Ubuntu Install Problems

manu-tm · 03-13-2013, 01:52 PM

The install apparently didn't succeed (as you don't have a Linux partition) so it would just be much easier to start over. And you don't have to uninstall anything.

About the USB drive, did you make it with something like UNetbootin? Because just copying the iso doesn't make it bootable.

patmando · 03-13-2013, 01:58 PM

Hi,

I am happy to start over. I did not make it with Unetbootin. Also, as I have been reading. I did not create ISO discs or versions. I know that is a common mistake. I unpacked each image and put it on a drive or a cd.

I have also been all around my bios. It claims it will either only boot from CD or USB. But, if I don't have something there it will go to Grub pretty quickly and offer me Ubuntu or Windows XP.

manu-tm · 03-13-2013, 02:02 PM

So you need to use UNetbootin to create a bootable USB drive from the downloaded iso image. After that, you should be able to boot from the USB drive (no grub menu anymore) and start a fresh install, no matter what was previously on your hard drive.

During the install, you will have the choice to use your whole hard drive (other partitions will be wiped out.)

patmando · 03-13-2013, 02:11 PM

Thanks, Manu!

I will give that a try!

patmando · 03-13-2013, 03:51 PM

This is what I have now:

sudopatmando@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for patmando:

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders, total 78165360 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xce44ce44

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 78140159 39070048+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdb: 16.1 GB, 16079781888 bytes
256 heads, 9 sectors/track, 13631 cylinders, total 31405824 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc3072e18

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 16208 31405823 15694808 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
patmando@ubuntu:~$

It never offered to install or rewrite the drive. It gave me "not enough room error" after about an hour. (probably due to my slow machine).

How do I get it to install over Windows?

patmando · 03-13-2013, 03:54 PM

Here is the good news!

We booted from the USB without the CD in!

patmando · 03-13-2013, 04:37 PM

Hi,

So I've read a bit more about Unetbootin. It worked. I booted from the USB drive. Now how do I install and overwrite Windows?

patmando · 03-13-2013, 04:47 PM

I've been over this a million times. I can't install ubuntu because it thinks it is already installed. Is there any way to prompt it to install over windows? Any way?

patmando · 03-13-2013, 05:01 PM

There are 500 websites about how to boot from a CD or USB or how not to burn an ISO. I have read them all. Ubuntu is up and running on my computer. It just is running from a Live CD or a USB. It also thinks it has no memory to install upgrades. When in fact, it has a whole hard drive. How do I tell Ubuntu, that it is the operating system of choice?

manu-tm · 03-13-2013, 05:21 PM

Isn't there an option like 'install ubuntu' along with 'try ubuntu without installing', when booting from the USB drive?

patmando · 03-13-2013, 05:34 PM

No, that's what I am saying. Is there any way to install it from Ubuntu? It boots up like it was installed but it isn't.

manu-tm · 03-13-2013, 05:49 PM

Hmmm, I thought it should be so but I may be wrong. For Ubuntu Desktop, when explicitly booting from the USB drive (with F12 or someting, then choosing USB), you actually get this menu (try / install). But I'm not sure about Ubuntu Server.

You may find these links helpful (although you may have already read them):

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...-ubuntu-server
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

patmando · 03-13-2013, 06:21 PM

That is exactly what I am saying. I have read those sites. I never get a chance to get there. Ubuntu just boots up as if I already did that. But it won't install onto the hard drive.

patmando · 03-13-2013, 07:22 PM

Hi,

I took the flash drive out. No flash drive, no CD. It gave me the choice to boot Ubuntu or Windows. When it booted Ubuntu it even had the background I selected. Does anyone have any idea what is going on here?

patmando · 03-13-2013, 07:50 PM

This is running with no thumb drive and no cd. Where is it running from?

patmando@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for patmando:

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders, total 78165360 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xce44ce44

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 78140159 39070048+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
patmando@ubuntu:~$