Gfilui

I dont think it's a duplicate as it concerns single boot only setup without Windows. The solution from the other question didn't help anyway.

I just recently bought a brand new HP 250 G6 laptop without a system and I'm trying to install Ubuntu on it with live USB (single boot, the pc came with just FreeBios on it). I did it before a few times adn never experienced problems. This time, the installation proceeds seemingly smoothly until it reaches the stage when it is installing "grub 2" package. It somewhat freezes.

Well, the prompt registers some actions, but I waited up to 4 hours for the installation bar to progress beyond "installing grub 2 package" to no avail. The last prompts include "searching for a keyring" and "running anachron jobs". I tried two different UBSs and various ISOs (Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Linux Mint xfce) and the installation stalls at the very same stage. Im installing in the UEFI mode, the USB is configured properly. I added the EFI partition and I tried to use both the entire disk and one the partitions as device boot loader. 1 more important detail - after the first failed attempt, the laptop now boots to Grub prompts unless you try to f9/f10 to bios.

Update: Im creating it on my Windows PC with Rufus (fat 32, gptfor uefi mode, iso). Yes, when i choose the try without installing option, I can access the live version without any problem. Indeed, the problem appear during running the installation process, when the bar reaches grub 2 package. I tried with and without access to internet, with and without installing updates during the installation process. Im isntalling in the UEFI mode and I choose UEFI USB as boot source. My disk uses GPT (i run gdisk on the live version in terminal)

Update2: I mean to install Ubuntu only, no Windows. But when I install, the installer asks me if i want to install alongside Ubuntu, which means it somewhat recognizes the previous failed attempt at instllation as actual system. I always pick to erase the contents of the disk and install a new system. Below the commands

df -h

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
udev 1.9G 0 1.9G 0% /dev
tmpfs 379M 1.3M 378M 1% /run
/dev/sdb1 7.3G 1.1G 6.3G 14% /cdrom
/dev/loop0 968M 968M 0 100% /rofs
/cow 1.9G 31M 1.9G 2% /
tmpfs 1.9G 0 1.9G 0% /dev/shm
tmpfs 5.0M 4.0K 5.0M 1% /run/lock
tmpfs 1.9G 0 1.9G 0% /sys/fs/cgroup
tmpfs 1.9G 4.0K 1.9G 1% /tmp
tmpfs 379M 8.0K 379M 1% /run/user/999



sudo parted -ls

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 4000MB 3999MB linux-swap(v1)
2 4000MB 24.0GB 20.0GB ext4
3 24.0GB 124GB 100GB ext4
4 124GB 125GB 512MB fat32 boot, esp


Model: TOSHIBA TransMemory (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 7759MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 7759MB 7758MB fat32 Microsoft Basic Data msftdata


Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/zram1: 992MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 992MB 992MB linux-swap(v1)


Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/zram0: 992MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 992MB 992MB linux-swap(v1)




sudo lsblk -f

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 4000MB 3999MB linux-swap(v1)
2 4000MB 24.0GB 20.0GB ext4
3 24.0GB 124GB 100GB ext4
4 124GB 125GB 512MB fat32 boot, esp


Model: TOSHIBA TransMemory (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 7759MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 7759MB 7758MB fat32 Microsoft Basic Data msftdata


Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/zram1: 992MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 992MB 992MB linux-swap(v1)


Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/zram0: 992MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 992MB 992MB linux-swap(v1)

Two possible problems

I can see two possible problems from the output of the commands, that you added to your original question. (Others might see other problems; I am rather sure that we can solve your problem with grub.)

1. You have actually booted in BIOS (alias legacy) mode (not in UEFI mode), and your file system should have a small partition with the bios_grub flag.




2. The EFI partition is too far away from the head end of the drive, so the UEFI/BIOS system cannot see it and let grub use it.

This link is helpful to understand how to create a partition table,

help.ubuntu.com/community/DiskSpace

Erase disk and install Lubuntu

If you have a backup of your personal data (everything that you cannot afford to lose), I suggest that you test this method.

zram makes me think that you are installing Lubuntu.

The easiest way to get a working system is to let the installer create the file system according to this screenshot,

Get two ext4 partitions and make the system use them

If you want two ext4 partitions, you can do that after the installation:

• boot into the USB install drive again, 'Try Lubuntu'.



• 
  

  Use gparted to shrink the root partition (with ext4), and create a second ext4 partition, like you show in the edited question). You can use that partition as home partition, or if you wish as a data partition.

  
  
  
  1. 
     

     Edit fstab of the installed system, to mount the partition automatically. But now you should mount it manually, and then

     
     
     

     sudo nano /mountpoint/etc/fstab
     

     
     
  
  
  2. 
     

     If you have a backup of your home partition, you can copy it back to this new partition, and maybe you find it easier to make a new installation and to edit the fstab file.

     
     
     

     This time you select 'Something else' at the partitioning window and select the partitions, that should be correct and in good order now.

     
     
  
  

Solution

After a dialogue (as comments), the OP, @NVI, found this solution:

I suggested:

Since you are not going to have Windows in this drive, you need not
have a GUID partition table. I suggest that you use gparted and create
an MSDOS partition table (default in gparted via 'Device -- Create
Partition Table'). Then try with the automatic 'erase disk and install
lubuntu' option.

The OP reported the result:

I used gparted to create an MSDOS partition and changed my live USB
into a MBR for BIOS one and It did work! The installation completed
without any problems. You can probably add this solution to your
answer for users that do not plan on installing Windows on the same
drive.