Ubuntu

Ubuntu installation fails at partitioning.

Asked by neuroguy

Trying to install Ubuntu 8.10 on a Sony Avaio desktop Pentium 4, 1.50 GHz, 348 MG Ram, 80 Gig HD. It has Windows XP running on it with two HD partitions, 1) 20Gig 2) 60GIG. It is a system I've not used for a while and Windows has been a little unstable. Installation fails at step 3 which is I think partitioning, however, key board slection window stays open during the process. It runs for a while then stops returning an error message with question marks ?????. No other details. The liveCD runs without problem and when booting the system without Live CD i receive an option for Windows XP or Ubuntu. When I choose Ubuntu the system fails to boot. I am a computer novice but would liked the Ubuntu demo and would like to install on the system. I've back up all windows files. Keeping Windows XP on the system would be oKay but not necessary especially if it Ubuntu will run more effectively without it.
I've also tried install using Wubi online with the same result. Have imaged an new iso disk, which check ok but end result was the same. Have run chdsk and defraged multiple times.
Any help is appreciated.
Finally found error message "Parted_server_crash".

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Matthew Lye (matthew.lye) said : 		#1

Parted is the application used to partition the drive.

You can manually partition/check the partitions by loading a terminal and typing gksudo gparted on the live CD. Id also recommend running sudo fdisk-l and pasting the information here to give us some idea of what were looking at.

Its also possible to run Ubuntu through the WUBI installer inside windows to avoid partitioning completely. (http://wubi-installer.org/)

If you can give us some more information we can see what we can do. If you get errors in the terminal while running gparted paste them as well.

Revision history for this message
neuroguy (robertburrphd) said : 		#2

Thank you for your reply and help. Opened gparted and would manually adjust partitions but I'm not sure what partitions are needed and how big to make them. sudo fdisk -l results below. Tried to run Wubi but crashed at same spot. submitted bug report with crash data from conventional install. Report # 314926. I'm assuming that I need to delete old windows software to free space?? I'm basically looking to run Ubuntu and related software, upgrades etc.. Having window option would be nice but not necessary.

Thank you again for your help.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk-l
sudo: fdisk-l: command not found
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 81.9 GB, 81964302336 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0650064f

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 2089 16779861 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2 2090 9964 63255937+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 2090 9964 63255906 b W95 FAT32

Revision history for this message
neuroguy (robertburrphd) said : 		#3

Thank you for your reply and help. I submitted additional info thru
launchpad but was unable to attach some information that I saved as
snapshots. They are attached here. Also, I submitted the crash through a bug
report #314926. Thanks again.

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of
Vantrax
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 2:07 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: Re: [Question #56589]: Ubuntu installation fails at partitioning.

Your question #56589 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/56589

    Status: Open => Needs information

Vantrax requested for more information:
Parted is the application used to partition the drive.

You can manually partition/check the partitions by loading a terminal
and typing gksudo gparted on the live CD. Id also recommend running sudo
fdisk-l and pasting the information here to give us some idea of what
were looking at.

Its also possible to run Ubuntu through the WUBI installer inside
windows to avoid partitioning completely. (http://wubi-installer.org/)

If you can give us some more information we can see what we can do. If
you get errors in the terminal while running gparted paste them as well.

--
To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
this email or enter your reply at the following page:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/56589

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
Tom (tom6) said : 		#4

Have you tried downloading the iso again and make new cd at slower speed? Also check the md5checksum. Sounds like you have errors on the cd - it happens to us all.

Revision history for this message
Best Tom (tom6) said : 		#5

Actually i would also use a tiny distro that's built to be used as a LiveCd, such as Wolvix
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=wolvix
and use the Gparted from there to resize the Windows Partition and create the linux-swap and ext3 partitions in advance of trying to install. Also i would install Wolvix first because its a good tool at teaching people how to install and how to setup a dual boot. Then id install Ubuntu over the top of Wolvix.

Here's a page of advice on how to set up a dual-boot, it's a bit pedantic but it's one of those things that's a lot easier to do than to explain
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

Good luck and welcome in to linux :)
Regards from
Tom

Revision history for this message
neuroguy (robertburrphd) said : 		#6

I followed steps as outline on previous two messages. It seems to have resolved the problem.

Thank you for the help.