Hello everyone,
I am attempting to install Linux Mint 18.3 64-bit to a HP Pavillion dv8 laptop. This is a relative's laptop that previously had Win10 on it, which they were having multiple issues with. So I wanted to try something different for them on this system.
First, I attempted to install Ubuntu16.04.3 LTS to their machine (dual boot). It worked great, I could dual boot to Win10 or Ubuntu with no issues but Ubuntu didn't really win me over. So I started doing research on other Linux distros and I found LM! I've heard such great things this community so I decided to download Linux Mint 18.3 64-bit and have it replace Ubuntu.
Long story short, I could never get it to properly install, I was getting the following error: "Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda, Executing 'grub-install /dev/sda' failed. This is a fatal error." I did some searching and found a few articles on this forum where others have had the same issue. However, none of those solutions worked and I think I might have made it the issue worse, I can no longer boot to any OS, or even to my recovery partition. I get an "Operating system not found" message now when I attempt to boot from the HD.
I created a boot-repair USB in hopes of trying to figure out what I did wrong: http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/cnNKqYyGYB/
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Linux Mint Fatal Error
Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Linux Mint Fatal Error
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4674
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Linux Mint Fatal Error
This thread appeared to have your same error. I didn't read through it all, but it's now solved.JD4WD wrote:Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Joe
Re: Linux Mint Fatal Error
I've read through that one already and I think my issue might be a bit different. At the end of that thread he gets it working again but is unsure what the actual fix was.
Other than the boot-repair info, is there any other data that I can pull that might be helpful? I can still boot to LM and access the terminal using the installer USB.
Other than the boot-repair info, is there any other data that I can pull that might be helpful? I can still boot to LM and access the terminal using the installer USB.
- austin.texas
- Level 20
- Posts: 12003
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:57 pm
- Location: at /home
Re: Linux Mint Fatal Error
Mint is installed on /dev/sdb
Try installing Grub to /dev/sdb and then set that hard drive to be the first in the boot order.
Try installing Grub to /dev/sdb and then set that hard drive to be the first in the boot order.
Mint 18.2 Cinnamon, Quad core AMD A8-3870 with Radeon HD Graphics 6550D, 8GB DDR3, Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI
Linux Linx 2018
Linux Linx 2018
- austin.texas
- Level 20
- Posts: 12003
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:57 pm
- Location: at /home
Re: Linux Mint Fatal Error
That is to be expected. You have to do some fancy linux tricks to install Grub from the live Mint.
Open a terminal and enter all these commands:
Mount the root partition at /mnt:
The prompt will change to a root prompt.
Install Grub to the approprate drive - sdb:
CTRL-D to exit chroot
CTRL-D to exit the terminal
All done! Now set that hard drive as first in the boot order, and boot.
PS. leaving for the airport now... Good luck.
Open a terminal and enter all these commands:
Mount the root partition at /mnt:
Code: Select all
sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
Code: Select all
for i in /dev /dev/pts /proc /sys /run; do sudo mount -B $i /mnt$i; done
Code: Select all
sudo chroot /mnt
Code: Select all
update-initramfs -u
Code: Select all
grub-install --recheck /dev/sdb
Code: Select all
update-grub
CTRL-D to exit the terminal
All done! Now set that hard drive as first in the boot order, and boot.
PS. leaving for the airport now... Good luck.
Mint 18.2 Cinnamon, Quad core AMD A8-3870 with Radeon HD Graphics 6550D, 8GB DDR3, Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI
Linux Linx 2018
Linux Linx 2018
Re: Linux Mint Fatal Error
Indeed. And because it's really easy to make typing mistake, I suggest you issue all commands given by austin.texas by copying and pasting them. Also this will be faster.
On each of the code boxes there is a "select all" option to make it easier to copy and paste.