Ubuntu – What do I select for “GRUB install devices” after an update

debconfgrub2mbrupdate-manager

After running Update Manager, a debconf window (titled "Configuring grub-pc"), popped up, requiring me to select the appropriateGRUB install devices for my system. I've made no changes to grub or the filesystem recently, and I don't remember what options I selected last time I did make a change.

How do I know what to select? I'm assuming the wrong answer could render my system unable to boot.

Here's the debconf dialog:

Debconf window, configuring grub-pc, containing check-boxes for /dev/sda and /dev/sda1

Here's the window and text that is displayed when selecting "help" :

Grub was previously installed to a disk that is no longer present

Best Answer

In your case, the correct selection is /dev/sda, the first one. It's the first and only hard disk in your system, whereas /dev/sda1 is a partition on that hard disk. You can install grub on a partition, but it's a "BAD idea".

If you had multiple hard drives and partitions, first find out where your root partition is:

lsblk

(See also: How do I find out what hard disks are in the system?)

You can then install grub on that hard drive. Look for devices labeled "disk" (e.g. "sda", meaning /dev/sda) to install grub into the master boot record (every physical disk device has only one MBR, no matter the partitions).

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