Ubuntu
grub package

is there a way to stop GRUB installing itself on my MBR?

Asked by rasselas

I'm fairly sure I recall that in an earlier version of Ubuntu which I experimented-with a while ago there was an option during 'install' to choose (if dual-booting) whether to have GRUB put onto the MBR or whether Ubuntu should boot from the / partition. Now (using ver. 8.04 CDROM) I can no longer find such an option and I have yet to discover any way in which to prevent GRUB putting itself onto my MBR during an install. I already have a boot manager installed in my MBR with which I'm more than satisfied (and which is markedly superior to GRUB) - which GRUB overwrites. I wish to be the one to decide which boot manager I will use, thank you very much! Mepis continues to provide this option, but Ubuntu's developers evidently think they know better.

Having been forced to spend many fruitless hours trying to get the better of Ubuntu's arbitrary behaviour (remiscent of Microsoft's way ot treating its users at its worst), and having had to resort to uninstalling Ubuntu, I'm on the verge of giving up on Ubuntu for good out of sheer exasperation. This is the kind of thing I want to migrate from Windows to Linux to get away from!

My question:- is it me who has got it wrong - ie is there in fact a way to prevent GRUB installing itself on my MBR which I have so far overlooked?

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actionparsnip
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=415392

Revision history for this message
rasselas (robert-horwood) said : 		#2

Thanks for the quick response but no, the 2-year-old thread to which this
Email refers me does not solve my problem I'm afraid.

In fact, the reverse:- a) it covers only up as far as a previous version
(I'm using 8.04); b) it echoes my problem as I described it, and suggests
to me that either with those previous versions no way around the problem was
found or that - even if it was - no solution is available in ver. 8.04,
installing it (as I am) from the CDROM.

So I'm no further forward it seems. I would welcome any further
suggestions, provided they are addressed to the actual problem I face (as
described). Meanwhile, I can't install Ubuntu.

----- Original Message -----
From: "actionparsnip" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Question #75123]: is there a way to stop GRUB installing
itselfon my MBR?

Your question #75123 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/75123

    Status: Open => Answered

actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=415392

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/75123/+confirm?answer_id=0

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

If you are using the desktop CD, installing GRUB to the MBR is a part of the install. If you install with the alternative CD it is optional. The thread states this.

by the way, just because its 2 years old doesnt make it any different. The man pages for most commands (like cp, rm, and mv have not been changed in years. Just because it is posted at an earlier date than you'd like doesnt make it less relevant.

Revision history for this message
rasselas (robert-horwood) said : 		#4

Point taken re: "Just because it is posted at an earlier date than
you'd like doesnt make it less relevant.".

Re. "alternative CD": (a contributor to the thread says it "sucks", which
put me off):- is this what is called on Ubuntu's website the text-based
"alternate installer"?

BTW you haven't tried to defend (but I guess you don't feel obliged to) the
arbitrary way in which Ubuntu's developers decided to remove the option
which was present in earlier versions for the user to decide for him/herself
whether to have Grub as boot manager or not. To me - and it seems from the
thread I'm not alone - this was a step backwards. OK, you will say it
wasn't because it's still available via the "alternative CD". Not having
tried it (yet) I can't judge whether that is really a satisfactory
alternative (at least one of the thread's contributors doesn't appear to
think so). But why, oh why, take it out of the mainline CDROM installer?

This seems to me like "dumbing down" and I don't think it does Ubuntu's
image any favours.

----- Original Message -----
From: "actionparsnip" <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Question #75123]: is there a way to stop GRUB
installingitselfon my MBR?

Your question #75123 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/75123

    Status: Open => Answered

actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
If you are using the desktop CD, installing GRUB to the MBR is a part of
the install. If you install with the alternative CD it is optional. The
thread states this.

by the way, just because its 2 years old doesnt make it any different.
The man pages for most commands (like cp, rm, and mv have not been
changed in years. Just because it is posted at an earlier date than
you'd like doesnt make it less relevant.

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/75123/+confirm?answer_id=2

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/75123

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.90/2198 - Release Date: 06/23/09
17:54:00

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Ubuntu isnt made for people who like to play around. Ubuntu's philiosophy is "It just works" and installing the bootloader will make ubuntu jut work (it will also manage dual/multi boots too). The desktop CD is made for the folks who want a simple install. The alternate CD installs much like debian does in a text based system and is much more customisable

Defending / supporting Canonical's decisions regarding bootloader is not even a vague remote interest of mine, nor is it the topic of this help question so why would I waste my time?

The alternate ISO will allow you greater flexibility, I believe it even allows you to write grub to a different disk to the one you installed the OS to. Give it a go, you may be suprised. I always use the alternate ISO so that I can update systems offline using the CD. The desktop CD does not allow this and I always do a straight install to the whole disk so I save time and resources by running a text based system rather than waiting for a stupid x server to get on its feet. But hey, users like prettys don't they so they have to wait.

Revision history for this message
HandLotion (hmorgan1313) said : 		#6

Yes there is a way to prevent the $#^@* Grub from infecting your disk's MBR while using the Desktop ISO. Just before you hit the "install" button, click on the advanced options button which is just above the install button. Lo and behold there is one - and only one - advance option. It allows you to install Grub somewhere else.

On my dual boot system, I chose to install the $%#^& Grub on the Ubuntu partition. That was less than 3 weeks ago as I am a newbie to Ubuntu myself.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Sounds solved to me. Looks like you found the gold =D

Revision history for this message
rasselas (robert-horwood) said : 		#8

Very helpful (and patient) response.

Thanks to actionparsnip.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#9

I'm cool if you're cool. If people get shitty it makes life harder :D

Glad you hit it duder :D