^there is no use in trying different distro for fixing a common problem!
@OP:firstly go to bios and make sure ur sata hdd is the default first booting harddisk.u can check this in boot device priority .
regarding grub,I think if ur installing in sata hdd,then obviously the grub needed to be installed on sata hdd( /dev/sda...).
Complete ur Ubuntu installation with a 7 GB "/" partition and a 500MB swap partition or less .finish the installation;if grub failed to install,boot with Ubuntu CD again,and go to rescue mode(if available) else boot to live environment.then
do as following:
mount ur harddisk (sata) installation of Ubuntu in /mnt dir:
Code:
sudo mount /dev/sdax /mnt
^where "x" is the partition no.of ubuntu partition on sata hdd(u can find by "sudo fdisk -l" command)
then do the chroot formalities:
Code:
sudo mount -t proc proc /mnt/proc
and:
Code:
sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
now chroot:
Code:
sudo chroot /mnt /bin/bash
now ur inside Ubuntu harddisk installation.
now run:
when u get "grub>" prompt,
where hd0 or hd1 all requires us to know ur "sudo fdisk -l" output.
thats it.