this computer has no operaating systems on it

[soumo]

Hi all,

if anyone can provide some insight, I would appreciate it. I have not found this problem elsewhere on the forums though some similar ones.

I have an ASUS EEE PC netbook, with functioning Win & XP OSes. I tried installing karmic from a usb key, but at the step that asks where to install, I am left with only the entire disk as the option.

If I try the advanced manual option, I am told that there is no operating system installed on this computer,and again only left with the option to do an install over the whole partition.

If I use the live USB or Windows partition, there are a number of partitions including an ext3 and linux swap!

Here is the setup (see picture):
XP NTFS
Win 7 NTFS
41.59GB EXT3 (has previous jaunty on it)
Cyclone NTFS storage partition
4GB linux swap
30MB EFI system partition (I believe ASUS Bios uses this to speed up the boot up by using it to store the previous boot info or something like that)

One potential solution I found, might be to use testdisk to delete the MFT table and redetect it, but I'm afraid to try it...

-Thanks in advance.

[wilee-nilee]

Is the W7 a upgrade and have you removed any partitions like a recovery.

[soumo]

Yes I did wipe out the recovery partition when I first got the system. It came with XP which I kept, and I installed jaunty & then win 7 fresh (not as an upgrade) in their own partition. I can't seem to access jaunty (I think it's the grub that got messed up after win 7) so I thought I'd install karmic over it to 'fix' it. Otherwise I suppose I could get into jaunty and do an upgrade.

When I use the live karmic, fdisk -l gives me the proper partitions.

-Thanks for the speedy reply.

[darkod]

You have 4 primary partitions PLUS a logical one? How did that happen?

Isn't the maximum 3 primary + logical (extended) or 4 primary total?

PS. I stand corrected, you have a logical drive not partition.

The partitioning is little confusing but you should be able to install karmic on your previous / and use the same swap space. If you run karmic with Try ubuntu option and open Gparted, how does it show the partitions? Correctly? I would take a look how Gparted is "understanding" them, not just Win7.

[wilee-nilee]

I ran into a similar unallocated with the removal of a XP recovery after I install W7 in the partition after XP which had Karmic in the next. I just did a fresh custom install of W7 and sized the partition to half the HD then installed Karmic.

The XP partition apparently had the MBR in it, I removed it while trying to remove the XP as the W7 was a upgrade. the Upgrade key worked while XP was still on the HD W7 had been live installed from XP. So when I fresh installed the key wouldn't work so i called the W7 tech team and they cracked the key in.

I had actually cracked the W7 key but MS called this a non verified system over the phone so that is why I did a complete fresh install, and had them crack it.

[louieb]

...When I use the live karmic, fdisk -l gives me the proper partitions...

Please post the fdisk -l output. Its easier to spot problems with the partition table. Want to look for a primary partition inside an extended partition. - its a common windows partitioner screw up.

[soumo]

Thanks for all the help folks! I think I'm beggining to understand a bit more.

sudo fdisk-l:
Note, sdb is the usb live karmic key...



Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe4c5ef4d

This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 ? 1 765 6144831 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 766 8414 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 8415 19452 88662735 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 19453 19457 40162+ ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
/dev/sda5 13844 18942 40957717+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 8415 13843 43608379+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 18943 19452 4096543+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Disk /dev/sdb: 2097 MB, 2097152000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 254 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00055603

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 255 2047968+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(253, 254, 63) logical=(254, 245, 55)


Testdisk Log:



Fri Nov 13 21:19:31 2009
Command line: TestDisk

TestDisk 6.12-WIP, Data Recovery Utility, April 2009
Christophe GRENIER <grenier@cgsecurity.org>
http://www.cgsecurity.org
OS: Linux, kernel 2.6.31-14-generic (#48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 16 14:04:26 UTC 2009) i686
Compiler: GCC 4.4 - Oct 30 2009 00:02:37
ext2fs lib: 1.41.4, ntfs lib: 10:0:0, reiserfs lib: 0.3.1-rc8, ewf lib: 20080501
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size 312581808 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max 312581808 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 312581808 sectors
/dev/sda: dco 312581808 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - CHS 1 1 1, sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19457 255 63, sector size=512 - ATA ST9160310AS
Disk /dev/sdb - 2097 MB / 2000 MiB - CHS 1016 65 62, sector size=512 - CBM Flash Disk

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - ATA ST9160310AS
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19457 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/1/1
NTFS at 765/0/1
Info: size boot_sector 122881177, partition 122881185
check_part_i386 4 type EF: no test
NTFS at 13843/0/1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=14
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=14
Current partition structure:
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
2 P HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 63 122881185 [7]
3 E extended 8414 0 1 19451 254 63 177325470
4 P EFI (FAT-12/16/32) 19452 0 1 19456 254 63 80325
5 L HPFS - NTFS 13843 0 1 18941 254 63 81915435 [Cyclone]
X extended 8414 0 2 13842 254 63 87216884
6 L Linux 8414 2 1 13842 254 63 87216759
X extended 18942 0 1 19451 254 63 8193150
7 L Linux Swap 18942 1 1 19451 254 63 8193087
Ask the user for vista mode
Computes LBA from CHS for Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
Allow partial last cylinder : Yes
search_vista_part: 1

search_part()
Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
NTFS at 0/1/1
filesystem size 12289662
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
NTFS at 765/0/1
filesystem size 122881177
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 8021455
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 55 122881177 [7]
NTFS, 62 GB / 58 GiB

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/676, s_mnt_count=0/21, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 22165683
recover_EXT2: part_size 177325464
Linux 8414 0 1 19451 254 57 177325464 [Ubu]
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 90 GB / 84 GiB
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6

Results
* HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
P HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 63 122881185 [7]
NTFS, 62 GB / 58 GiB
P Linux 8414 0 1 19451 254 63 177325470 [Ubu]
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 90 GB / 84 GiB

interface_write()
1 * HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
2 P HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 63 122881185 [7]
3 P Linux 8414 0 1 19451 254 63 177325470 [Ubu]

search_part()
Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
NTFS at 0/1/1
filesystem size 12289662
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
NTFS at 764/254/63
filesystem size 12289662
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
NTFS found using backup sector!, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
NTFS at 765/0/1
filesystem size 122881177
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 8021455
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 55 122881177 [7]
NTFS, 62 GB / 58 GiB
NTFS at 8413/254/63
filesystem size 122881177
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 8021455
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 765 0 9 8413 254 63 122881177
NTFS found using backup sector!, 62 GB / 58 GiB

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/676, s_mnt_count=0/21, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 22165683
recover_EXT2: part_size 177325464
Linux 8414 0 1 19451 254 57 177325464 [Ubu]
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 90 GB / 84 GiB

recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=0/332, s_mnt_count=11/38, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 10902094
recover_EXT2: part_size 87216752
Linux 8414 2 1 13842 254 56 87216752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 44 GB / 41 GiB

block_group_nr 3

recover_EXT2: "e2fsck -b 98304 -B 4096 device" may be needed
recover_EXT2: s_block_group_nr=3/332, s_mnt_count=0/38, s_blocks_per_group=32768, s_inodes_per_group=8192
recover_EXT2: s_blocksize=4096
recover_EXT2: s_blocks_count 10902094
recover_EXT2: part_size 87216752
Linux 8414 2 1 13842 254 56 87216752
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock Backup superblock, 44 GB / 41 GiB
NTFS at 10441/254/63
filesystem size 167750667
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 10441 254 63 167750667 [XP]
NTFS found using backup sector!, 85 GB / 79 GiB
NTFS at 10442/0/1
filesystem size 128343285
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 10442 0 1 18430 254 63 128343285
NTFS, 65 GB / 61 GiB
NTFS at 13843/0/1
filesystem size 81915435
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 5119714
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 13843 0 1 18941 254 63 81915435 [Cyclone]
NTFS, 41 GB / 39 GiB
NTFS at 18941/254/63
filesystem size 81915435
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 5119714
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
HPFS - NTFS 13843 0 1 18941 254 63 81915435 [Cyclone]
NTFS found using backup sector!, 41 GB / 39 GiB
Linux Swap 18942 1 1 19451 254 40 8193064
SWAP2 version 1, 4194 MB / 4000 MiB
FAT32 at 19197/0/1
FAT1 : 40-4036
FAT2 : 4037-8033
start_rootdir : 3969794 root cluster : 495222
Data : 8034-4096569
sectors : 4096575
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 511067 (2 - 511068)
fat_length 3997 calculated 3993

FAT32 at 19197/0/1
FAT32 LBA 19197 0 1 19451 254 63 4096575 [PE]
FAT32, 2097 MB / 2000 MiB
FAT32 at 19197/0/7
FAT1 : 40-4036
FAT2 : 4037-8033
start_rootdir : 3969794 root cluster : 495222
Data : 8034-4096569
sectors : 4096575
cluster_size : 8
no_of_cluster : 511067 (2 - 511068)
fat_length 3997 calculated 3993
set_FAT_info: name from BS used

FAT32 at 19197/0/7
FAT32 LBA 19197 0 1 19451 254 63 4096575 [NO NAME]
FAT found using backup sector!, 2097 MB / 2000 MiB
NTFS at 764/254/50
filesystem size 12289649
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
NTFS at 764/254/63
filesystem size 12289662
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 786432
mftmirr_lcn 16
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
NTFS at 765/0/1
filesystem size 122881177
sectors_per_cluster 8
mft_lcn 4
mftmirr_lcn 8021455
clusters_per_mft_record -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=16
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=2
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=16

Results
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 764 254 63 12289662 [XP]
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
HPFS - NTFS 0 1 1 10441 254 63 167750667 [XP]
NTFS found using backup sector!, 85 GB / 79 GiB
HPFS - NTFS 764 254 50 1529 254 63 12289739
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
HPFS - NTFS 764 254 63 1529 254 63 12289726
NTFS, 6292 MB / 6000 MiB
HPFS - NTFS 765 0 1 8413 254 63 122881185 [7]
NTFS, 62 GB / 58 GiB
HPFS - NTFS 765 0 9 8413 254 63 122881177
NTFS found using backup sector!, 62 GB / 58 GiB
Linux 8414 0 1 19451 254 63 177325470 [Ubu]
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 90 GB / 84 GiB
Linux 8414 2 1 13842 254 63 87216759
EXT4 Large file Sparse superblock, 44 GB / 41 GiB
HPFS - NTFS 10442 0 1 18430 254 63 128343285
NTFS, 65 GB / 61 GiB
HPFS - NTFS 13843 0 1 18941 254 63 81915435 [Cyclone]
NTFS, 41 GB / 39 GiB
Linux Swap 18942 1 1 19451 254 63 8193087
SWAP2 version 1, 4194 MB / 4000 MiB
FAT32 LBA 19197 0 1 19451 254 63 4096575 [PE]
FAT32, 2097 MB / 2000 MiB

interface_write()

No partition found or selected for recovery
simulate write!

write_mbr_i386: starting...
write_all_log_i386: starting...
No extended partition

TestDisk exited normally.

[louieb]

Looked for a primary partition inside an extended partition. Everything looks good - no problem there.

Look a little odd - never have seen a ? in the boot flag column and have not seen the "doesn't look like a partition table" message before.

Don't see any reason for the installer having a problem. And no idea of what to look for next. Out of ideas here.


Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xe4c5ef4d

This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 ? 1 765 6144831 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 766 8414 61440592+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 8415 19452 88662735 5 Extended
/dev/sda4 19453 19457 40162+ ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
/dev/sda5 13844 18942 40957717+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 8415 13843 43608379+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 18943 19452 4096543+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

[soumo]

Thanks for looking :)

[soumo]

Anyone?

[rajasthanub]

i am getting this message when i run fdisk -l

can u help


omitting empty partition (5)

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xcbc1cbc1

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 2550 20482843+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda2 2551 9728 57657285 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda3 5101 7650 20482843+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 2551 2672 979902 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 2673 5100 19502878+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 7651 9728 16691503+ b W95 FAT32