[Bug 1309349] [NEW] Netboot install from USB media attempts to install grub on /dev/sda (USB media) instead of actual boot partition

[ninja500]

Public bug reported:

I did a USB command line install using the Trusty Tahr 14.04 LTS (AMD64)
netboot image located here:

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/trusty/main/installer-
amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso

15-Apr-2014 21:53        37M

I have 6 hard drives in this machine, I'm detail the first two device
blocks:

/dev/sda (usb installation media with mini.iso image - used unetbootin)
/dev/sdb - my main hard drive with 4 partitions
/dev/sdb1 - /boot
/dev/sdb2 - /
/dev/sdb3 - /swap
/dev/sdb4 - /home

Towards the end of the install, the installer asks whether or not
install GRUB on MBR, identifying only one operating system present.  I
chose YES, and it installed GRUB on /dev/sda  which is my usb
installation media.  Afterwards, it completed the install, but when the
system rebooted, it of course was missing the boot loader from the real
boot partition.  So it would drop into grub rescue.  It showed error
message - "error: symbol 'grub_term_highlight_color' not found."

I rebooted off the same usb installation media, but choosing recovery
mode.  I dropped into a shell and attempted to run grub-install, but i
got an error message about ext2 and requiring block lists and grub
refused to install.

So to get around this, I re-installed again off the usb media.  But this
time I pulled my media out when it got to the step where it asks if I
want to install grub.  I chose yes, let it fail when it tried to put it
on /dev/sda again.  Then when it bumped me back to the menu where it
lists your options.  I chose to install grub on a hard drive.  This time
it correctly found my boot partition on /dev/sdb.  And the install
completed without issue.

** Affects: debian-installer (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: netboot trusty usb

** Description changed:

  I did a USB command line install using the Trusty Tahr 14.04 LTS (AMD64)
  netboot image located here:
  
  http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/trusty/main/installer-
  amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso
  
  15-Apr-2014 21:53        37M
  
  I have 6 hard drives in this machine, I'm detail the first two device
  blocks:
  
  /dev/sda (usb installation media with mini.iso image - used unetbootin)
  /dev/sdb - my main hard drive with 4 partitions
  /dev/sdb1 - /boot
  /dev/sdb2 - /
  /dev/sdb3 - /swap
  /dev/sdb4 - /home
  
  Towards the end of the install, the installer asks whether or not
- install GRUB, identifying only one operating system present.  I chose
- YES, and it installed GRUB on /dev/sda  which is my usb installation
- media.  Afterwards, it completed the install, but when the system
- rebooted, it of course was missing the boot loader from the real boot
- partition.  So it would drop into grub rescue.  It showed error message
- - "error: symbol 'grub_term_highlight_color' not found."
+ install GRUB on MBR, identifying only one operating system present.  I
+ chose YES, and it installed GRUB on /dev/sda  which is my usb
+ installation media.  Afterwards, it completed the install, but when the
+ system rebooted, it of course was missing the boot loader from the real
+ boot partition.  So it would drop into grub rescue.  It showed error
+ message - "error: symbol 'grub_term_highlight_color' not found."
  
  I rebooted off the same usb installation media, but choosing recovery
  mode.  I dropped into a shell and attempted to run grub-install, but i
  got an error message about ext2 and requiring block lists and grub
  refused to install.
  
  So to get around this, I re-installed again off the usb media.  But this
  time I pulled my media out when it got to the step where it asks if I
  want to install grub.  I chose yes, let it fail when it tried to put it
  on /dev/sda again.  Then when it bumped me back to the menu where it
  lists your options.  I chose to install grub on a hard drive.  This time
  it correctly found my boot partition on /dev/sdb.  And the install
  completed without issue.

-- 
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1309349

Title:
  Netboot install from USB media attempts to install grub on /dev/sda
  (USB media) instead of actual boot partition

Status in “debian-installer” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  I did a USB command line install using the Trusty Tahr 14.04 LTS
  (AMD64) netboot image located here:

  http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/trusty/main/installer-
  amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso

  15-Apr-2014 21:53        37M

  I have 6 hard drives in this machine, I'm detail the first two device
  blocks:

  /dev/sda (usb installation media with mini.iso image - used unetbootin)
  /dev/sdb - my main hard drive with 4 partitions
  /dev/sdb1 - /boot
  /dev/sdb2 - /
  /dev/sdb3 - /swap
  /dev/sdb4 - /home

  Towards the end of the install, the installer asks whether or not
  install GRUB on MBR, identifying only one operating system present.  I
  chose YES, and it installed GRUB on /dev/sda  which is my usb
  installation media.  Afterwards, it completed the install, but when
  the system rebooted, it of course was missing the boot loader from the
  real boot partition.  So it would drop into grub rescue.  It showed
  error message - "error: symbol 'grub_term_highlight_color' not found."

  I rebooted off the same usb installation media, but choosing recovery
  mode.  I dropped into a shell and attempted to run grub-install, but i
  got an error message about ext2 and requiring block lists and grub
  refused to install.

  So to get around this, I re-installed again off the usb media.  But
  this time I pulled my media out when it got to the step where it asks
  if I want to install grub.  I chose yes, let it fail when it tried to
  put it on /dev/sda again.  Then when it bumped me back to the menu
  where it lists your options.  I chose to install grub on a hard drive.
  This time it correctly found my boot partition on /dev/sdb.  And the
  install completed without issue.

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