Install Error Ubuntu 12.10: Unable To Find A Medium Containing A Live File System

[Loose2009]

Hi All,

I am new to Ubuntu. I decided to give it a test drive since I am not all the fond of Windows 8. I have a brand new system that I built and have been trying to install 12.10 (the 64bit version). There is currently no OS installed, nor have I been able to install/update device drivers as of yet.

System Specs
AMD FX-8350
GigaByte 970A-D3
G.Skill Ares 16Gb DDR-3-1600
Samsung 840 Series 250Gb SSD
Sapphire 2Gb Radeon 7850

I am using a USB stick to install Ubuntu as my optical has not yet arrived. I select "Install Ubuntu" and get the screen with Ubuntu on it and the scrolling dots. After that I always get this message:


BusyBox v1.19.3 (Ubuntu 1:1.19.3-7ubuntu1) built-in shell (ash)
Enter ‘help’ for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system.


I have tried different kernel boot options, and searched pretty extensively and have not found a solution. I've also used a couple different programs to create the bootable USB drive including the one posted on the tutorial on the Ubuntu site, with no luck. Any help would be much appreciated, as I would like to try the OS out.

[kc1di]

I've found this to work before. it may work for you;

Goto SATA Settings in your Bios and use AHCI instead of IDE.

Also usb 3.0 ports give trouble sometimes.

[oldfred]

+1 on kc1di suggestions.

Since it is a new system is it UEFI with compatibly mode or BIOS/Legacy/CSM?

Do you want the new UEFI or the known, but old BIOS install.

Also related is the choice of formatting of drive. If planning on Windows you have to use BIOS with MBR partitioning or UEFI with gpt partitioning.
Ubuntu will install with the new gpt partitioning whether BIOS or UEFI, but needs an extra partition either way. bios_grub for BIOS or efi for UEFI booting.

[Loose2009]

Tried changing the SATA settings to no avail, and I am already using USB 2.0 ports.

I can use either UEFI or Legacy. I have tried booting with either option and end up with the same message.

[oldfred]

Then I would suspect that either download is not correct or install was not correct.

You can verify download
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToMD5SUM

Also instructions for CD/DVD or USB
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
Write image or burn image not copy ISO as one large file to CD.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...n/FromUSBStick

Some have better success with
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
If that does not work
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/univers...easy-as-1-2-3/

[kc1di]

I would go with Oldfred's suggestion of checking the download and
us unetbootin to make the usb stick.
Good Luck

[Loose2009]

I have tried Unetbootin, LinuxLive USB Creator, and Universal USB from Pendrive Linux. I have booted all of those in both UEFI and Legacy. All give the same message.

As far as my Ubuntu download, it is directly from the Ubuntu's site. I would assume that would make it okay, correct? Though I will go ahead check that just to make sure.

UPDATE: Used MD5SUM and came up with different sums. So looks like you are correct. If I download from the same source would I come up the same problem or is this just some random error?

[grahammechanical]

I also built my own machine - 5 years ago. Until a few months ago I was able to run the live session for every Ubuntu from 7.04 to 12.10 but when I try with Raring Ringtail 13.04 I get that Busybox prompt as you do. The answer?

1) At the first purple screen press Enter
2) At the second (language screen) press Enter - English is the default.
3) Press F6 and from the menu select acpi=off and press Enter
4) Press Esc to close the menu
5) Put irqpoll in between initrd.lz and quiet splash in the boot parameter line.
6) Press F10 to boot.

That gets me and 13.04 to a live session. It might do the same for you and 12.10.

Regards.

[oldfred]

Sometimes is just happens that download is not good.

Do you know about zsync? With the alpha or beta the ISO is changing daily so we do not download the entire thing but just the changes.

Your local mirror has the zsync also.

sudo apt-get install zsync

change to the directory you have your iso in. I have mine in /home/fred/ISO

cd ISO
fred@A105-Precise:~/ISO$ zsync http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-Ubuntu/12.04/ubuntu-12.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso.zsync
#################### 100.0% 211.3 kBps DONE     

reading seed file ubuntu-12.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso: **********

verifying download...checksum matches OK
used 728760320 local, fetched 0
fred@A105-Precise:~/ISO$

You will have to find your local mirror. and change to exactly the name of the ISO you have. I had just downloaded 12.04.2 so I was able to run it against that as above.
Click thru to your nearest down load mirror.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...tive-downloads

Change path to where yours is at.
This is a USA mirror fro 12.04.
http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-Ubuntu/12.04/

[Loose2009]

I downloaded a new copy, but this time tried the "ubuntu-secure-remix-12.10-64bit." Not sure if there's any difference besides the whole secure boot thing with Windows 8, but figured I'd try it anyways...Same outcome.

grahammechanical:
I am going to try to boot via UEFI, since I will probably eventually load Windows in that way when I get my optical drive in. As such, I am not sure how to implement what you suggest when booting in UEFI as it different.

oldfred:
I get what you are saying about zsync being able to update the file without downloading the whole iso. However, I am currently working from a windows machine, do you know how to this from windows? Also, would it necessarily matter if I have a slightly older verison of Linux, I would think that it should install regardless.