Desperate to install Ubuntu but can't

[jimfl]

I love Ubuntu. Ran it for three years on my Dell that died this morning. Replaced it with a Lenovo IdeaCentre K410 Pentium 64-bit. Learned to hate Windows 8 in a matter of minutes. Downloaded the 781 mb i386 installation file iso. Burned it to DVD. Lenovo wouldn't boot from the DVD. Clicked on Wubi and clicked on Help Me to Boot from CD. Wubi installed "new boot menu entry." Rebooted. Screen gave me a choice of clicking on Windows or Ubuntu. Clicked on Ubuntu. Got error message from Windows Boot Manager saying Windows failed to start. Retried from beginning downloading the amd64.iso file. Followed same procedure. Got identical results.

HELP!!!

[oldfred]

Wubi does not work with gpt partitioned drives. And UEFI and Windows 8 pre-installed uses UEFI with gpt partitioning.

Wubi does not work on gpt partitioned drives or Window 8 that is pre-installed.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...88&postcount=2
Grub4dos (which wubi uses) doesn't work with GPT disks (required by UEFI)

Repair Windows, make backups of both efi partition and Windows. Use Windows disk tools to shrink the Windows partition and reboot a couple of times so it can run chkdsk and make its repairs to its new size.


Windows 8 UEFI repair USB must be FAT32
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...ndows-8-a.html
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...-166dddf32205/
http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/01/how...m-repair-disc/


You will need to use the 64 bit version of 12.10 or 12.04.2 and from the UEFI menu boot the flash drive in UEFI mode. That way it will install in UEFI mode.
Systems need quick boot or fast boot turned off in UEFI settings. Vital for some systems. Best to backup efi partition and Windows partition first.
Use Windows Disk Tools to shrink Windows main partition, but not to create any new partitions, if installing on same drive.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/UEFI
As of 12.04.2, it is possible to install on UEFI systems with Secure Boot enabled (using signed versions of Shim, GRUB, and the Linux kernel). This is only currently set up for Ubuntu (desktop, alternate, and server) and Edubuntu images due to pressures of time; we expect to enable it across the entire Ubuntu family for 12.04.3. Details:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrecisePango.../UbuntuDesktop

Some other Lenovo that seem to have worked.

Lenovo Z580 laptop
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2112271
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2117760
Lenovo Ideapad Y500 LiveUSB Problem
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2095063

[jimfl]

Good graceful heavens. Can it possibly be this hard? I don't want to keep Windows. It used to be pretty easy to replace it with Ubuntu--just download the file, burn it to CD, boot it and follow the instructions. Although I greatly appreciate your response, I really doubt I'll be able to follow the instructions. They look to be well beyond my level. For example: backing up efi partition (need to do if I want to wipe Windows?)?; booting in UEFI mode?; etc.

[oldfred]

If you are totally wiping Windows and are sure you will not go back, then you can just over install. But we often get users who have one program or game that does not work in Ubuntu and want Windows back later. Many also should backup Windows as later if they want to sell computer, the buyer may require Windows.

If it is a new system, you really should run the 64 bit version.

System has secure boot. Microsoft says vendors should allow users to turn secure boot off, but some only boot Windows efi boot file with the Microsoft key.

You also have CSM or the old BIOS legacy boot mode. Which may be easier to deal with if you do not ever want Windows. Windows will only boot on gpt partitioned drive with UEFI.

If in BIOS mode with gpt partitioning Ubuntu will install but needs a tiny 1MB unformatted bios_grub partition.I have an older system with only BIOS and now use gpt partitioned drives.

So UEFI/BIOS settings become very important and with the new UEFI they may be even more complex. But turn off fast boot, secure boot, and if you want CSM/BIOS turn that on.

From UEFI/BIOS how you boot installer is how it installs. You should see two boot choices UEFI and something else that is the CSM/legacy/BIOS mode.

[jimfl]

Yes, I'm sure about wiping Windows. Haven't used it for 3 years and have found open source programs for everything I need.

What I really need is a List of Steps for Dummies, I guess.

If I understand you, I need to turn off secure boot and fast boot and select to boot with Legacy mode. I think I've seen where to do that. Then if I boot with the 64-bit iso DVD, is that what I need to do?

[oldfred]

I have seen several users do just that and it has worked for them. I now prefer flash drives over DVDs. Reuseable and a bit quicker.
Have you tested in Live mode to make sure everything works?

But a few Windows 8 computers seem to have UEFI that only works with Windows, which should not be the case. Microsoft requires vendors to allow users to turn secure boot off, but does not specify anything on what may or may not work with secure boot off.
Some seem to have a one key recovery mode. Where it is easy just to reset to as installed.

[jimfl]

I turned off secure boot and fast boot and selected to boot with Legacy mode. (Had the 64-bit iso in the DVD drive.) Then I got the choice to use Windows or Ubuntu. Chose Ubuntu but got the same error message from Windows Boot Manager saying Windows failed to start..

[oldefoxx]

You guys are over my head, and my PCs aren't that new so I haven't run into this myself. What did work for me one time was to download the boot version of gparted and just repartition and format my hard drive for Ext3, then go through the install process from a CD for Ubuntu.

In my BIOS settings, I can change the boot devices and order of attempts. Might that help? Sometimes going at a problem a different way can make the difference. Like mounting an internal drive as an external to another PC and having your way with it there first.

[honeybear]

hi

have you tried Debian, it is very probably better, more stable, and working? You really wont notice that it is not ubuntu.

regards

[oldfred]

I do not think Debian has UEFI support. If just erasing drive and installing totally new, you can use Ubuntu or just about anything else in CSM/Legacy/BIOS mode.

This whole UEFI/gpt partitioning is all new. So all that old info we accumulated over the last 30 years on BIOS booting with MBR(msdos) partitioning is now obsolete.

Have you installed? Is install in BIOS mode. Then you have to boot in CSM mode.
May be best to post link to BootInfo. Boot Repair also can convert a BIOS install to UEFI, as some seem to work better that way, But just post link for now.

Post the link to the BootInfo report that this creates. Is part of Boot-Repair:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Info
Boot Repair -Also handles LVM, GPT, separate /boot and UEFI dual boot.:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
You can repair many boot issues with this or 'Create BootInfo' report (Other Options) & post the link it creates, so we can see your exact configuration and diagnose advanced problems.
Install in Ubuntu liveCD or USB or Full RepairCD with Boot-Repair (for newer computers)
http://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair/home/Home/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuSecureRemix