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Thread: Partitioning problems

  1. #1
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    Nov 2009
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    Partitioning problems

    Hi there. I am trying to install Ubuntu 12.10 64bit on free (unallocated) space, to dual boot with windows. The problem I am running into is that Ubuntu is unlike Fedora, which does the partitioning automatically. I clicked on 'something else'. When I choose the free space, it becomes very unfriendly. I followed a guide from linuxbsdos and started by creating 250 MB space as etx2, with /boot as mounting point. Then the rest of the free space is now 'unusable'. Crazy. How do I get out of that dilemma? I guess I should use 'install alongside windows', but I really wanted Ubuntu to be entirely on the free space. I do NOT have gParted. Was hoping the installer can do the job. Thanks for your help.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    ozarks, Arkansas, USA
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    14,189
    Distro
    Xubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Partitioning problems

    gallicbear; Hi ! Welcome back.

    GParted: available on the Desktop install cd; Dash->search term GParted-> icon
    dual booting with windows:
    1. A new computer ? Is uefi a factor
    2. Partitioning: is GPT a factor (if so alternate utility for partitioning other than GPareted) ?
    these links for dual boot guides:
    http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2012/05/17...and-windows-7/
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot/Windows

    if UEFI or GPT applies:
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2064761
    post #5 applies
    let us know how it goes, post back with any additional questions.
    just try'n to help <== BDQ

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
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    1

    Re: Partitioning problems

    I'm having the same problem about the unusable space but I'm pure ubuntu I dont have a windows in it

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Catalunya, Spain
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    Distro
    Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

    Re: Partitioning problems

    1. When you use the "install along windows" and there is unallocated space on the disk, IT DOES use that space entirelly. The only thing is that installs with only root and swap (so no way to have a separate /home) for example.
    By using the manual partitioning you control the partitions and their size, and also where the bootloader goes which is sometimes very important if you have multiple disks.

    2. One reason why the remained space can become unusable after you create a partition is if you already have 3 primary partitions and you create /boot as primary. On disks with msdos table the limit is 4 partitions. That is why it's better to create all ubuntu partitions as logical, not primary, since it works just fine on logical partitions too.

    Apart from this, if there is any error or corruption in the partitions table it can start acting weird and not showing the partitions correctly.

    If you are in doubt, you can boot the ubuntu cd in live mode first and post the output of:
    sudo fdisk -l (small L)
    sudo parted -l (small L)
    Last edited by darkod; November 18th, 2012 at 11:53 AM.
    Darko.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 64bit

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    13

    Re: Partitioning problems

    Thank you all for trying to help. After several tries, I haven't reached anything except for error messages. Using GParted assumes that you have a Linux system running. I tried PartedMagic. It doesn't allow you to divide up the unallocated free space the way you want to. Once you are done assigning one, the rest is untouchable. I have used Easeus partition Manager in Windows to divide up the space, but there are still sizing errors. It's a tedious job. Why can't ubuntu handle it automatically? Frustrating. I'll give it another try, but don't know... One other question: Yes, I will dual boot with Windows 8, but I do not run it in UEFI mode. As far as bootloader, can I assign sda1 Windows 8 (loader), or should I use a different scenario, like just sd1? Thanks again.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

    Re: Partitioning problems

    The ubuntu cd in live mode has Gparted on it, so you don't need to have already installed system to use it. You have it on the ubuntu cd if you boot it in Try ubuntu.

    For bootloader you would usually use grub2 since windows bootloader can't boot linux. And the bootloader usually goes to the MBR of the disk which has no numbers in the device name, like /dev/sda. If it has a number, like /dev/sda1, that means the first partitions on the disk. So, the bootloader grub2 should go to /dev/sda.

    You didn't mention how many primary partitions you already have, and how are you trying to create them. Yes, you can do all you need with the installer. And don't play around too much with partitioning and windows software, watch out not to get something messed up.

    It would be good to post the otuput of the fdisk and parted commands I posted earlier, so we can see the current disk layout. Like this, we are speaking blind.
    Darko.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 64bit

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Athens/Greece
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    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

    Re: Partitioning problems

    Hi ,
    if you can , boot from Ubuntu Live CD/DVD ("Try Ubuntu") , open Gparted program and take a screenshot . Then attach the srceenshot here in forums so we can see whats going on.
    See here on how to attach a file

    Thanks

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Beans
    13

    Re: Partitioning problems

    Thanks, NikTh. Still no success. Ubuntu 12.10 is very unfriendly. I do not find GParted to launch it. There are shortcuts for Open Office, Firefox, etc, and shortcuts for the different drives, but Application folder like in Fedora, where you can choose from the different installed programs.
    I do not see how to take a screenshot either.
    Coming back to the install screen, this is what I have as far as partitioning:
    Swap: 41.2 MB
    /Boot: 518 MB
    / : 33 MB
    and /Home, 62 GB.
    And when I click on install after all that, it's giving me an error message: Some of your partitions are less than /2.7GB. Your install might fail. Now why it also shows an / with the 2.7GB, I do not know.
    Frustrating.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Catalunya, Spain
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    14,558
    Distro
    Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

    Re: Partitioning problems

    You just wrote in your post that / is 33MB. Is that correct or you wanted to say 33GB?

    Because it can't install on / of only 33MB.

    As for looking for applications in the new Unity interface, just click on the ubuntu logo icon on top of the left side interface, and that will open a search box called Dash. You can also open it by hitting the windows logo key on the keyboard.

    In the search line just start typing the program you want to find, and it will show it. You can easily open it from there.
    Darko.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 64bit

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Athens/Greece
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    Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver

    Re: Partitioning problems

    Quote Originally Posted by gallicbear View Post
    Thanks, NikTh. Still no success. Ubuntu 12.10 is very unfriendly. I do not find GParted to launch it. There are shortcuts for Open Office, Firefox, etc, and shortcuts for the different drives, but Application folder like in Fedora, where you can choose from the different installed programs.
    I do not see how to take a screenshot either.
    Gparted included in Live-Ubuntu , just click on Dash (Ubuntu icon up left - first in Launcher) and write: gparted

    Screenshot you can take by pressing [PrtScr] button , or call the appropriate program (also included) , write in Dash : screenshot
    Quote Originally Posted by gallicbear View Post
    Coming back to the install screen, this is what I have as far as partitioning:
    Swap: 41.2 MB
    /Boot: 518 MB
    / : 33 MB
    and /Home, 62 GB.
    And when I click on install after all that, it's giving me an error message: Some of your partitions are less than /2.7GB. Your install might fail. Now why it also shows an / with the 2.7GB, I do not know.
    Frustrating.
    Well this is correct. You have to resize your partitions to fit the minimum requirements. Are too shot right now.
    Why you don't let Ubuntu partitioning for you ? I mean , do not follow the "hard" partitioning way , but when you click "something else" just click the partition you made for Ubuntu and the click "Install Now" . The Only thing you might want to do is to create a swap area (3GB is good I think) and all other space , mount it to root / .
    A /home will be created inside root. You have allocated plant of space.
    So , in short.

    1) delete anything you created . /boot , swap , /home etc..
    2) Create a space 3 GB and mount it to swap area
    3) Rest of space , mount it to root (/)
    4) Click "Install Now"
    Done.

    Thanks

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