Hard drive not shown on install - 10.04

[shootscore]

Trying to install Ubuntu 10.04 desktop 64-bit using live CD. After choosing keyboard layout on step 3 of 7, the next screen is not the 'Prepare Disk Space' screen that I should expect according to https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall. Instead I get a blank screen titled 'Prepare Partitions' with nothing listed and everything but 'Quit', 'Back', and 'Forward' grayed out.
168541

However, when I boot from the live cd, the disk utility (screenshot below), Gparted, fdisk, and parted all display the WD 640GB hard drive. But for some reason, it doesn't show up during the install.
168542

Currently, all drive space is unallocated except for a 40GB partition with Win7 installed. Could this be due to WD's 'Advanced Format' using 4kb sectors?

Also tried installing Ubuntu 9.04 server 64-bit, but that is also giving me a blank screen at the same point in the process.

Thoughts?

[sanderj]

What do you see when you use the Ubuntu 10.10 Beta live CD?

[Jamppi]

I have the same problem with 10.04.1 and 10.10 Pre-release. No hard drive was shown until I selected the option "try without any modifcation" then I could see the hard drive. When I doubl-clicked the "Install Ubuntu", the hard drive disappeared immediately. When I had to restart because installer crashed. Then I tried the Live CD again, this time I openeg Gparted. This program had problems with the hard drive. Then I took Disk Utility, formatted the drive to ext4 - now this time Disk Utility managed to do what GParted did not. I could see the hd during installation, but there is a strange bug in my pc -* it does not like Ubuntu.

When I try the CD installation, it gives me the I/O error.
When I try the USB HD boot, it loads forever and forever for hours and never do I see the point when I can start installing.

The only OP systems I can install here is Debian 5.0 x64 through net install and Windows by DVD/CD. I do not like both of them....

[dino99]

there you will find a little help about how to install ubuntu:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...4&postcount=14

[shootscore]

sanderj - I haven't tried installing 10.10 pre-release yet, as this machine hasn't been connected to the internet (probably tomorrow)--and it looks like the install for 10.10 requires an internet connection. I'll let you know what happens with that install attempt.

Jamppi - what make/model hard drive are you using?

dino99 - when I click on the link in your reply, it dropped me into the Ubuntu Forums main page. Is that what you were intending?

Thanks for your replies.

[shootscore]

Tried installing again today using the 10.10 beta live CD. Still not recognizing the hard drive per the following screenshot.

168841

[sanderj]

Have you tried Jamppi's method "Then I took Disk Utility, formatted the drive to ext4 - now this time Disk Utility managed to do what GParted did not. I could see the hd during installation"?

[srs5694]

Could you post the output of "sudo fdisk -lu", preferably between
and strings for legibility? I'm far from positive, but it could be you're running into the problem described here. (http://nessus.rodsbooks.com/missing-parts/index.html) If so, the fdisk output will show it. Note that the fdisk parameters are a lowercase L and lowercase U, not a digit 1 and lowercase U.

[Turboaaa2001]

I am running into the same problem. When installing 10.4 (or latest edubuntu) the installer cannot see the drive.

I am able to format and partition the drive via the live CD, but as soon as I run the installer the drive cannot be found thus I cannot install. This is the first problem I have ever had installing Ubuntu on any system. Makes me sad :(

AMD 4050e
2GB
A poorly made PC Chips A33G mobo
WDC 160GB SATA

This system is intended for my 2 and 3 year old to mess around with.

[shootscore]

Thanks for all your replies.

Here's the output from 'fdisk -lu':


Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders, total 1250263728 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: 0x401de083

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 83896959 41947456 7 HPFS/NTFSThe partition shown here is the 'shrunk' ntfs partition which contains Win 7 Home 64-bit. I'm hoping to keep this partition for dual-booting using a method similar to the one described here (http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Multiple_OS_Installation). This is the only thing keeping me from using Jamppi's method of formatting the entire drive to ext4.

Originally I thought that this was due to having an 'Advanced Format' hard drive using physical sectors of 4096 bytes, each broken into 8 logical sectors of 512 bytes. Taking a closer look at the specs on the WDC page, the hard drive I'm using (model WD6400aaks) does use 512 byte sectors...so I'm even more confused.

[tommcd]

Try formatting the space you intend to use for Ubuntu using the Parted Magic live CD:
http://partedmagic.com/
You can create your Ubuntu root, swap, and home partitions with the Parted Magic live CD. Then boot the Ubuntu install CD and see if it will find the partitions for install.

[shootscore]

tommcd- I used Gparted to create several new partitions on the drive. This was before I read your response, so didn't use Parted Magic. Following are the 'fdisk -lu' output and the print output from parted:


ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -lu

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders, total 1250263728 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: 0x401de083

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 2048 83896959 41947456 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 83907495 1059069059 487580782+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda3 1059069060 1059277904 104422+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 1059277905 1248025589 94373842+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1059277968 1071856799 6289416 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 1071856863 1176713054 52428096 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1176713118 1239623594 31455238+ 83 Linux
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo parted
GNU Parted 2.2
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) unit s
(parted) print
Model: ATA WDC WD6400AAKS-2 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 1250263728s
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 2048s 83896959s 83894912s primary ntfs boot
2 83907495s 1059069059s 975161565s primary fat32
3 1059069060s 1059277904s 208845s primary ext3
4 1059277905s 1248025589s 188747685s extended
5 1059277968s 1071856799s 12578832s logical linux-swap(v1)
6 1071856863s 1176713054s 104856192s logical ext4
7 1176713118s 1239623594s 62910477s logical ext3


After searching the forum some more, I used the Boot Info Script referred to here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1486004)and here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8844901&postcount=4). This script gave the following output:


Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdg
=> Windows is installed in the MBR of /dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Mounting failed:
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda2 starts
at sector 0. But according to the info from fdisk,
sda2 starts at sector 83907495.
Mounting failed:
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or sda2 busy

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or sda2 busy
mount: /dev/sda3 already mounted or sda3 busy

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or sda2 busy
mount: /dev/sda3 already mounted or sda3 busy
mount: /dev/sda6 already mounted or sda6 busy

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed:
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
fuse: mount failed: Device or resource busy
mount: /dev/sda2 already mounted or sda2 busy
mount: /dev/sda3 already mounted or sda3 busy
mount: /dev/sda6 already mounted or sda6 busy
mount: /dev/sda7 already mounted or sda7 busy

sdg1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

pdc_cdcabhcdbd2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Fat32
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector,
pdc_cdcabhcdbd2 starts at sector 0. But according to
the info from fdisk, pdc_cdcabhcdbd2 starts at sector
83907495.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: Unknown
Boot sector info:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

pdc_cdcabhcdbd7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders, total 1250263728 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 83,896,959 83,894,912 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 83,907,495 1,059,069,059 975,161,565 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda3 1,059,069,060 1,059,277,904 208,845 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 1,059,277,905 1,248,025,589 188,747,685 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 1,059,277,968 1,071,856,799 12,578,832 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 1,071,856,863 1,176,713,054 104,856,192 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 1,176,713,118 1,239,623,594 62,910,477 83 Linux


Drive: sdg ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sdg: 8019 MB, 8019509248 bytes
20 heads, 16 sectors/track, 48947 cylinders, total 15663104 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sdg1 * 80 15,663,103 15,663,024 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)


Drive: pdc_cdcabhcdbd ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd: 640.1 GB, 640067895296 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77817 cylinders, total 1250132608 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd1 * 2,048 83,896,959 83,894,912 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd2 83,907,495 1,059,069,059 975,161,565 b W95 FAT32
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd3 1,059,069,060 1,059,277,904 208,845 83 Linux
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd4 1,059,277,905 1,248,025,589 188,747,685 5 Extended
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd5 1,059,277,968 1,071,856,799 12,578,832 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd6 1,071,856,863 1,176,713,054 104,856,192 83 Linux
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd7 1,176,713,118 1,239,623,594 62,910,477 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd1 2ACA074FCA07172B ntfs Acer
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd2 00DD-88E6 vfat Storage
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd3 ebc6e0eb-f7c4-425b-ad90-7ebd059d3059 ext3 grub
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd5 c37d509f-9509-4fe5-a085-0a36b1fe6b9a swap swap
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd6 8cde4a19-dfe1-42d9-912c-519e5cbf3814 ext4 Ubuntu
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd7 568b5518-43b1-497a-97dd-c45878ac178a ext3 linuxOther
/dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda1 2ACA074FCA07172B ntfs Acer
/dev/sda2 00DD-88E6 vfat Storage
/dev/sda3 ebc6e0eb-f7c4-425b-ad90-7ebd059d3059 ext3 grub
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 c37d509f-9509-4fe5-a085-0a36b1fe6b9a swap swap
/dev/sda6 8cde4a19-dfe1-42d9-912c-519e5cbf3814 ext4 Ubuntu
/dev/sda7 568b5518-43b1-497a-97dd-c45878ac178a ext3 linuxOther
/dev/sda promise_fasttrack_raid_member
/dev/sdg1 79D0-DBE4 vfat Lexar
/dev/sdg: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd4: No such file or directory
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found
error: /dev/sdc: No medium found
error: /dev/sdd: No medium found
error: /dev/sde: No medium found
error: /dev/sdf: No medium found

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

aufs / aufs (rw)
/dev/sr0 /cdrom iso9660 (ro,noatime)
/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sdg1 /media/Lexar vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=999,gid=999,sh ortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,flush)

=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on pdc_cdcabhcdbd4



=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb sdc sdd sde sdf
=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

hexdump: /dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd4: No such file or directory
hexdump: /dev/mapper/pdc_cdcabhcdbd4: No such file or directory
Am I correct in reading this to mean that the MBR is messed up? Any recommendations for backing up and modifying the MBR using 'sfdisk'?

Thanks!

[Turboaaa2001]

I ran pmagic-5.4 and tried formatting a 100GB ext4 and a 4GB swap partition. I received the following error message when creating the ext4 partition:


mke2fs 1.41.11 (14-Mar-2010)
Could not stat /dev/sda1 --- No such file or directory

The device apparently does not exist; did you specify it correctly?


Note: The partitions I created using the Ubuntu live CD were found. I deleted them and attempted to make new ones.

However there were no problems when creating an ext3 partition, but Ubuntu was still unable to see the drive when installing. Also Windows is able to recognize the drive and install to it.

[shootscore]

Tried installing again using an older version (9.04) of Ubuntu--this time the desktop version (originally it was the server version). Not sure why, but this time there were no problems. The installation process showed the disk partitions, and I was able to install grub to the boot sector. Can still dual-boot to windows.

Now all that's left to do is install the 10.04 version....

Thanks for all the help on this!