Bootloader Fatal Error - GRUB not working

[NotSoFabulous]

Hi everybody,

i am fairly new to the world of Linux. Because i need to run open source lab analysis software, I was planning on installing dual boot Win 10 and LL5.0.
I got everything up to the installer running and followed recommendations in this forum which helped well.
I created a 20 GB partition for LL root and swap. sda1 is windows, sda2 is data and sda3 was generated for LL.

I also followed the help file of LL 5.0.
For dual boot, it says to install on extra partition. I set bootloader to sda as recommended and had sda3 wiped. Before continuing, the software told me to define efi of at least 500 mb. Because LL help file told me not to touch sda1, the win partition, i cut a piece of the sda3 to create sda 4 in efi. Then, i was able to continue installation process and LL was installed. Before the end of the process, installation crashed and a fatal error occured stating that GRUB was not properlz installed.

When restarting, GRUB didn|t do much but a command line that gave an error.

Restarting from BIOS and setting the USB first made me at least restart into LL installation surface. From here i am writing.

Windows partition is dead and not accessible at this point via GRUB or when set to home drive.

Anybody a suggestion on how to fix GRUB?
Re-installation works, but doesnt fix the problem, tried a few different angles, but didnt get far.

Any help greatly appreiated!

[NotSoFabulous]

Kept reading, tried to define sda4 as FAT32 with mount /boot/efi, didnt work.

Fatal error messages comes up right when wizard tries to install GRUB2 into the defined sda4.

All I have for now, running out of ideas...

[firenice03]

[member=29666]NotSoFabulous[/member]
Have you set LL or Ubuntu in the boot options -- boot order???


If so maybe.......

and I haven't installed LL5.0 as of yet...
BUT - A few assumptions - This is a UEFI system and SecureBoot is off...
You followed the manual - shrunk Windows (in Win)
Then in the installer (LiveUSB) your creating the partitions .. Via the install or gparted? - is Swap a file or partition?
- I would try the installer - there should be an option for "Along Side Windows" the defaults should get you there...

SO..
if LL is /sda3 you can wipe it.. get rig of /sda4 too = reallocate as a single.
Remember 1 disk can had 4 partitions (regardless of OS)

Currently you probably have the below... All on 1 disk?
- /sda
-- /sda1 Windows OS
-- /sda2 Data (Win)
-- /sda3 LL OS
-- /sda4 LL boot?

Does windows have the hidden restore partition?

I would try without boot, but if it prompts to have it.. I'd go a full 1GB
If you have to do boot then I would not do a swap partition - create a swapfile later for use...
Give the remaining to "/" root..

In the installer using Along Side - it should create as needed for you...
If you use "Something Else" you'll have gparted presented...
- make sure you select the label (/boot, / )
- also select format (ext4 is popular)
Towards the bottom there is the boot loader option...
- Select either /sda or LL part...

[NotSoFabulous]

Hi Firenice03

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my problem.

I'll respond in order to your questions and suggestions.

As boot option in the BIOS I only have Ubuntu, LL is not there. I found a post on that issue in here. However, I think the error message while installing is the very first problem, so I try to fix that first. GRUB is not installed, so boot managing for dual boot won't work anyway, whichever is set to boot first?

In regards to your assumtions:
BIOS was set to UEFI enable and secure boot is off (which I had to do to be able to run the installer from USB anyway).
Partitions are created via install.
I tried with and without SWAP as partition. Will delete it though as to your comment with max partitions per ssd.

In my installer, there is no "along side windows" option which is a common thing according to LL help. They state to install anyway using "something else".

Because I have a samsung restore partition, I won't be able to handle all partitions the way they are now.
I'll first try without /boot/efi partition. If that doesn't work, I'll merge data an win partition. I have all "imprtant" things stored externally anyway.

If all you suggested doesn't work, I'll try the /LL partition for boot loader, I haven't tried that one yet.

I'll get back to you after trying some more ways.

And thanks again!

[NotSoFabulous]

None of the above worked.
I now have only two main partitions, one containing win10, the other for LL installation.
LL is being installed perfectly, however, I cannot get the GRUB2 working.

Created a separate EFI partition of 1000 MB.
I used installer partitioner as well as gparted, no success. GRUB2 does not install.

Is there an alternate way of installing a boot manager?

Any other suggestions?

[WytWun]

Anybody a suggestion on how to fix GRUB?

You aren't reporting exact error messages or information displayed which unfortunately means anyone trying to help you has to guess what is going on.

Re-installation works, but doesnt fix the problem, tried a few different angles, but didnt get far.

Please read through the 5.0RC1 thread - I encountered some apparently somewhat similar behaviour installing that pre-release and posted some information in that thread about grub recovery which may be relevant.

[Şerban S.]

[...] Any other suggestions?

Hello!

To cut the chase...
Windows and Linux never loved too much each other. Mostly Windows...

Now look into your machines info and use the key that pops up the boot menu.
In the boot menu, look for either Windows or Ubuntu/Linux Lite.
This should fix the problem.
As far as I see, there are two bootloaders which on UEFI is OK.
As for using only GRUB to boot both, is more complicated. You need to study the GRUB documentation on UEFI multi boot.
But I suggest you use the POST boot menu instead of digging the whole internet upside down for a solution.

The worst scenaro is... reinstalling everything from scratch.
If this is the last resort, than start with Windows, then when you install Linux Lite 5.0, at boot time, press the key to show the boot menu and from the boot menu, select "UEFI" and the LL stick's name, otherwise your installation will report "successful" but will have trouble with GRUB.
Actually on the same USB you have two different installers: one for BIOS firmware and the second, for UEFI firmware.
Since you have UEFI, you need to select as said above.

I hope you will be able to boot, without reinstalling the whole stuff though...

Anyway, good luck!

[pnrstatusio]

This post is very helpful to fix my issue.

Thank You
Sanu Singh