Ubuntu Graphical Installer Question

[Rubi1200]

Hi,

I would like to install 24.04 but without the bootloader.

I do not see that option when starting Ubiquity and selecting Manual Installation. Only options are either sda or sdb. I was hoping to see do not install bootloader but perhaps I missed something?

Would this work from the terminal?

ubiquity --no-bootloader

I do not see the option on the manpage:
https://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages...biquity.8.html

Looking forward to clarifications.

Thanks!

[ajgreeny]

Ubuntu 24.04 does not use ubiquity so I not sure of the reasoning behind your query.

Give us as much detail as possible and perhaps we can move forward on this subject.

[Rubi1200]

My mistake then. Which installer is currently being used?

The situation is like this:
I want to install 24.04 to sda6.

I have another install on sda5 with a custom GRUB configuration that I really would rather not have to redo.

That is why I prefer that Ubuntu not install its bootloader.

Thanks.

[ajgreeny]

Sorry but I've installed 24.04 using the new bootstrap installer in KVM/QEMU where I allow it to install as default onto the virtual disk.

I have never looked into changing the bootloader site using this new installer but in the old ubiquity version a bug meant it ignored any choice you made and put grub into it's default location.
Maybe the new one behaves itself; wait for other replies before going any further.

[Dennis N]

I would allow the new OS to install bootloader to sda, and after installation is complete, restart and edit:
/boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/grub.cfg

it looks like this:

search.fs_uuid 77e5c27d-4818-4b8f-b38a-597dcd57bb7e root 
set prefix=($root)'/grub'
configfile $prefix/grub.cfg

Change the uuid in the search.fs_uuid line to the uuid of the root partition of the older install. Save the file and restart. System will boot to the older sda5 install. Run sudo update-grub to add the new OS to the grub menu of the older OS.

[Rubi1200]

In other words, there is no way to tell subiquity to NOT install the bootloader? Even using cli parameters?

[dragonfly41]

Without understanding the full context of requirements ..
(a) you might install rEFInd, set that as priority boot order in BIOS and customise UI in the rEFInd config file
or
(b) install grub-customizer

https://launchpad.net/%7Edanielricht...rub-customizer

But note here .. https://askubuntu.com/questions/1404...m-ubuntu-22-04

[Rubi1200]

Appreciate the response but I have always been one of the users who recommends against using Grub Customizer.

The question is whether or not it is possible to install Ubuntu 24.04 without a bootloader and if so how.

Thanks.

[1fallen]

Without understanding the full context of requirements ..
(a) you might install rEFInd, set that as priority boot order in BIOS and customise UI in the rEFInd config file
or

+1 for rEFInd, it's very adaptable, and will show all bootable drives even swapping them out.

You still need a bootloader though....More on this later I have meeting ATM

[tea for one]

The question is whether or not it is possible to install Ubuntu 24.04 without a bootloader and if so how..

I think that you've stumbled upon a feature or a reportable bug.
There doesn't seem to be an option for "no-bootloader"

The installer for 24.04 is called snap:ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap (stable/ubuntu-24.04 114)
If you try this in the terminal, you'll see that few options are available:-

ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap --help