Cannot install Ubuntu 8.10 - HDD issues?

Hi Jasmine,
this is not a bug :)
but i can help you
first if your old windows is an xp or a vista dont try to install the 2k, use the same windows version as the installed one.
after installing the windows OS, you can start installing your ubuntu.
br
hatem

Well I actually built the computer so the HDD was completely clean. The first OS on it was Ubuntu. I just wanted to install windows on it as well.

So now I have to install windows before I can install Ubuntu?

Hi
in case you need to install windows after ubuntu.
you should use an os manager (like powerquest softwares )
you can also use an emulator / virtualizer like virtualbox.
with viortualbox, you can run windows in ubuntu without loosing any things.
for more information www.virtualbox.org
Br
hatem

Hi :)

This is all looking confusing but don't worry, you can work your way through this fairly easily but perhaps not super-fast. The first thing is to try a LiveCd session of Ubuntu - so, put the Ubuntu cd in the cd/dvd-drive and reboot the machine. It should take you to a menu saying "Try ubuntu without changes to this machine", if not here's a guide to help
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromCD
choosing that default option to try Ubuntu should get you to a working desktop that we call a LiveCd session, if it works. This LiveCd session should have firefox on the top taskbar able to surf the internet into here.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Hi again :)

A bit more detail this time. If you're reading this in the library or at some public machine then just skim it - my first post should get you access at home.

Most distros, not just Ubuntu, have a LiveCd session as the default when booting up from their installer Cd although not many have such a fancy menu screen, mostly it's just a splash-screen and a blinking cursor. Also most distros quickly pick-up your internet connection but it usually takes about 3 button clicks. With Ubuntu's LiveCd session it should pick-up your internet connection straight-away without any fuss so just click on the firefox icon on the top taskbar and you should be able to surf into this thread :)

Note that while it looks like a normal desktop all the "Documents", "Music" and such-like folders are all built from the Cd so anything saved into them will be forgotten when you reboot or take the cd out. The LiveCd session is handy for some quick surfing and checking emails, or for showing off Ubuntu to other people on their own machine, or for checking that Ubuntu will work on a machine (worth doing with any distro before installing it).

Ok, anyway - from the LiveCd session go up to the top taskbar and click on

Applications - Accessories - Terminal

and into the terminal/command window/console type

sudo fdisk -l

and copy&paste the answer into this thread so we can see what is really going on with your drive at the moment and see if there's anything already there we can work with or whether we really will need to start from scratch. Either way is good. Note that if you're unsure of advice given about the command-line you can check by typing the command on its own with a " -h" or " --help" after it to get a quick cheat-sheet about how to use the command. Try

sudo -h

fdisk -h

Note that while fdisk does have some very damaging potential i am carefully avoiding harm and just using it to scout out what's going on ;) Usually a good first step.

The Master Boot Record on your hard-drive has been told to look for "NtLdr". NT is the basic Windows OS used at the heart of Win2k, Xp and some others. Ldr refers to "LoaDeR". So, "ntldr" is short for "windows boot-loader". The linux one's are called grub and Lilo - and are very much more sophisticated than ntldr. Grub is the most recent but both are far better at dual-booting between Windows & Ubuntu than ntldr, we'll help you with all that a little later.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)