ubuntu 11.10 No root file system is defined

Are you going to be dual booting the system or are you installing ONLY ubuntu?

Only Ubuntu for now

Then use custom partitioning and use:

8.2Gb for swap
10Gb formatted Ext4 set to /
and the rest formatted Ext4 for /home

You can now install just fine :)

If you intend to install Windows later you can resize the partitions to make a partition to install Windows to but you WILL need to reinstate Grub as the Windows installer will blindly overwrite Grub with it's own loader.

Thanks!... but how would I go about changing the partitions at all?

When you are asked what partitioning you want, click "something else"

That's kinda the thing, I don't get that option I just get " Install Ubuntu" or "Try Ubuntu without Installing"

Select to try Ubuntu, then run the installer from there

I tried to install it from the "Try Ubuntu" and I still never get this option it goes from "Welcome: choose language", to "Preparing to install Ubuntu" that gives me the option to download updates, "Wireless", and finally "Instillation type" which has the "Device for boot loader installation" and a blank table.

In the installation type choose the "something else" option

I don't get that option, I get 5 buttons (New Partition Table, Add, Change, Delete, Revert) when i click on any of them nothing happens... Maybe did i get the wrong version of Ubuntu? I got the desktop 64 bit one should i try the 32 bit one? Thanks again for the help.

It isn"t a problem with operating system architecture. If you would like to create new partition, select Add and enter your configuration.

Thank you so much I finally got everything to work!

I have the exact same thing:
I tried to install it from the "Try Ubuntu" and I still never get this option it goes from "Welcome: choose language", to "Preparing to install Ubuntu" that gives me the option to download updates, "Wireless", and finally "Instillation type" which has the "Device for boot loader installation" and a blank table.

None of the buttons: New Partition Table, Add, Change, Delete or Revert are clickable.
There is a drop down list with /dev/sda in it, but that's it.

There is nothing in the listbox above the buttons, and I was never asked what kind of installation I want to do.
It just goes to Installation type.

I had issues with Wubi earlier too, but now I'm trying to install from the cd.

I'm going to try downloading 32bit and see if I can get anywhere.

It might be helpful to know that I have windows 8 installed, but I was willing to wipe the drive... I just dont get the option.