[Bug 1851955] Re: installation fails in grub-install with: efivarfs_set_variable: writing to fd <N> failed: Invalid argument

[Ian Scott]

Hi Paul

Thanks for the email. I found a fix by turning off secure boot and using
legacy settings in BIOS. Ubuntu 24.10 and 24.04 had both previously crashed
very early on in fresh setup installs.  Now Ubuntu 24.04 installs
completely, Mint 22 also installed fine as a dual boot, using legacy
settings in BIOS. I haven't tried Ubuntu 24.10 yet with legacy BIOS but
might try this later. This issue occurred on an older HP Envy notebook
which seemed to prefer legacy boot, without efi, in BIOS. Now it even
worked fine using zfs as an format option, also Interestingly, Ubuntu 24.10
works well using Virtualbox on a more recent Acer notebook running Windows
10, which uses secure boot. In any case, the problem was solved at least
for this older notebook, although its default BIOS setup settings used
secure boot and complained when I disabled this.

Ian

On Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM Paul S <1851955 at bugs.launchpad.net>
wrote:

> I had this exact issue and posted on a forum somewhere, can't find where
> I posted but here is what fixed it for me:
>
> Yes Secure Boot was disabled however it was still using the Factory
> Keys. I had to change it to Setup Keys which reset all the keys in the
> Bios in order to install.
>
> Really hope this helps somebody...
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1851955
>
> Title:
>   installation fails in grub-install with: efivarfs_set_variable:
>   writing to fd <N> failed: Invalid argument
>
> Status in efivar package in Ubuntu:
>   Confirmed
> Status in grub2 package in Ubuntu:
>   Confirmed
> Status in shim-signed package in Ubuntu:
>   Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
>   Installed on an ENVY notebook, installation afiled at the end with no
>   bootloader message
>
>   ProblemType: Bug
>   DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
>   Package: ubiquity 19.10.21
>   ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-18.19-generic 5.3.1
>   Uname: Linux 5.3.0-18-generic x86_64
>   NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
>   ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8
>   Architecture: amd64
>   CasperVersion: 1.427
>   Date: Sun Nov 10 08:32:41 2019
>   InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed initrd=/casper/initrd
> quiet splash --- maybe-ubiquity
>   LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
>   SourcePackage: ubiquity
>   UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/efivar/+bug/1851955/+subscriptions
>
>

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You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1851955

Title:
  installation fails in grub-install with: efivarfs_set_variable:
  writing to fd <N> failed: Invalid argument

Status in efivar package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in grub2 package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in shim-signed package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  Installed on an ENVY notebook, installation afiled at the end with no
  bootloader message

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
  Package: ubiquity 19.10.21
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-18.19-generic 5.3.1
  Uname: Linux 5.3.0-18-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperVersion: 1.427
  Date: Sun Nov 10 08:32:41 2019
  InstallCmdLine: file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed initrd=/casper/initrd quiet splash --- maybe-ubiquity
  LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
  SourcePackage: ubiquity
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/efivar/+bug/1851955/+subscriptions