Hard Disk isn't found

[tomdelonge]

I'm running ubuntu from a usb currently. However, when I try to install it, it looks for the root disk on step 4 of the installation, and nothing is shown. I can't go on with the installation since I can't select a disk to install to.

Any tips?

I'm on an hp pavillion laptop.

Thanks.

By the way, windows vista is installed but won't currently boot. Don't know why. Is it probably a problem with the hard disk (the cause of both issues)

[98cwitr]

honestly I'd download the liveCD and format the drive from there. You could also go into Disk Utility and try and format the drive from there for ext3. You got any data left on the Vista partition that you need?

[tomdelonge]

There's only about 5 files (word documents). But they are absolutely needed. Anything else really doesn't matter. If there's an easy enough way to get those files off first, I could possibly do that.

Suggestions?

[98cwitr]

you'll need NTFS support installed

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=785263

mount the drive, nav to dir where the files are, and move the files to your flash drive...easy as pie

[tomdelonge]

I followed the instructions to install and such.

However, what program do I run? I go to software -> administration, and then where?

Thanks.