Linux Mint 14 installation issue.

**Jizztasto** · November 30th, 2012

I apologize for the really lame question, but I just can't seem to be able to install it.
I've attempted installing it via USB and installing it via mint4win, neither of which worked.

I am stuck with the following and cannot proceed from here: http://i.imgur.com/ylzVL.png

If anyone can shed some light as to why this is occurring and how I can fix it I would be very grateful.
If it's not obvious; I'm quite new to *nix so once again, I apologize.

**coffeecat** · November 30th, 2012

As this is about Linux Mint, thread moved to Other OS/Distro Talk.

However, I have a couple of suggestions. One common reason for seeing that installer window empty of partitions is using a hard drive that was once used in a RAID and the residual RAID metadata is confusing the installer. Was your hard drive once part of a RAID? If so, I can post a terminal command that will fix that.

The other possibility is a partition table irregularity which confuses the installer. Fairly easily fixed, but if your drive was not used in a RAID, lets see if this is so. Close the installer and open a terminal. Run this command and post the output:

Code:

sudo fdisk -lu

**ajgreeny** · November 30th, 2012

From the live system desktop run the commands

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

and then

Code:

sudo parted -l

I have suggested both as you may have GPT partitions and a UEFI bios.

**Jizztasto** · November 30th, 2012

Originally Posted by coffeecat

As this is about Linux Mint, thread moved to Other OS/Distro Talk.

However, I have a couple of suggestions. One common reason for seeing that installer window empty of partitions is using a hard drive that was once used in a RAID and the residual RAID metadata is confusing the installer. Was your hard drive once part of a RAID? If so, I can post a terminal command that will fix that.

The other possibility is a partition table irregularity which confuses the installer. Fairly easily fixed, but if your drive was not used in a RAID, lets see if this is so. Close the installer and open a terminal. Run this command and post the output:

Code:

sudo fdisk -lu

My apologies for posting it in the incorrect section.

I don't believe I've setup RAID, although I believe I have the ability to do so.

Here is the output, as requested:

Code:

Disk /dev/sda: 2000.4 GB, 2000398934016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders, total 3907029168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x9083934c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1              63       80324       40131   de  Dell Utility
Partition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda2   *       81920    32940031    16429056    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        32940032  3907018751  1937039360    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdb: 32.0 GB, 32017047552 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3892 cylinders, total 62533296 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: 0xba000000

Disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/sdc: 4003 MB, 4003000320 bytes
32 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3878 cylinders, total 7818360 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: 0x6960045b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1   *          63     7818047     3908992+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Thanks for the help so far!

**coffeecat** · November 30th, 2012

Your fdisk output is showing that you have two hard drives: sda - 2TB and sdb - 32GB. (sdc is your flash drive.) Drive sda *appears* to have a mbr partition table and I can see no problem in the figures that would cause this problem. Drive sdb has no valid partition table.

ajgreeny's point about the possibility of GPT/UEFI is a good one, although I don't think the data you've posted so far says that you have, but let's be sure. A few more questions then.

Let's have the output of "sudo parted -l" that ajgreeny suggested.
What is your sdb - 32GB - drive? Something on that could still be confusing the installer.
What model of computer are you trying to install to - I can see it's a Dell?
What version of Windows do you have?
Are you using the 32-bit or 64-bit Mint installer disk?

**Jizztasto** · November 30th, 2012

Originally Posted by coffeecat

Your fdisk output is showing that you have two hard drives: sda - 2TB and sdb - 32GB. (sdc is your flash drive.) Drive sda *appears* to have a mbr partition table and I can see no problem in the figures that would cause this problem. Drive sdb has no valid partition table.

ajgreeny's point about the possibility of GPT/UEFI is a good one, although I don't think the data you've posted so far says that you have, but let's be sure. A few more questions then.

Let's have the output of "sudo parted -l" that ajgreeny suggested.
What is your sdb - 32GB - drive? Something on that could still be confusing the installer.
What model of computer are you trying to install to - I can see it's a Dell?
What version of Windows do you have?
Are you using the 32-bit or 64-bit Mint installer disk?

Output of the command:

Code:

Model: ATA ST2000DM001-9YN1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 2000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  41.1MB  41.1MB  primary  fat16        diag
 2      41.9MB  16.9GB  16.8GB  primary  ntfs         boot
 3      16.9GB  2000GB  1984GB  primary  ntfs


Error: /dev/sdb: unrecognised disk label                                  

Model: FLASH Drive 3S_USB20 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 4003MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  4003MB  4003MB  primary  fat32        boot, lba

I have no idea to be honest, it doesn't show up when I'm on Windows.
I can't mount the drive so I can't exactly tell you what's on there, sorry.

My model is called XPS 8500, and I am running Windows 7 on it.
I've attempt both the 32-bit and 64-bit Mint installer, neither worked.
I am currently sticking with the 64-bit installer.

**coffeecat** · November 30th, 2012

OK - you have a mbr partition table on sda, so you don't have a GPT/UEFI system. The 32-bit/64-bit question was in case you did have - the 32-bit installer doesn't work with UEFI.

But now I'm puzzled. In your earlier post, fdisk showed your 2TB sda, a 32 GB sdb and your 4MB flash drive which is identified as sdc. But with the parted output, the 32GB drive has disappeared which is why the 4MB flash drive is now designated sdb.

We need to clarify what's going on with this 32GB drive before we can proceed. I have a feeling in my bones that the 32GB drive may be the problem. I know you say it doesn't show up in Windows, and that's because it doesn't have any partitions, not even a valid partition table. If you don't have any other information about what it could be, try rebooting into Windows and open Disk Manager - not Explorer - and see what that has to say about the hard drive(s) in your system.

**Jizztasto** · December 1st, 2012

Originally Posted by coffeecat

OK - you have a mbr partition table on sda, so you don't have a GPT/UEFI system. The 32-bit/64-bit question was in case you did have - the 32-bit installer doesn't work with UEFI.

But now I'm puzzled. In your earlier post, fdisk showed your 2TB sda, a 32 GB sdb and your 4MB flash drive which is identified as sdc. But with the parted output, the 32GB drive has disappeared which is why the 4MB flash drive is now designated sdb.

We need to clarify what's going on with this 32GB drive before we can proceed. I have a feeling in my bones that the 32GB drive may be the problem. I know you say it doesn't show up in Windows, and that's because it doesn't have any partitions, not even a valid partition table. If you don't have any other information about what it could be, try rebooting into Windows and open Disk Manager - not Explorer - and see what that has to say about the hard drive(s) in your system.

You seem to be correct about the 32GB drive interfering with the installation.
I have the same machine at my other house, which is where I am now, so I can't continue to provide anything from the machine with the issue until sometime next week.

The installation seems to be working fine, with no problems.
I just executed mint4win and then proceeded with the reboot to find that I can proceed with the installation.
I would like to get it working on my other machine too, so I wish for this issue to be resolved.
Here's an image of it working, I'm unsure if this will help at all: http://i.imgur.com/Fukgj.png

I will also provide the output of the commands you gave me in your previous posts as it may or may not help you with resolving my issue.

sudo fdisk -lu

Code:

Disk /dev/sda: 2000.4 GB, 2000398934016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 243201 cylinders, total 3907029168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa61ba3dd

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1              63       80324       40131   de  Dell Utility
Partition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda2   *       81920    32940031    16429056    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        32940032  3907018751  1937039360    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdb: 32.0 GB, 32017047552 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3892 cylinders, total 62533296 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: 0xba000000

Disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/sdc: 4003 MB, 4003000320 bytes
32 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3878 cylinders, total 7818360 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: 0x6960045b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1   *          63     7818047     3908992+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

sudo parted -l

Code:

Model: ATA ST2000DM001-9YN1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 2000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  41.1MB  41.1MB  primary  fat16        diag
 2      41.9MB  16.9GB  16.8GB  primary  ntfs         boot
 3      16.9GB  2000GB  1984GB  primary  ntfs


Error: /dev/sdb: unrecognised disk label                                  

Model: FLASH Drive 3S_USB20 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 4003MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      32.3kB  4003MB  4003MB  primary  fat32        boot, lba

EDIT: The issue seems to occur on this machine also, the drive that shows up in the installation is my thumb drive. It's not my actual hard drive.
I'm going to give up on installing Mint, it's just too frustrating. Thank you for the help anyway.

**coffeecat** · December 1st, 2012

Originally Posted by Jizztasto

I'm going to give up on installing Mint, it's just too frustrating. Thank you for the help anyway.

That's your choice and good luck. However, you appear to be giving inconsistent information which I am having difficulty following. Two machines? Are the data from two machines?

I cannot see how the output from fdisk and parted in your latest post can be from the same machine at the same time. Again, the 32GB drive shows in the fdisk output but not in the parted output. Either these outputs are from different machines with different hardware configurations, or there is some feature of your Dell machine that is most unusual which needs investigating.

**Jizztasto** · December 1st, 2012

Originally Posted by coffeecat

That's your choice and good luck. However, you appear to be giving inconsistent information which I am having difficulty following. Two machines? Are the data from two machines?

I cannot see how the output from fdisk and parted in your latest post can be from the same machine at the same time. Again, the 32GB drive shows in the fdisk output but not in the parted output. Either these outputs are from different machines with different hardware configurations, or there is some feature of your Dell machine that is most unusual which needs investigating.

The output is from two different machines, the machines are just the same model.
I attempted to install it on my other machine (again, same model) and it didn't work as you can see.

I did end up giving up on it and went to install Debian, embarrassed to say, I've screwed up my hard drive and now I can't seem to use it at all.
I followed this step-by-step, and when it came to putting the files onto the partition I was given an error; something to do with the ext3 file system, I can't exactly recall it.
Anyway, I guess we won't be able to continue as my machine can't be fixed with my own knowledge. Luckily I've backed up all my files.
I can't even wipe it with a new install of Windows or Ubuntu, the drive just doesn't show up in the installers. It obviously doesn't recognize the drive due to partition being corrupted or something.
The nasty error: http://digifixit.co.uk/tutorials/wp-...oot-device.jpg

I'm going to ring Dell when possible and see if they're able to fix it.
Lesson: *nix obviously isn't for me. I can't seem to get anything working other than Ubuntu.
Quite ego shattering actually.

Well, thank you for trying to help me earler. x.x