Cannot Detect Hard Drive

[mr.moch]

I am trying to install Ubuntu 12.10 via USB on my Dell Inspiron 910 netbook. When reaching the list of disks to install Ubuntu on comes up, the list comes up completely empty. Is there something I'm missing?

[oldfred]

Do you have Windows 7? That almost always uses all 4 primary MBR(msdos) partitions.

Post this from terminal or screen shot from gparted.

sudo fdisk -lu

Good advice on how to handle all four primary partitions used. - srs5694
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1686440
Be sure to create recovery DVD(s) first. And a Windows repair CD.
HP tools partition discussion - similar for other vendor partitions:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware/Hp-Tools-Partion/td-p/228360


Backup windows before install - post by Mark Phelps
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2040149
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1626990
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp
Another suggestion by srs5694
http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm