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Dual-boot: "Fatal error executing grub install" - "No known boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda"

br flag

I am trying to dual-boot and have installed Ubuntu 20.4.3 from flash drive using Rufus. Running Windows 11. Partition scheme GPT, Target System UEFI.

It worked for a day, but then errored and I tried reinstalling as all other fixes didn't seem to help. Now I am receiving the following fatal error: ‘executing grub install dev nvme0n1 failed’ which is preventing the install. Boot-repair (from live USB) does not display the option for "recommended repair". You can see my report from boot-repair here.

Error seems to be that apparently "No known boot loader is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda".

I found one solution from another post on this site here, but this seems to be for a clean install, which mine isn't.

I'm a bit out of my depth here. Any help greatly appreciated. (System Model: HP ENVY Laptop 13...Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10210U CPU @ 1.60GHz, 2112 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s))

Organic Marble avatar
us flag
UEFI mode systems should not use MBR bootloaders so it sounds like you have 1 system installed in UEFI mode and the other in legacy mode.
br flag
@OrganicMarble thanks. There's also a snippet in the boot repair report that says "Error this media cannot boot in legacy mode". However, my system info tells me my BIOS mode is UEFI and in Rufus I 100% selected UEFI (non CSM) , which is confirmed in brackets after F9 when booting from USB. The option states "(UEFI)". Unless I'm missing something here
ChanganAuto avatar
us flag
Try this: Boot Windows and disable Fast Startup. Shutdown. Boot the live media and run Boot Repair, apply fix (reinstall Grub).
br flag
@ChanganAuto thanks, but Fast Startup is already disabled and still returning this error.
ChanganAuto avatar
us flag
Open UEFI settings and make sure only "UEFI" mode is selected > Disable any CSM/Legacy setting and no "UEFI+Legacy" either, if applicable. This assures the live media will boot in the proper mode. Also please re-check Windows' Fast Startup because some major update might have re-enabled it.
br flag
Thanks. HP BIOS/UEFI settings don't give any options around legacy just checked again. Boot mode is set to UEFI IPv4 + IPv6. Fast startup is definitely off. No dice I'm afraid
oldfred avatar
cn flag
HP does not seem to recognize boot order changes with efibootmgr which grub also uses to change grub to default boot. Most update UEFI and change boot order in UEFI settings (not UEFI boot menu). But you should be able to choose Ubuntu in UEFI boot menu. No Boot Loader in MBR is just telling you that is correct, boot loader should be in ESP - efi system partition. If you ran Boot-Repair post link to summary report as it suggests if asking for help.https://askubuntu.com/questions/1332255/dual-boot-only-booting-into-windows-no-option-to-choose-between-windows-or-ubun
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