Ubuntu won't install on internal HD, forces to external USB drive

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  1. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
       #1

    Ubuntu won't install on internal HD, forces to external USB drive


    When trying to install Ubuntu as an "alongside" Windows OS, it presents a target drive pop-down chooser widget, but the only drive it sees/allows is my external data storage USB. I have 3 internals: a C boot SSD, and 2 legacy HDs. All with plenty of room, all NTFS.

    Yes I know this isn't a Linux forum, but in this case I'm wondering if there's something I need to do on the Win7 side to 'prepare' as space.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #2

    Here's how I addressed this issue:


    I have three hard drives in my computer:
    1. Linux
    2. Windows
    3. Data
    Data is always on; I use a SATA power switch to turn on/off the Linux and Windows drives:

    https://www.amazon.com/PW4101-Alumin...a+power+switch

    When I want to switch to the other OS, I power down, switch drives with the SATA power switch, then power on. Like magic, I'm in the other OS; and my data is always available, no matter which OS I am using, because the data drive is always on.

    I know you were asking about dual boot on a single drive. But this method works better, in my opinion, because Linux and Windows are totally separate from each other, being on different drives. Also, backups are simplified, because you back up the OS on occasion, and the data on a regular basis.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,783
    win 8 32 bit
       #3

    You can run linux inside windows it normally gives you that as an option when installing. Does it say why it wont install ie lack of disk space or secure boot?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    The SATA switch move is down the road for me, thanks though.

    And no, the install process gives no clue as to why it only allows the external. Then too it also puts up a nice polite Go Back button, but that isn't working.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I do have a complex set of drives and partitions. Maybe that's it. I don't want to boot this linux off a slow USB 2 port, I want to install it onto and boot it off my Disk 2 D partition.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Ubuntu won't install on internal HD, forces to external USB drive-minitool-partitions-oct-2017.png  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,783
    win 8 32 bit
       #6

    You have lots of room on c you can shrink that and leave the space blank so Linux has enough space to create a partition check Linux space requirements. You could. Use free virtual box and r.un Linux as a virtual pc
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #7

    Your MB probably has a UEFI BIOS.
    Please take another snapshot of Disk manager with all columns expanded. I want to see what kind of disk you have (GPT or MBR).
    If D: is a GPT disk you must create a UEFI Fat 32 partition (100M) to have the boot loader.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    samuria said:
    You have lots of room on c you can shrink that and leave the space blank so Linux has enough space to create a partition check Linux space requirements. You could. Use free virtual box and r.un Linux as a virtual pc
    Hi. Thanks. Maybe you didn't see me saying "the only drive it sees/allows is my external data storage USB"?
    Also, I'm happy to devote almost all of my current D:Apps partition to this or another Linux. I'd prefer to avoid the slow USB or my C that I like to image/backup. But the installer won't let me put it anywhere but the J drive.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 60
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Megahertz07 said:
    You MB probably has a UEFI BIOS.
    Please take another snapshot of Disk manager with all columns expanded. I want to see what kind of disk you have (GPT or MBR).
    If D: is a GPT disk you must create a UEFI Fat 32 partition (100M) to have the boot loader.
    Hmm, thanks, this is the sort of reply I was hoping for. But what is "Disk manager", a native part of Win7? The previous snap is from Minitool Partition Wizard. That program doesn't seem to have anything named Disk Manager to be able to see the GPT or MBR status. It does have a "Convert NTFS to FAT" option.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #10

    You have windows "Disk manager" that does the same as Minitool Partition Wizard.
    Please take another snapshot of Minitool Partition Wizard with all columns expanded. I want to see what kind of disk you have (GPT or MBR).
      My Computers


 
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