Error Installing OS in empty SSD: Failed to commit logical partitions: unable to create volume group 'data'

[WaKeMaTTa]

Distribution (run cat /etc/os-release):

NAME="Pop!_OS"
VERSION="18.04 LTS"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
PRETTY_NAME="Pop!_OS 18.04 LTS"
VERSION_ID="18.04"
HOME_URL="https://system76.com/pop"
SUPPORT_URL="http://support.system76.com"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://github.com/pop-os/pop/issues"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://system76.com/privacy"
VERSION_CODENAME=bionic
UBUNTU_CODENAME=bionic

Related Application and/or Package Version (run apt policy $PACKAGE NAME):

Package files:
 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     release a=now
1001 http://ppa.launchpad.net/system76/pop/ubuntu bionic/main i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=LP-PPA-system76-pop,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Pop!_OS PPA,c=main,b=i386
     origin ppa.launchpad.net
1001 http://ppa.launchpad.net/system76/pop/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=LP-PPA-system76-pop,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Pop!_OS PPA,c=main,b=amd64
     origin ppa.launchpad.net
 500 http://apt.pop-os.org/proprietary bionic/main all Packages
     release v=18.04,o=system76,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=System76,c=main,b=all
     origin apt.pop-os.org
 500 http://apt.pop-os.org/proprietary bionic/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=system76,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=System76,c=main,b=amd64
     origin apt.pop-os.org
 100 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports/universe i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-backports,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 100 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports/universe amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-backports,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 100 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports/main i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-backports,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 100 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-backports,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/universe i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/universe amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/restricted i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/restricted amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/main i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-updates,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/multiverse i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/multiverse amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/universe i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/universe amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/restricted i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/restricted amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/main i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic-security,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/multiverse i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/multiverse amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=multiverse,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/universe i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/universe amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=universe,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/restricted i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/restricted amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main i386 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=i386
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=amd64
     origin us.archive.ubuntu.com
 500 cdrom://Pop_OS 18.04 _Bionic Beaver_ - Release amd64 (20200131) bionic/restricted amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=restricted,b=amd64
     origin Pop_OS 18.04 _Bionic Beaver_ - Release amd64 (20200131)
 500 cdrom://Pop_OS 18.04 _Bionic Beaver_ - Release amd64 (20200131) bionic/main amd64 Packages
     release v=18.04,o=Ubuntu,a=bionic,n=bionic,l=Ubuntu,c=main,b=amd64
     origin Pop_OS 18.04 _Bionic Beaver_ - Release amd64 (20200131)
Pinned packages:

Issue/Bug Description:

INFO: Starting installation
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: unable to open disk; creating new table on it
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdb
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb1
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
INFO: found free sectors at the end on "/dev/sda": 1025 - 937701040
INFO: found erase option on "/dev/sda": 937703088 sectors
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb1" has mount_opt Some(MountInfo { source: "/dev/sdb1", dest: "/cdrom", fstype: "vfat", options: ["ro", "noatime", "fmask=0022", "dmask=0022", "codepage=437", "iocharset=iso8859-1", "shortname=mixed", "errors=remount-ro"], dump: 0, pass: 0 })
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb1" has mount_opt Some(MountInfo { source: "/dev/sdb1", dest: "/cdrom", fstype: "vfat", options: ["ro", "noatime", "fmask=0022", "dmask=0022", "codepage=437", "iocharset=iso8859-1", "shortname=mixed", "errors=remount-ro"], dump: 0, pass: 0 })
INFO: install options: skipping options on "/dev/sdb"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: unable to open disk; creating new table on it
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdb
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb1
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: unable to open disk; creating new table on it
INFO: specifying to write new table on /dev/sda
INFO: unmount all partitions on /dev/sda
INFO: checking if 4096:1023999 overlaps
INFO: checking if 1024000:9412607 overlaps
INFO: checking if 9412608:929310383 overlaps
INFO: checking if 929310384:937698991 overlaps
ERROR: libdistinst: pointer in FFI is null
ERROR: libdistinst: pointer in FFI is null
INFO: starting initializing step
INFO: Initializing
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: config.squashfs: found at /cdrom/casper_pop-os_18.04_amd64_nvidia_debug_181/filesystem.squashfs
INFO: verifying if keyfiles have paths
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: unable to open disk; creating new table on it
INFO: devices to modify: []
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
INFO: volume map: {}
INFO: searching for device maps to deactivate
INFO: pvs: []
INFO: unmounting devices
INFO: unmount all partitions with a target on /dev/sda
INFO: starting partitioning step
INFO: /dev/sda: Committing changes to disk
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda: Disk {
    model_name: "ATA KINGSTON SA400S3",
    serial: "KINGSTON_SA400S37480G_50026B738071FF42",
    device_path: "/dev/sda",
    file_system: None,
    mount_point: None,
    size: 937703088,
    device_type: "PED_DEVICE_SCSI",
    table_type: Some(
        Gpt,
    ),
    read_only: false,
    mklabel: true,
    partitions: [
        PartitionInfo {
            bitflags: 4,
            number: -1,
            ordering: -1,
            start_sector: 4096,
            end_sector: 1023999,
            part_type: Primary,
            filesystem: Some(
                Fat32,
            ),
            flags: [
                PED_PARTITION_ESP,
            ],
            name: None,
            device_path: "",
            mount_point: None,
            target: Some(
                "/boot/efi",
            ),
            original_vg: None,
            volume_group: None,
            key_id: None,
            identifiers: PartitionIdentifiers {
                id: None,
                label: None,
                part_label: None,
                part_uuid: None,
                path: None,
                uuid: None,
            },
        },
        PartitionInfo {
            bitflags: 4,
            number: -1,
            ordering: -1,
            start_sector: 1024000,
            end_sector: 9412607,
            part_type: Primary,
            filesystem: Some(
                Fat32,
            ),
            flags: [],
            name: Some(
                "recovery",
            ),
            device_path: "",
            mount_point: None,
            target: Some(
                "/recovery",
            ),
            original_vg: None,
            volume_group: None,
            key_id: None,
            identifiers: PartitionIdentifiers {
                id: None,
                label: None,
                part_label: None,
                part_uuid: None,
                path: None,
                uuid: None,
            },
        },
        PartitionInfo {
            bitflags: 4,
            number: -1,
            ordering: -1,
            start_sector: 9412608,
            end_sector: 929310383,
            part_type: Primary,
            filesystem: Some(
                Luks,
            ),
            flags: [],
            name: None,
            device_path: "",
            mount_point: None,
            target: None,
            original_vg: None,
            volume_group: Some(
                (
                    "data",
                    Some(
                        LvmEncryption { physical_volume: cryptdata, password: hidden, keydata: None },
                    ),
                ),
            ),
            key_id: None,
            identifiers: PartitionIdentifiers {
                id: None,
                label: None,
                part_label: None,
                part_uuid: None,
                path: None,
                uuid: None,
            },
        },
        PartitionInfo {
            bitflags: 4,
            number: -1,
            ordering: -1,
            start_sector: 929310384,
            end_sector: 937698991,
            part_type: Primary,
            filesystem: Some(
                Swap,
            ),
            flags: [],
            name: None,
            device_path: "",
            mount_point: None,
            target: None,
            original_vg: None,
            volume_group: None,
            key_id: None,
            identifiers: PartitionIdentifiers {
                id: None,
                label: None,
                part_label: None,
                part_uuid: None,
                path: None,
                uuid: None,
            },
        },
    ],
}
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: unable to open disk; creating new table on it
INFO: generating diff of disk at /dev/sda
INFO: proposed layout:
    -1: 4096 - 1023999
    -1: 1024000 - 9412607
    -1: 9412608 - 929310383
    -1: 929310384 - 937698991
INFO: /dev/sda: executing remove operations
INFO: using wipefs to wipe signatures from "/dev/sda"
INFO: executing wipefs with ["-a", "/dev/sda"]
INFO: writing Gpt table on /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: /dev/sda: executing change operations
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: /dev/sda: executing creation operations
INFO: creating partition (PartitionCreate { path: "/dev/sda", start_sector: 4096, end_sector: 1023999, format: true, file_system: Some(Fat32), kind: Primary, flags: [PED_PARTITION_ESP], label: None }) on /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: creating new partition with 1019903 sectors: 4096 - 1023999
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: committing new partition (4096:1023999) on /dev/sda
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: creating partition (PartitionCreate { path: "/dev/sda", start_sector: 1024000, end_sector: 9412607, format: true, file_system: Some(Fat32), kind: Primary, flags: [], label: Some("recovery") }) on /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: creating new partition with 8388607 sectors: 1024000 - 9412607
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: committing new partition (1024000:9412607) on /dev/sda
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: creating partition (PartitionCreate { path: "/dev/sda", start_sector: 9412608, end_sector: 929310383, format: true, file_system: Some(Luks), kind: Primary, flags: [], label: None }) on /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: creating new partition with 919897775 sectors: 9412608 - 929310383
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: committing new partition (9412608:929310383) on /dev/sda
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: creating partition (PartitionCreate { path: "/dev/sda", start_sector: 929310384, end_sector: 937698991, format: true, file_system: Some(Swap), kind: Primary, flags: [], label: None }) on /dev/sda
INFO: opening device at /dev/sda
INFO: creating new partition with 8388607 sectors: 929310384 - 937698991
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: committing new partition (929310384:937698991) on /dev/sda
INFO: committing changes to /dev/sda
INFO: syncing device at /dev/sda
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: executing blockdev with ["--flushbufs", "--rereadpt", "/dev/sda"]
INFO: executing format operations
INFO: formatting /dev/sda1 with Fat32
INFO: formatting /dev/sda3 with Luks
INFO: formatting /dev/sda2 with Fat32
INFO: formatting /dev/sda4 with Swap
INFO: executing mkfs.fat with ["-F", "32", "/dev/sda1"]
INFO: executing mkfs.fat with ["-F", "32", "/dev/sda2"]
INFO: executing mkswap with ["-f", "/dev/sda4"]
INFO: reloading disk information for /dev/sda
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda3
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda4
INFO: checking for mount target at 4096
INFO: checking for mount target at 1024000
INFO: checking for mount target at 9412608
INFO: executing blockdev with ["--flushbufs", "--rereadpt", "/dev/sda"]
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
INFO: searching for device maps to deactivate
INFO: cryptsetup is encrypting /dev/sda3 with LvmEncryption { physical_volume: cryptdata, password: hidden, keydata: None }
INFO: executing cryptsetup with ["-s", "512", "luksFormat", "--type", "luks2", "/dev/sda3"]
INFO: searching for device maps to deactivate
INFO: cryptsetup is opening /dev/sda3 with pv cryptdata and LvmEncryption { physical_volume: cryptdata, password: hidden, keydata: None }
INFO: executing cryptsetup with ["open", "/dev/sda3", "cryptdata"]
INFO: executing pvcreate with ["-ffy", "/dev/mapper/cryptdata"]
INFO: executing vgcreate with ["-ffy", "data", "/dev/mapper/cryptdata"]
ERROR: partitioning error: failed to commit logical partitions: unable to create volume group 'data' on "/dev/mapper/data": vgcreate failed with status: 5 (Input/output error (os error 5))
ERROR: errored while installing system: failed to commit logical partitions: unable to create volume group 'data' on "/dev/mapper/data": vgcreate failed with status: 5 (Input/output error (os error 5))
INFO: Install error: failed to commit logical partitions: unable to create volume group 'data' on "/dev/mapper/data": vgcreate failed with status: 5 (Input/output error (os error 5))

Steps to reproduce (if you know):

1. Download Pop_os! 18.04 (NVIDIA)- 59 ISO.
2. Download Unetbootin (linux version).
3. Install unetbootin software.
4. Plug-in USB key.
5. Run unetbootin as administrator/sudo.
6. Select USB key and ISO. Press install.
7. Plug USB key to the laptop.
8. Turn on and go to Boot menu.
9. Select usb key.
10. Start Pop_os! installation.
11. Get error in the middle of the installation. 😢

Expected behavior:

Installation successful.

Other Notes:

• My laptop: HP Pavilion 15 gaming
• SSD: Kingston A400 SSD SA400S37/480G - SSD 2.5" SATA 480GB (this one was empty because I just bought it)
• The ISO that I downloaded wasn't corrupted.

[ahoneybun]

I would suggest either trying another installation tool like Etcher or Disks to make the live disk or to make sure that the ISO is complete.

https://support.system76.com/articles/live-disk/

[WaKeMaTTa]

@ahoneybun I tried both and I still have the same issue.

[tennox]

For me it was actually this issue:
elementary/installer#584 (comment)
(had encrypted install on it)