What does "install grub" mean?
 

Hi

People keep saying I should install grub ie use
but grub is already there! in fact I use grub2 since I am using the latest version of Ubuntu! linux cant run with no bootloader so grub is already there
Do they mean install grub manager or something?

Thanks

without context, we've no idea what they mean. care to enlighten us?

Well the command at least asks Ubuntu to install grub boot loader. But why are people asking you to install it, no one will be able to guess unless you give us some background.

This statement is false and misleading and if someone said you so, s/he is not correct.

OK let me re-phrase

Let's say I have a fresh install Of Ubuntu the latest version
When do I "gurb --help" I get "The program 'grub' is currently not installed. You can install it by typing: sudo apt-get install grub"

How is that possible? when grub2 is installed by default?

Grub and Grub2 possibly are different packages and hence the issue.

You do know your computer is not a real person, right? :)

GRUB isn't installed "in Linux" so you can't run GRUB or GRUB2 or get help from them by typing grub or grub2 on the command line.
If you installed GRUB2 then: should say something like:I'm not sure how you check for GRUB though.
Edit: linuxlover.chaitanya is correct that grub and grub2 are different packages so if you have GRUB2 installed that comes from the package grub2 not grub.

Why do you need to know this though? Is something not working on your computer? What is it you ask or tell friends for them to say "install grub"?

Wait let me get this right: so you telling me that my linux is running with no grub or grub2? please forgive my stupidity but how come I am using an OS with no boot loader?

A couple of things.

Grub and Grub2 are different animals.

"Installing" grub can be many things. You can install the grub (or grub2) package. For that, you'd use the distro package manager, or one of its frontends). You can also install the grub payload on the MBR or your hard disk, that's usually done via the grub-install command. In grub2 and a pc you'll probably use grub2-pc-install, but it really depends on your distro (or whatever live disk you use to install grub2).

Sometimes this can get really a distro-specific issue, so I'd try the docs for your distro or posting into the relevant subforum. I can't be any more concrete than this without more detailed input.

Now that makes sense! Ubuntu's latest versions installs GRUB2 payload on the MBR during the installation however I dont have any grub package on my system!

How do I know what version of the payload I have on my MBR?

If you run the command I suggested and you get a result like I did you have GRUB2.

You rock! Solved

Sorry for confusing you earlier and glad I could help.