ubuntu installation hangs at "Installing the 'grub2' package..."

Question

I'm removed windows 10 from my laptop (hp probook x360) and i tried to install Lubuntu on it, but it was hang on 81% during the installation. So I tried to install Ubuntu but the installation does not go further than "installing the 'grub2' package..." I made my searches on forums but I am a total newbie so I can't fix it.

I checked the MD5sum and it's OK.

Version:

Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS

sudo parted -ls:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo parted -ls
Model: ATA SAMSUNG MZNLN128 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 128GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    File system     Name                  Flags
 1      1049kB  538MB   537MB   fat32           EFI System Partition  boot, esp
 2      538MB   1612MB  1074MB  ext4
 4      1612MB  124GB   122GB                                         lvm
 3      124GB   128GB   3940MB  linux-swap(v1)  ANTERGOS_SWAP


Model: SanDisk Cruzer Blade (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 31.3GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  31.3GB  31.3GB  primary  fat32        boot, lba


Model: Linux device-mapper (linear) (dm)
Disk /dev/mapper/fedora-home: 64.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End     Size    File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  64.7GB  64.7GB  ext4


Model: Linux device-mapper (linear) (dm)
Disk /dev/mapper/fedora-swap: 4077MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End     Size    File system     Flags
 1      0.00B  4077MB  4077MB  linux-swap(v1)


Model: Linux device-mapper (linear) (dm)
Disk /dev/mapper/fedora-root: 53.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End     Size    File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  53.7GB  53.7GB  ext4

I just have a 128GB ssd and a 32GB USB stick which is the installation media. I would like also to let you know that I did a lot of manipulations without understanding them, so it's normal if the disks/partitions contains weird things.

Boot mode:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ test -d /sys/firmware/efi && echo efi || echo bios
efi

Answer 1

Getting detailed information

Usually you will see the version in the name of the downloaded iso file. Otherwise you will see it, when booted from the USB drive with the command line

lsb_release -a

You can check the md5sum with the program md5sum,

md5sum filename.iso

and compare to the listed value in the file MD5SUMS, that you find in the same directory as the corresponding iso file. You find it via this link,

releases.ubuntu.com/

The partition table, MSDOS or GUID (GPT), is listed in the output of the following command. See the output for the internal drive, where you intend to install Ubuntu or Lubuntu, and also for the USB pendrive,

sudo parted -ls

Rufus has a good reputation. When you know the partition table (of the USB pendrive) you can choose the option in Rufus.

You can find which boot mode that is used in the computer with the following command,

test -d /sys/firmware/efi && echo efi || echo bios

---

Please edit your original question and put your answers there. Please make the output of the commands easier to read by indenting each line 4 spaces to render it as 'code'.

Then you can write a comment, that you start with @sudodus in order to send an alert to me, and I can continue helping you (unless I have gone to bed; I have Central European Time; but then someone else might chip in and help you).

Suggested method to make a successful installation

Boot into the Ubuntu live drive 'Try Ubuntu' (still in UEFI mode)

Remove the current partition table and data, that might confuse the installer

Install mkusb in Ubuntu live (yes, I know, that it will not persist a reboot, but you can use it as long as you run the live system).

sudo add-apt-repository universe  # only for standard Ubuntu

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/ppa  # and press Enter
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mkusb mkusb-nox usb-pack-efi

• Use mkusb-dus to wipe the first mibibyte. In a terminal window,

  dus
  

  and follow the instructions in the menus.

Create a new partition table

• Start gparted,
• Select the correct drive (the internal drive) in the small box at the top right corner
• In the dropdown menu 'Device',
  • select 'Create partition table' and
  • gpt
  • and click the Apply button.

I think this is enough in gparted. Now there should be a GUID partition table (but no partitions yet).

Start the installer

• Start as before ...

• At the partitioning window of the installer,

  The 'Installation type' screen is displayed

  • Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu

• Continue, and I think it should work to install grub.

Good luck :-)

Answer 2

the number one cause is that you're trying to install on what used to be a windows system but you didn't tell windows to unlock the SSD first.

grub is trying to write to the boot sector and meeting a drive with a read-only flag enabled. Which windows 10 systematically sets on shutdown to allow itself a faster boot in detriment anything else's ability to write to the disk while windows is powered off.

since there is no more windows to do the easy powercfg method, you can instead unlock the drive from the usb boot stick.

mounting the drive from the terminal gives you commands to type if you want write access as well.

or a simpler approach is just to use gparted go into the flags section of the drive and remove everything, then format it entirely to "unformated" for example. then you can start the install prrocess over again.