[SOLVED] My first Linux install (grub install failed)

[Elbow12]

Hi, I'm Elbow. I've used PC's for many years now and thought I'd give Linux a go. I heard Ubuntu was good for beginners, and had a new version out, so I used the official torrent to get it.
The Live CD interface was impressive, but I had already commited to installing anyways. I had messed around with Knoppix a bit before, but this was the first time I had room on my computer for an installed OS of Linux.

To the problem at hand: I'm trying to make Ubuntu 8.04 dual boot with Windows XP pro, on the same SATA hard disk, but different partitions (I have an IDE hdd which I'm going to use for storage, but my SATA 500 gb is my new drive). When I went to install, I called my brother-in-law, who has used Linux for a few years or so. He helped me get past the stage of choosing the file system type (I checked the "Format the drive" box). I chose to import my Windows XP settings, and clicked the advance tab for the boot options (I think), but understood nothing, so I went on. It prompted me about the swap file, but I didn't have another partition readily available for it, so I simply clicked continue. It installed smoothly until 94%, when it came up with this fatal error: "Executing 'grub install (hd0)' failed".

I tried the exact same settings again, later, except I chose not to import any XP setting. I received the same error. I don't know what I could do to fix it (as I am new to this) so I googled it, and found nothing I understood. I am thankful for any help you can give, but please to not make the advice too technical, as I will have no clue as to what you're talking about.

Thanks in advance,
Elbow

[kostasan]

It is not the best practice not having a swap partition.
Post the options you chose during the partition setup.

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Its really easy to create new partitions. One can create 3 Primary + 1 Extended + 11 Logical Partitions inside Extended Partition.
Boot up from Ubuntu CD, open Terminal and execute this

sudo fdisk -l

Post output here.

[Rat Souffle]

I'm in exactly the same position, I'm trying to make a dual boot with Windows XP Pro and Ubuntu 8.04. I got the fatal error with GRUB when I didn't make a swap partition, so I went to bed and today I tried to install again; I made a 4gb partition for swap (that should be enough, right? I have 2gb of ram). I also went into advanced options and selected sda instead of the default value of (hd0), but it installed and GRUB failed again. Any ideas?

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

I would suggest you to post the output of sudo fdisk -l command as I suggest in post #3.

I made a 4gb partition for swap (that should be enough, right? I have 2gb of ram).

2GB RAM is more than enough and you dont even need SWAP Partition. Create 512MB SWAP partition to be on safer side.

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

[Rat Souffle]

Post the output of sudo fdisk -l command here.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb308b308

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        1912    15358108+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2            1913        9728    62782020    5  Extended
/dev/sda5   *        1913        3217    10482381   af  Unknown
/dev/sda6            3825        9728    47423848+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7            3218        3824     4875696   82  Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

/dev/sda1 is my Windows C: and /dev/sda6 is D: and both must ideally be kept intact.

I have no Ubuntu net access until I've installed as I have a godawful USB modem, so I keep having to boot into Windows and Ubuntu LiveCD alternately.

[devils casper]

I am dual booting too.
What is in /dev/sda5 partition? Its marked as unknown. It means Windows OS doesn't recognize it too.
Is it a recovery partition?

[Rat Souffle]

I am dual booting too.
What is in /dev/sda5 partition? Its marked as unknown. It means Windows OS doesn't recognize it too.
Is it a recovery partition?

Well Windows says

DISKPART> list partition

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partition 1    Primary             15 GB    32 KB
  Partition 2    Extended            60 GB    15 GB
  Partition 3    Logical             10 GB    15 GB
  Partition 4    Logical           4761 MB    25 GB
  Partition 5    Logical             45 GB    29 GB

To be honest I'm really not sure what it is :P As far as I know, I no longer have a recovery partition. Of what I do know, I think:

Partition 1 - C: on Windows; system partition
Partition 2 - Something else
Partition 3 - Failed Ubuntu install partition
Partition 4 - Ubuntu Swap partition (I'm going to delete this and make a new 512mb swap)
Partition 5 - D: on Windows; data partition

I'm not quite sure how this whole thing works, as the sizes of the partitions add up to 134gb in all yet I have an 80gb internal HD.

[devils casper]

Extended Partition is just a Container. It contains Logical Partitions.
Boot up from Ubuntu CD, open GParted Partition Manager. Format /dev/sda5 in ext3 filesystem. Shrink /dev/sda7 ( 512MB is enough and merge free space in NTFS Partition (/dev/sda6).

Click on Install Icon and start Installation. Select Manual Partitioning. Assign / mount point to /dev/sda5. Installer will detect SWAP partition itself. Continue Installation. Installer will install GRUB and setup dual boot for you.

[Rat Souffle]

Thanks a lot! I managed to install it last night, and it was fine. I'm trying to enable graphics effects now and all of the default drivers available seem to be slightly dodgy on my nVidia 7600GS; they only allow me to choose from 800x600 and 640x480 and when I did, by some feat, manage to get 1280x1024 the special effects still didn't work.

Thanks for your help anyway.