cant manually partition /install ubuntu to my external harddisk

[Meow27]

so ive read these threads and i dont see a solution here
(http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1069951&page=4)
(http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6754885#post6754885)

my issue is the following set of pictures (in order, screenshot -> 1 -> 2)


ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sdf: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x515ccb5e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdf1 1 33387 268181046 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdf2 33388 38913 44387595 5 Extended
/dev/sdf5 33388 34024 5116671 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdf6 34025 34828 6458098+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdf7 34829 35089 2096451 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdf8 35090 38913 30716280 83 Linux



so as you can see, im using the beta of karmic. i want to install karmic (NOT AS A LiveCD!)on sdf8 (im being specific just to get to the point)

as you can see there, i cant manually partition this drive as i could with a normal internal one. i want my data ntfs drive as is, and have a couple of livecds in the smaller partitions

ubuntu will only let me wipe out my external drive to proceed. i dont know how to get past this problem. its been like this ever since i tried it with intrepid

ive tried it with my internal intact, but due to some advice, this time i tried it with just my external attached (attached by usb)but the same problem is still there, it wont let me manually install ubuntu to one specific partition




is there any way to get rid of this problem? if there isnt any clear way, can i install it from the terminal, can someone show me a guide or teach me how?

thanks in advance.
-meow
(if i havent given enough data, please indicate it)

edit--------------- every output and screenshot im posting is from a livecd
(for wins and lulz ill post this just in case)

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lspci
00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
00:00.1 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 0 (rev a2)
00:00.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 1 (rev a2)
00:00.3 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 5 (rev a2)
00:00.4 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 4 (rev a2)
00:00.5 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
00:00.6 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 3 (rev a2)
00:00.7 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation C51 Memory Controller 2 (rev a2)
00:02.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation C51 PCI Express Bridge (rev a1)
00:03.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation C51 PCI Express Bridge (rev a1)
00:04.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation C51 PCI Express Bridge (rev a1)
00:09.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Host Bridge (rev a2)
00:0a.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP51 LPC Bridge (rev a3)
00:0a.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP51 SMBus (rev a3)
00:0a.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Memory Controller 0 (rev a3)
00:0b.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP51 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:0b.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP51 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:0e.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Serial ATA Controller (rev a1)
00:0f.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP51 Serial ATA Controller (rev a1)
00:10.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP51 PCI Bridge (rev a2)
00:10.1 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio (rev a2)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G72 [GeForce 7300 LE] (rev a1)
04:07.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)
04:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW322/323 (rev 61)
04:09.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 61)
04:09.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 61)
04:09.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 63)

[Meow27]

i have the same problem using the alternate cd

[Habboblob]

Good luck with fixing this problem.

Maybe you should try to format that to an ext3 with GParted.
That's only my guess.

Hope you get it fixed.:P

[drs305]

I sent a PM to Meow27 but will post it here as well.

First, I wanted to check to see if he was using "gksu gparted" or "gksudo gparted". gksu/gksudo are preferred to "sudo" for invoking graphical apps as 'root'. Here is a link explaining it:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/graphicalsudo

Secondly, I wondered if mounting a specific partition rather than the entire disk might allow gparted to work. I have many partitions, and often I mount only the partition I'm interested in for speed in loading. I suggested trying to mount one partition (i.e. the one he wanted to load Ubuntu on) to see if that particular one would mount - bypassing other partitions that might be causing problems.
The command to do this would be:


gksudo gparted /dev/sdXX

with XX being a specific partition, such as sdf1, sdf2, etc.

These were more "wonderings" than solutions, which is why I didn't post them here first.

[Bucky Ball]

Are you unmounting the partition? The only way to unmount an OS partition is with a Live CD (you can't unmount a drive when you are using the operating system on it).

[Meow27]

gksudo gparted /dev/sdXX


see the attached photo

so..... let me ask this: i remember seeing a guide for installing backtrack 4 beta, which had to me manually installed via the terminal. partitioning was done via commands, and so was the installation.

is there anything of the sort someone can link to me please?
edit----
there is no difference if i run gksudo or sudo or gksu

[oboedad55]

Have you tried Parted Magic? It's available as an iso and boots from a CD. You may be able to format the drive with this: http://partedmagic.com/

[Bucky Ball]

Are you unmounting the partition? The only way to unmount an OS partition is with a Live CD (you can't unmount a drive when you are using the operating system on it).

? It is a waste of time invoking gparted to work on the partition your OS is running on. (it is in System->Administration->Partition Manager so don't bother with 'gksudo' in a terminal as you will be asked for your password when you invoke the GUI anyhow).

The ONLY way to resize the partition (your currently running OS is on) is to use the Gparted live cd or the Ubuntu one.

[Meow27]

? It is a waste of time invoking gparted to work on the partition your OS is running on. (it is in System->Administration->Partition Manager so don't bother with 'gksudo' in a terminal as you will be asked for your password when you invoke the GUI anyhow).

The ONLY way to resize the partition (your currently running OS is on) is to use the Gparted live cd or the Ubuntu one.
im using the livecd..... resizing is irrelevant to what im trying to do. im trying to install ubuntu in 'sdf8'


Have you tried Parted Magic? It's available as an iso and boots from a CD. You may be able to format the drive with this: http://partedmagic.com/

id normally try not flaming, but please re-read the post
that drive you see empty, is what you see in this terminal output, which is a part of this whole problem



ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sdf: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x515ccb5e

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdf1 1 33387 268181046 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdf2 33388 38913 44387595 5 Extended
/dev/sdf5 33388 34024 5116671 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sdf6 34025 34828 6458098+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdf7 34829 35089 2096451 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sdf8 35090 38913 30716280 83 Linux

[Meow27]

http://www.offensive-security.com/documentation/bt4install.pdf

i finally found this. will following this guide work for what im trying to do?

do i need to move my first partition to make some empty space?

[Meow27]

well, i was able to get it installed in the partition i wanted (finally,) but now am looking for solutions as to how to get grub installed to the external drive, not the main HD