I used: $ sudo /sbin/parted --script /dev/sdb \ mklabel msdos \ mkpart primary 0 100% \ toggle 1 boot \ print As a workaround I change it to the below and after that grub istalled: $ sudo /sbin/parted --script /dev/sdb \ mklabel msdos \ mkpart primary 8M 100% \ toggle 1 boot \ print $ sudo /sbin/parted --script /dev/sdb print Model: Generic External (scsi) Disk /dev/sdb: 320GB Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B Partition Table: msdos Number Start End Size Type File system Flags 1 8225kB 320GB 320GB primary boot $ sudo fdisk -ul /dev/sdb Disk /dev/sdb: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Disk identifier: 0x000535fb Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 * 16065 625137344 312560640 83 Linux