Installing ubuntu for the first time dual os

Question

I am new to Linux and i wanted to install Ubuntu onto my old Sony Vaio. It meets all the requirements. But when installing from a USB a get an error that says 'unable to install grub in /dev/sda' this is a fatal error

I have seen few topics on this sort of same message, but all the options that are given there, are not available when I try to install it.

Please help im already getting really frustrated because i tried it 10 times using different ways, but no luck so far.

I have looked at the "Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda” when installing GRUB" thread, but the solution that they offer did not help me fix my problem.

Being new to ubuntu, i figure out where i can change the installation directory, by choosing 'Something else' during install, making the partition by myself and setting the path to that partition, and then installing it.

Possible duplicate of "Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda" when installing GRUB — Nick Weinberg, Nov 28 '16 at 23:04
same problem, but that solution does not help me i tried that solution, but i have no option anywhere to change from sda to sdb — Ryne Ignelzy, Nov 28 '16 at 23:06
pls be more precise about what vaio it is - i believe there are a million models of vaios, second did you have a look at the newest answer in https://askubuntu.com/questions/159918/cant-dual-boot-ubuntu-12-04-and-windows-7-on-sony-vaio-s-15-2012?rq=1 instead of emacs use nano to edit the file — d1bro, Nov 28 '16 at 23:11
@RyneIgnelzy, there's more than one solution there, so try them all if the first doesn't work. For the first solution, see another answer. Notice at the bottom of the second picture, it says Device for boot loader installation. That's where you'd change it. — Chai T. Rex, Nov 28 '16 at 23:15

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 28 '16 at 23:20

Back in the days when I used Ubuntu and Windows in dual boot my steps to achieve this where:

Create 2 main partitions one for each system: you can do this with Windows or Linux install CD/USB it doesn't matter.
Install Windows on first partition;
Create a back-up copy;
Install Linux on second partition. Set grub as default boot-loader when asked.

I do not know what you did to install this dual boot system of yours and I will gladly help you with more information but you need to provide more information about what you did and how because you are pretty vague. To give you an example a useful information will be what O.S. you tried to install first?

Installing ubuntu for the first time dual os

1 Answers1