USB 18.04 install does not detect Windows 7 (EFI)

[pjstock]

I was about to install Ubuntu 18.04 from a USB stick onto a machine with WIndows 7 already installed (and which I would like to keep) But at Step 1 I am getting a message that no other operating system was detected.

I have read a number of the many threads related to this same issue, but could not make much sense of them.

My Windows 7 is showing the 250GB drive with a 100MB EFI System Partition and 232 GB as NTFS.

What am I doing wrong? do I have the wrong version of Ubuntu on the stick?
After about 7 Ubuntu installs, this is a new roadblock to me. (though my past success is likely more due to good luck than good management.)

Peter

[oldfred]

I would use Windows to shrink the NTFS partition and reboot immediately to make sure it has run chkdsk.
Do you have Windows hibernation on? Windows 7 does not have the Windows 10 default of fast start up/hibernation.

The Ubuntu installer is both UEFI and BIOS boot.
If Windows is UEFI, you want to install Ubuntu in UEFI boot mode.
How you boot install media from UEFI, BIOS or UEFI is then how it installs.

Be sure to have good backups and a Windows repair or recovery disk.

More info on UEFI installs in link in my signature.

[pjstock]

this windows is a brand new install from the guy I bought the PC from (he's a tech hobbyist). So there is nothing on the new system. No backup required. (and I very very very rarely use Windows once I have Ubuntu running, so it's just a convenience to know it's there.)
By how much could I reasonaly shrink the NTFS partition? by... 20GB? Less?

re: Hibernation. In Power Options in Windows both Turn Off Display and Sleep options were/are enabled (for after 10 minutes and 30 minutes respectively) . I will set them to NEVER now.
(but how does Hibernation come into play if I am Restarting in order to boot from the USB stick?)

is UEFI the same as EFI?
How do I specify UEFI or BIOS for this: "How you boot install media from UEFI, BIOS or UEFI is then how it installs"

But let me read your More Info on UEFI boot install first.....


Many thanks

Dumb,
I now see that the 232gb is all Windows 7. and I can only shrink that to about half that size. Do I go for the maximum shrink?

[oldfred]

Windows really wants 30% free, so that is the minimum you should shrink to.
Some have had to use third party tools, but turning off several things may allow you to shrink it more.

Shrink or Resize the Windows 8, 7 or Vista Partition or Drive
http://www.thpc.info/how/shrink_part...s_7_vista.html
How to Get Around Windows’ “Shrink Volume” Inadequacy Problems
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...uacy-problems/
Hiberfile in Windows 7 & 8 often prevents shrink
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...e-disable.html

[pjstock]

and if I shrink the Windows 7 partition, do you think that will help Ubuntu recognize the W7 when I try to install Ubuntu? (I guess I do it and find out.)
I am simply not knowledgable enough to understand all the steps required to manually do a dual OS install. I have (sadly) come ot rely on the automatic detection of Ubuntu. It's worked so well the.... 7 or so times I've installed Ubuntu in the past.
Peter

[oldfred]

With Windows 7 normally hibernation is not an issue, just the newer Windows with fast start up.
But some other things like NTFS needing chkdsk or if you converted partitions to dynamic (LDM in Linux if gpt) from basic will prevent the Linux NTFS driver from seeing Windows.
Post these:
sudo fdisk -lu
sudo parted -l
sudo gdisk -l /dev/sda

[pjstock]

I have not yet installed Ubuntu 18.04 on the new system yet. I am still doing preperatory steps before trying to shrink that Windows 7 partition.

Shall I run Ubuntu off the stick and run those commands and report? will that show anything?

Peter

[oldfred]

Yes, use Ubuntu live installer in live mode and see what those commands say?

Also if you use gparted from live installer, it may show red or yellow icon next to NTFS partition and click (right click?) on icon may show error message.
Often error messages are rather general.

[pjstock]

thank you.
I ran PerfectDisk and it seemed VERY effective. I was able to shrink the WIndows 7 partition to about 30% of the total (so about 72Gb)
On retrying the Ubuntu Install Ubuntu still does not "detect" my WIndows 7. But on trying SomethingElse I see what looks like an unused 172GB "Free Space" area.
Can I "direct" ubuntu to install there and thereby leave the WIndows 7 Intact and unaffected? or do I have to do some other steps first? (I was tempted to say To Heck WIth it and just use WIndows, but on doing the Live Install of Ubuntu I am reminded of how much I like it.)

In any event, here are the results of those commands you suggested (I hope this is clear and helps)

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -lu
Disk /dev/loop0: 1.8 GiB, 1864450048 bytes, 3641504 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 /dev/loop1: 86.9 MiB, 91099136 bytes, 177928 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 /dev/loop2: 34.7 MiB, 36323328 bytes, 70944 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 /dev/loop3: 140.9 MiB, 147722240 bytes, 288520 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 /dev/loop4: 2.3 MiB, 2433024 bytes, 4752 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 /dev/loop5: 13 MiB, 13619200 bytes, 26600 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 /dev/loop6: 14.5 MiB, 15196160 bytes, 29680 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 /dev/loop7: 3.7 MiB, 3887104 bytes, 7592 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

The backup GPT table is corrupt, but the primary appears OK, so that will be used.
Disk /dev/sda: 232.9 GiB, 250059350016 bytes, 488397168 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
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 23EB170D-A19B-4E25-BB48-CCC2773C9D5F

Device      Start       End   Sectors  Size Type
/dev/sda1    2048    206847    204800  100M EFI System
/dev/sda2  206848    468991    262144  128M Microsoft reserved
/dev/sda3  468992 145876991 145408000 69.3G Microsoft basic data

Disk /dev/sdb: 7.7 GiB, 8242855936 bytes, 16099328 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
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x663eb4c4

Device     Boot   Start     End Sectors  Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1  *          0 3815135 3815136  1.8G  0 Empty
/dev/sdb2       3737268 3741939    4672  2.3M ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo parted -l
Error: The backup GPT table is corrupt, but the primary appears OK, so that will
be used.
OK/Cancel? ok                                                             
Model: ATA WDC WD2500AAKX-7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 250GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name                          Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB   105MB   fat32        EFI system partition          boot, esp
 2      106MB   240MB   134MB                Microsoft reserved partition  msftres
 3      240MB   74.7GB  74.4GB  ntfs         Basic data partition          msftdata


Warning: The driver descriptor says the physical block size is 2048 bytes, but
Linux says it is 512 bytes.
Ignore/Cancel? ignore                                                     
Model: Generic Flash Disk (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 33.0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 2048B/512B
Partition Table: mac
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name   Flags
 1      2048B   6143B   4096B                Apple
 2      1913MB  1916MB  2392kB               EFI


ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo gdisk -l /dev/sda
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.3

Caution: invalid backup GPT header, but valid main header; regenerating
backup header from main header.

Partition table scan:
  MBR: protective
  BSD: not present
  APM: not present
  GPT: damaged

****************************************************************************
Caution: Found protective or hybrid MBR and corrupt GPT. Using GPT, but disk
verification and recovery are STRONGLY recommended.
****************************************************************************
Disk /dev/sda: 488397168 sectors, 232.9 GiB
Model: WDC WD2500AAKX-7
Sector size (logical/physical): 512/512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): 23EB170D-A19B-4E25-BB48-CCC2773C9D5F
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
Main partition table begins at sector 2 and ends at sector 33
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 488397134
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 342522157 sectors (163.3 GiB)

Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name
   1            2048          206847   100.0 MiB   EF00  EFI system partition
   2          206848          468991   128.0 MiB   0C01  Microsoft reserved ...
   3          468992       145876991   69.3 GiB    0700  Basic data partition
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[oldfred]

The error on the sector size is from flash drive and is normal.
But this is an issue and needs to be fixed.

Error: The backup GPT table is corrupt, but the primary appears OK, so that will
be used.

repair gpt:
http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/repairing.html

sudo gdisk /dev/sda
Command (? for help):
Use gdisk and verify partitions are correct with p, or v to review issues, and use w to write the partition table. If not correct just use q to quit. That should update primary, backup & protective MBR