Ubuntu
ubiquity package

hirsute QA-test install; 'grub-install /dev/sda failed' .. box regularly used for QA-test installs (BIOS only box, but uEFI error?)

Bug #1907180 reported by Chris Guiver
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ubiquity (Ubuntu)
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Bug Description

Ubuntu hirsute QA-test install on
- hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)

Testcase was replace partition sda1 using "Something-else" or 'Manual partitioning', replacing the last Lubuntu QA-test install performed a few days ago in the same manner without issue (regularly done).

I didn't expect any issues here, but

Dec 8 02:59:45 ubuntu grub-installer: Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
Dec 8 02:59:56 ubuntu grub-installer: grub-install: error: cannot copy `/usr/lib/grub/x86_64-efi-signed/grubx64.efi.signed' to `/boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi': No space left on device.
Dec 8 02:59:56 ubuntu grub-installer: error: Running 'grub-install --force --target x86_64-efi "/dev/sda"' failed.

i think is issue; box is BIOS only

** Expected results
- enter my user details
- install completes, asked to reboot

** Actual results
- enter my user details
- install runs, then error

"Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda
Executing `grub-install /dev/sda` failed.
This is a fatal error"

** Notes

This system is only used for QA-testing (occasional support tests with those QA installs)
It contained two systems
- sda1 was last hirsute QA test install
- sda2 last (lubuntu) focal daily QA-test install

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.04
Package: ubiquity 21.04.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-25.26-generic 5.8.14
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-25-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu55
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CasperVersion: 1.456
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Tue Dec 8 14:01:46 2020
InstallCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash ---
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 21.04 "Hirsute Hippo" - Alpha amd64 (20201207)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=C.UTF-8
RebootRequiredPkgs:
 linux-image-5.8.0-25-generic
 linux-base
SourcePackage: ubiquity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

See original description
Revision history for this message
Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote :
description: updated
Chris Guiver (guiverc)
summary: hirsute QA-test install; 'grub-install /dev/sda failed' .. box regularly
- used for QA-test installs
+ used for QA-test installs (BIOS only box, but uEFI error)
summary: hirsute QA-test install; 'grub-install /dev/sda failed' .. box regularly
- used for QA-test installs (BIOS only box, but uEFI error)
+ used for QA-test installs (BIOS only box, but uEFI error?)
Revision history for this message
Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote :

hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)
replacing a partition (sda1), format ext4

grub install failed :(appears to be looking for uEFI when it's an old BIOS box)
`ubuntu-bug ubiquity` .. on hitting OKAY to restart box..
OH NO, SOMETHING WENT WRONG..
hit enter and again
OH NO, SOMETHING WENT WRONG..
hit enter and again
OH NO, SOMETHING WENT WRONG..

i got bored of the loop & SysRq REISUB'd the box
NOTE; I manually filed the bug report at terminal; CTRL+A:LT+T to open term. and I wondered if the installer tried to `ubuntu-bug` again that created the issue with shutdown, ie. started a process that was behind the 'install finished, press enter to reboot' but that's opinion.

Chris Guiver (guiverc)
description: updated
Revision history for this message
Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa) wrote :

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1907180

tags: added: iso-testing
Revision history for this message
Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote :

I re-did a Lubuntu QA-test install (current hirsute daily), "Replace a partition" using same sda1 on same box without issues, so this is something different to Lubuntu

(it's Lubuntu that I test most regularly)

Revision history for this message
Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote :

Possibly related:

(groovy)
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1901137

I still believe I've seen this before with a hirsute install on #ubuntu-bugs-announce, but haven't found it.

Looking at thumb-drive, `mkusb` wasn't in clone/dd mode

guiverc@d960-ubu2:/de2900/ubuntu_64$ dus hirsute-desktop-amd64.iso
 dus 12.6.6
...

guiverc@d960-ubu2:/de2900/lubuntu_64$ sudo blkid |grep sdb
[sudo] password for guiverc:
/dev/sdb1: BLOCK_SIZE="2048" UUID="2020-12-07-08-44-25-00" LABEL="Ubuntu 21.04 amd64" TYPE="iso9660" PARTLABEL="ISO9660" PARTUUID="9836c1f1-8baf-4e23-82f7-003c59b12e8a"
/dev/sdb2: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL_FATBOOT="ESP" LABEL="ESP" UUID="290E-F68C" BLOCK_SIZE="512" TYPE="vfat" PARTLABEL="Appended2" PARTUUID="9836c1f1-8baf-4e23-82f4-003c59b12e8a"
/dev/sdb3: PARTLABEL="Gap1" PARTUUID="9836c1f1-8baf-4e23-82f5-003c59b12e8a"
/dev/sdb4: LABEL="writable" UUID="0580938f-3099-4559-b357-66a8f289ad0a" BLOCK_SIZE="4096" TYPE="ext4" PARTUUID="6f2a09d8-3bf4-4c44-b0bc-9c9ec425f5e0"

I'll endeavour to re-write using `dd` & re-try.

Revision history for this message
Chris Guiver (guiverc) wrote :

hp dc7700 (c2d-e6320, 5gb, nvidia quadro nvs 290)
replacing a partition (sda1), format ext4

- repeat install
- Lubuntu hirsute was successfully re-installed on sda1 without issue (calamares not ubiquity)

HOWEVER this time the thumb-drive was written with
`sudo dd bs=4M oflag=sync status=progress of=/dev/sdb if=/de2900/ubuntu_64/hirsute-desktop-amd64.iso` (not `mkusb`)

same error... same issue (the "Installation Complete" & it's "Restart Now" box is covering the report-bug windows... oh no something has gone wrong loop again...

REISUB, boot, plymouth screen, then "You are in emergency mode..."

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