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View Full Version : [kubuntu] Fresh install of 20.04.1 has setup a FAT32 partition ?



oygle
November 1st, 2020, 07:04 AM
One computer has 19.10 installed and the partitions are as follows:



$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for *********:
Model: ATA ST1000LM024 HN-M (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 17.8GB 17.8GB primary ext4 boot
2 17.8GB 1000GB 982GB extended
5 17.8GB 22.8GB 5000MB logical linux-swap(v1)
6 22.8GB 1000GB 977GB logical ext4


Model: SanDisk Ultra (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 62.1GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 16.4kB 62.1GB 62.1GB primary fat32


and the other computer has just had a fresh install of 20.04.1 and the installation has setup a FAT32 partition with a mount point of /boot/efi



$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for **********:
Model: ATA Hitachi HTS72755 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB primary fat32 boot
2 539MB 500GB 500GB extended
5 539MB 500GB 500GB logical ext4


Model: SanDisk Ultra (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 62.1GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 16.4kB 62.1GB 62.1GB primary fat32


If I try to enter the folder there is a message
Could not enter folder /boot/efi.

Can I safely change the first partition to become EXT4 and increase the size to (say) 20 Gb ? I also wanted to add a SWAP partition; currently it is seen as a 2Gb file on /dev/sda5

CatKiller
November 1st, 2020, 07:28 AM
Can I safely change the first partition to become EXT4 and increase the size to (say) 20 Gb ?

No. That's your ESP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFI_system_partition). It needs to be FAT.


I also wanted to add a SWAP partition; currently it is seen as a 2Gb file on /dev/sda5

The default got changed to a swap file rather than a swap partition when they got as good. You can create a bigger swap file or create a swap partition if you're comfortable with that; it's fairly straightforward.

yancek
November 1st, 2020, 01:16 PM
Your install on the computer with 19.10 is a Legacy/MBR install while the install with 20.04 is an EFI install, The EFI install requires the FAT32 partition for the EFI files and needs to be mounted at /boot/efi and is accessible only by root, using sudo on Ubuntu. Take a look at the link below which gives a brief explanation of Legacy/EFI.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/993269/difference-between-legacy-bios-and-uefi

Dennis N
November 1st, 2020, 01:40 PM
Your partitions for 20.04 is what the Ubuntu installer does when you select the "erase and install" option with bios mode. The OS will still function normally.

Here is confirmation from a Ubuntu 20.04 VM install in BIOS mode:

Disk /dev/vda: 21.5GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB primary fat32 boot
2 539MB 21.5GB 20.9GB extended
5 539MB 21.5GB 20.9GB logical ext4

The first partition isn't serving any purpose in this bios install, even though it is mounted at /boot/efi. You will find it is empty.

root@Tyana-vm:~# cd /boot/efi
root@Tyana-vm:/boot/efi# tree
.

0 directories, 0 files


With 20.10, users report the installer makes a GPT partition table with a bios type install when using the "erase and install" option.

oygle
November 3rd, 2020, 03:07 AM
No. That's your ESP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFI_system_partition). It needs to be FAT.

I remember I did try to make the BIOS set to UEFI, however an error msg that it was experimental, so didn't select it. The laptop is quite old. So, the installation has defaulted to EUFI/UFI despite the fact the BIOS is set to "no UEFI". Interesting.



The default got changed to a swap file rather than a swap partition when they got as good. You can create a bigger swap file or create a swap partition if you're comfortable with that; it's fairly straightforward.

Thanks, yes I might just add a swap partition.


Your install on the computer with 19.10 is a Legacy/MBR install while the install with 20.04 is an EFI install, The EFI install requires the FAT32 partition for the EFI files and needs to be mounted at /boot/efi and is accessible only by root, using sudo on Ubuntu. Take a look at the link below which gives a brief explanation of Legacy/EFI.

https://askubuntu.com/questions/993269/difference-between-legacy-bios-and-uefi

Okay, thanks.


Your partitions for 20.04 is what the Ubuntu installer does when you select the "erase and install" option with bios mode. The OS will still function normally.

From memory it was just "Try" or "Install" but the Install option may have recognised the empty hard drive, so no erase needed ?



Here is confirmation from a Ubuntu 20.04 VM install in BIOS mode:

Disk /dev/vda: 21.5GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB primary fat32 boot
2 539MB 21.5GB 20.9GB extended
5 539MB 21.5GB 20.9GB logical ext4


Okay thanks, that is basically the same as the 20.04.1 I have.



The first partition isn't serving any purpose in this bios install, even though it is mounted at /boot/efi. You will find it is empty.

root@Tyana-vm:~# cd /boot/efi
root@Tyana-vm:/boot/efi# tree
.

0 directories, 0 files


Same here ..


$ sudo tree /boot/efi
/boot/efi

0 directories, 0 files



With 20.10, users report the installer makes a GPT partition table with a bios type install when using the "erase and install" option.

Okay, I may install 20.10 later. The only reason I went for 20.04.1 was the LTS component.