Troubles installing Windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.04 in Inspiron 17R SE

matheusramos · 12 Oct 2012

Hi folks,

I get my new Inspiron 17R Special Edition just a few days ago. And I need to install the Ubuntu to do my researches for the university. Since I needed to change the partitions I decided to install the a copy of the Windows 8 I have here.

But, something happening, when I was change the partitions installing the Win8 I couldn' t see any partition and get the error "We couldn' t load any drivers blablabla". After that, I solve this problem searching on the internet and change in the BIOS in the advanced tab the "SATA Operation" from "Intel Rapid Sto.rage" to "ATA" . Then I install the Win8 and I am not able to boot anymore. Smart as I am, I try to do "in my way" and I deleted all partitions to make my own configuration. I don' t need to say that anything else is working now.

I tried to do three 3-step restore of the Windows partition "System Reserved", but it didn' t work. Also, I tried to install the Ubuntu, but I am not able to record the bootloader in any partition.
Right now I have the partitions as follow:

HDD
350MB - System Reserved Windows
100GB - Windows Partition
750GB - File Partition
40GB - Ubuntu 12.04
8GB Unlocatted (Will be the linux SWAP)

SSD
32GB - Partition I create to try to avoid the Windows to try create the "System Reserved" partition here (I'm thinking that the boot is in the HDD).

Please, if there anything that someone could tell to help solve my problem, I'll be really thankful!

Thank you!

ignatzatsonic · 12 Oct 2012

If you can boot, open Windows Disk Management and post a screen shot of what you see there so we can better see what is going on.

Do you have installation discs for Windows 7 and 8?

Do you have a 25 character Product Key for Windows 7?

matheusramos · 12 Oct 2012

Hey ignatzatsonic, thank you for answer.

I have no way to boot, but I can get the partition details, I will type all details here, the partition are sorted from the beginning to end of the disk:

HDD

File System Label Size Used Unused Flags Details
ntfs "System Reserved" 350MB 23.75MB 326.25MB boot (Partition marked as active in the diskpart)

ntfs "" 97.66GB 7.87GB 89.89GB

ntfs "" 789.57GB 191.41MB 789.38GB

(extented partition)
ext4 "" 36.31GB 3.07GB 33.24GB
linux-swap "" 7.63GB --- ---
unlocatted "" 2.71MB --- ---

SSD
ntfs 29.82GB 113.59MB 29.71GB (I try to mark as inactive in the disk part but, every time I reboot it come back as active)

Yes ignatzatsonic, I have both OS Win 7 e 8 with their respective original key.

Do you see any problem?

ignatzatsonic · 12 Oct 2012

I assume the 97.66 GB partition is the Windows partition??

Overall, it's a mess. I'm not clear from your first post exactly what you have done. You do say "I deleted all partitions".

I'd start over.

The SSD is quite small, only 32 GB. I'm wondering if that is a cache drive or a hybrid drive, rather than a distinct and separate SSD?

Dells typically come with a recovery partition from which you can restore to original factory state, but if you deleted all partitions you may be unable to do that.

I assume you have no separate Dell recovery DVDs.

You can probably get Dell to send you recovery DVDs if necessary.

Or you can just start from scratch, using your own installation discs.

If I wanted to try that, I'd install Windows 7 first, probably on an 80 or 100 GB partition. Get it updated and running OK. Then post a picture of Windows Disk Management.

Then Linux if you need that badly for your research. I know very little about Linux installation.

I'd do Windows 8 last, if really needed. But really, I'd try to avoid it entirely as it offers you very little not found on Windows 7.

Maybe others have more input.

gregrocker · 12 Oct 2012

That sounds like the 32gb SSD caching chip on the mobo which has shown up here in the past few weeks, and can be unRAIDED in BIOS to install the OS on separately if you partition it first. Try AHCI or IDE modes to see which works. Try also disabling or unplugging the HD to do the install.

Then plug back in the other HD to install the other OS's, making sure if you again Dual Boot with Linux to use this method: Dual Boot Ubuntu - EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki.

Dave76 · 13 Oct 2012

This might be easier if you tell us exactly what you want to end up with.
What partitions do you want on the HDD?
What do you want to do with the 32Gb mSATA drive?

Where did you try to install Win 8? On the HDD or SSD?
From what you mentioned, your boot files may be on the mSATA SSD.

From what I read in the first link below, by partitioning the mSATA SSD you effectively removed it as far as the Intel® Responsiveness Technologies is concerned. This may have caused the failure to boot.

As ignatzatsonic and gregrocker recommended, you may need to wipe the HDD and start over.

o Disabling

 Warning about deleting the Smart Response partition (!), or removing the Smart Response SSD cache device: Manually deleting/erasing the Smart Response partition is strongly discouraged. Depending on the state of the system, and what files have been cached to the SSD during use, deleting the Smart Response partition could result in permanent data loss. Should the need to disable Smart Response arise, the safest way to defeat the feature is from within the Rapid Storage Manager application.
 Disabling Smart Response within the Rapid Storage application: This is the preferred method of disabling Smart Response. Doing this will allow the cache to be properly flushed back to the hard drive.

o Removing the mSATA/SSD or HDD:

 Before removing the HDD or cache from the system, the Smart Response feature should be disabled in the Rapid Storage Manager application by clicking the “Disable acceleration” link either on the main status page, or under the Acceleration menu.

I've just found more info on the Intel® Responsiveness Technologies.
For reference:
Intel Smart Response Technology Configuration

Dell Setup Guide for Intel® Responsiveness Technologies
Download the 'Intel Responsiveness technologies 0.91.pdf' file.

gregrocker · 13 Oct 2012

So far the users seen here with the caching SSD have instead wanted to install Win7 to it and have succeeded in doing so by Disabling Acceleration and partitioning the chip .

But I think I'd try using it for its intended purpose first to see how it works.

matheusramos · 23 Oct 2012

Actually I want to make the partitions like that

100 GB for Windows
40GB for Ubuntu
8GB for Linux Swap
The rest for files

When deactivate the Intel Smart Technologies I could Install Windows and Ubuntu. But the windows didn't boot because it create the boot partition in the SSD and the computer try to find it in the HDD. So I installed the Ubuntu in the HDD and the GRUB find the Windows Boot partition to boot.

However, I lost the Intel Smart Response Technology, and my SSD isn't sufficient big to install a SO, so I call dell and ask for a recovery disk. Everything become a mess, so I will return with Win7 and edit the partitions to get an partition configuration similar I wanted.

Thank you for the answers everybody!

gregrocker · 23 Oct 2012

You could try installing WIn7 and your most-used programs to the SSD by formatting it from installer first, then on HD place your data linked to Win7 via libraries and Ubuntu booted via the BIOS so as to avoid GRUB.