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'executing grub-install dummy failed' what to do?

Tags:
  • Linux Mint
  • Dual Boot
  • Windows 8
  • Grub
  • Linux
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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March 14, 2014 1:05:49 PM

Hi,

I want to dual-boot my Win8.1 PC(HPpavilion17) together with Linux Mint 16.(x64)
I've tried to install Linux several times but each time it says 'executing grub install dummy failed'.
I tried both Cinnamon and KDE, and checked their MD5 sums, which were good, but the error keeps coming up.. :( 

Of course I googled it first and I found some people with this similar problem, but the solutions are very different from each other(and very complex). Mostly they result in wiping Windows from the disk and perform a clean install of Linux, which is not what I want.

Some give the advice of manually install grub, according to them you'd have to change to MBR partition table first(which erases everything), and then install this grub thing somehow. I don't feel very much for sacrificing Windows for this, I don't even know if it solves the problem..

I don't know if it's of any importance but my partitioning scheme was as follows:
/boot ext4 256MB(I tried 1GB too)
/ " 10GB
swap 2GB
/home ext4 10GB All those partitions are primary.
My PC has 8GB ram, 3Ghz Quad, and an UEFI bios. Secureboot is turned on.

It'd be great if someone could explain me how to fix this thing!
Please tell me if you need more info.

More about : executing grub install dummy failed

a b 5 Linux
March 15, 2014 9:36:08 AM

Try running

  1. sudo dosfsck -r /dev/sda2

repeatedly, using EFI partition if sda2 not applicable
This, in terminal, of course.
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March 16, 2014 3:37:22 PM

chamaecyparis said:
Try running

  1. sudo dosfsck -r /dev/sda2

repeatedly, using EFI partition if sda2 not applicable
This, in terminal, of course.


Okay thanks, I guess.. So I have to run a terminal in Mint from the live CD and execute that line?
Could you tell me how that solves the problem, or what it does essentially? Second, I couldn't figure out what you meant with EFI partition and sda2.. I'm sorry, but i'm new and n00b to linux and just trying to try it out, so I would be thankful if you could specify your intentions somewhat more elaborate.
Anyway, thanks for the effort!
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a b 5 Linux
March 17, 2014 10:05:16 AM

This will work better on a live usb which you can make with your mint dvd, look for USB creator. boot from it and google Ubuntu boot-repair and follow instructions to install. since mint is based on Ubuntu the installation of it or any program is the same.
run boot-repair. if it doesn't solve the problem it'll give us a good why not report to look at.
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a b 5 Linux
March 17, 2014 10:18:35 AM

fyi fsck is the Linux equivalent of windows chkds. the dos part is to let it know it's checking a windows partition for errors.
Also, the boot-repair error report is online, you just cut and paste the address for us if we need a look.
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March 17, 2014 2:01:48 PM

@stillblue: Okay thanks! I will try that, hope it works for me and I hope I don't mess things up..
It doesn't changes any things in Windows boot right?
I'l keep this updated here.

EDIT: I created a live USB and booted form it and then ran the repair-boot thing, and by that I mean I ran this in terminal:
  1. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt-get update
and then:
  1. sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && (boot-repair &)
(I have no idea what code to use?:s)

But now this error came up: "The 'grub-efi-amd64-signed' package failed to install into /target/. Without the GRUB bootloader, the installed system will not boot."

Has this something to do with secureboot? This is turned on on my PC and I don't know what happens when I turn it off.. Also, I now chose for the 'device bootloader installation target' just my hdd, dev/sda, I didn't know what to choose else..
any help would be greatly appreciated!
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a b 5 Linux
March 19, 2014 1:51:09 AM

Sorry about the delay, I live in the middle of the DR Congo and I sometimes have internet or electricity issues.

Yes safe boot could be your problem but if it is on I'm surprised you were able to boot your install disk/usb. Turn it off assuming you downloaded your Mint from the Mint site. You can turn it back on after you finish. Safe boot is to prevent your system from booting to unknown sources, viruses for example.
For me to know what exactly is going wrong you need to paste the url that boot-repair created if you were connected to the net when you ran it. You can still do it by running the second option, create summary. It'll give you the url that you can paste here. Here's one I just made of my system. http://paste.ubuntu.com/7118526/

For your education
Quote:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt-get update

sudo is to tell the computer that you are the administrator and it will ask you for a password once you are running from your hard drive rather than the live version. You can assign a password to the live but it isn't there by default like your installed system will have it.
Quote:
add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
you add the list of installable software from the repository or depot at yannubuntu.
Quote:
&&
means after the first task is completed do the following think "and then do this"
Quote:
sudo apt-get update
sudo to give you admin rights apt-get is the program downloader and update is to update the database with the any new or updated programs including the newly added repo at yannubuntu
Quote:
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && (boot-repair &)


Quote:
apt-get install
we're telling apt-get to download and install the named program (you can download only if you wish)
Quote:
-y
is to answer yes to the question "this is from an outside source are you sure it's safe?¨ for you. Leave it out and you have to reply.
Quote:
boot-repair
the program to be installed
Quote:
&& (boot-repair &)
and then run boot-repair once it's installed
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!