Installing Ubuntu alongside my Windows

I have attempted several times to install Ubuntu on my hard drive. I wish to have Ubuntu and my Windows on the same HDD. When I first attempted it, I thought it was installing on my HD. But when I went to get updates, got error saying I had run out of space (I have a 600 Gb HHD). Turns out it was installed on my USB stick. Whenever I try to go back and install, I do not get the option to install alongside windows. My only options are to wipe Windows off and install Ubuntu, or select the partition myself. I do not know enough to do it myself. I did use a third party software to partition some of the HDD, where I thought I could put the UBuntu, but when I am in Ubuntu, it tells me that partition is unusable.

From the live DVD or flash drive you are using, go to terminal and copy & paste this into terminal. Post output.

sudo parted -l

It may be easiest just to have an unallocated space and an available primary partition. Then you can use the auto install option. But Windows 7 usually uses all 4 primary partitions.

Install options, Do not use erase entire drive unless that is really what you want.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...g-term-support
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot
Install Ubuntu 12.10 0 with screenshots
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/...desktop-latest
http://howtoubuntu.org/how-to-instal...cise-pangolin/
Install 12.04- side by side auto install with screen shots
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing

root@bt:~# sudo parted -l
Model: ATA TOSHIBA MK6476GS (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 640GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 210MB 209MB primary ntfs boot
2 995MB 624GB 623GB primary ntfs
3 624GB 640GB 15.5GB primary ntfs
4 640GB 640GB 108MB primary fat32 lba


Model: Kingston DT 101 G2 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 31.2GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 31.2GB 31.2GB primary fat32 boot, lba

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnnyCod

I do not get the option to install alongside windows.

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According to the command results, you already have the maximum of four partitions on the drive.

Did you personally add one of the NTFS partitions or the FAT32 partition? If so, you created a partition with the wrong filesystem. Ubuntu needs a Linux filesystem -- Ext4 would probably be the best filesystem to use.

Linux does NOT install to NTFS partition. You need to format it with Ext4 filesystem as Mark suggests above.

On your HDD you have only 4 Primary Partitions limit with 'msdos' partition table. If you force a fifth you will have problems. So what do we do?
We create one of the four Primary Partitions as Extended Partition and within that Extended Partition we can have 100 or more LOGICAL Partitions.

For you to see the option to install Ubuntu 'Alongside Windows' you must show the installer some free space or 'unallocated space'...
To Install Ubuntu you need atleast 2 Partitions, one for '/' and the other for 'SWAP'. To do this delete one of the FOUR Primary Partitions you have (use Windows tools only to do this). Leave the space as 'unallocated'.
Boot with Ubuntu DVD/USB and 'Try Ubuntu without Installing'... Let the desktop load. From the desktop open the Utility GPARTED and from the 'unallocated space' create an EXTENDED Partition. After creating you will notice that you still have 'unallocated space' equal to your Extended Partition. This is normal. From the Unallocated space two or three LOGICAL partitions:
20-30GB Logical Ext4
2-4GB Logical SWAP
All the remaining GB Logical Ext4

When Installing Ubuntu choose 'Something Else' optition to manually control where Ubuntu is Installed.
Select the 20-30GB Partition and choose MOUNTPOINT=/, USE AS=Ext4 and check Format
Select 2-4GB Partition USE AS= Linux SWAP
Select the last Parittion MountPoint=/home, Use As=Ext4 and check format.
Apply the changes and install.

Automated install using options like 'Alongside Windows' is a bit risky... and not recommended.

Good Luck...

First make a Windows repairCD.
Make your own Windows repairCD (not vendor recovery):
http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/1114725.htm

You have to decide which partition to backup all the NTFS data and convert to the extended data.

Good advice on how to handle all four primary partitions used. - srs5694
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1686440
Be sure to create recovery DVD(s) first. And a Windows repair CD.
HP tools partition discussion - similar for other vendor partitions:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Noteboo...on/td-p/228360
For a complete blow-by-blow on dealing with HP's four partitions, see Full Circle Magazine, issue 41, page 36. - gordintoronto
http://fullcirclemagazine.org/

I didn't create any of the partitions. The previous screenshot was using Ubuntu. This info I got from AOMEI Partition assistant
Partition file System Capacity Used Space Free Space Flag Status
*:SYSTEM NTFS 199.0MB 29.13MB 169.87MB Primary None
* Unallocated 749.15MB 0.00KB 749.15MB Logical None
C:JohnsHP NTFS 580.67GB 192.36GB 388.30GB Primary Boot
D:Recovery NTFS 14.47GB 12.86GB 1.61GB Primary None
E:HP_Tools FAT32 103.34MB 13.97MB 89.36MB Primary None

Thanx for the help. Seems to have worked. Now on to other issues.....no sound. :):)

first of all they are not your windows as they still belong to MS even though you purchased a copy. ;-)

yeah leaving disk space unformatted is best option as Ubutnu will automaticly put itself there.

for sound not working it would be best to open a new thread with good descriptive title and post the result of lspci command which should hopefully reveal the chip your are using. otherwise for starters run alsamixer in terminal and see if all volume meters are up. you can also see sound chip that is recognised by linux in alsamixer.

i had and still have a fair share of sound issues. it used to work fine the first couple of months but then got borked. i found a few recipes and workarrounds for my chip to force it to work.

Thanks!! This topic helped me a lot too :)