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

[Gene Poole]

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.

 

[mrjimphelps]

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-Alumi...=1508440555&sr=8-5&keywords=sata+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.

 

[samuria]

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?

 

[Gene Poole]

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.

 

[Gene Poole]

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.

 

[samuria]

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

 

[Megahertz07]

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.

 

[Gene Poole]

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.

 

[Gene Poole]

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.

 

[Megahertz07]

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).

 

[Gene Poole]

OK, I didn't notice before but it says Basic MBR on all the drives.

 

[Megahertz07]

I don't see any reason why you can't install Ubuntu to disk 2.

- Under windows, defrag disk D:
- With Minitool Partition Wizard:
Shrink D: partition in 40 G
On the unallocated partition create a new (30G) and format it as ext4. On the remaining 10 G make it a swap file.

- Shutdown, detach all other drives (take out the power or SATA connector) leaving on only disk 2.
- Boot from the Ubuntu disk and install on the ext4 partition (30G).
- When finished, boot from the installed Ubuntu.
- Shutdown, attach all other drives.
- On BIOS choose your primary boot disk (Disk 1 - Windows; Disk 2 Ubuntu)
- To choose a different disk to boot from (Disk 1 - Windows; Disk 2 Ubuntu) during POST launch the boot menu.

 

[Gene Poole]

I don't see any reason why you can't install Ubuntu to disk 2.

- Under windows, defrag disk D:
- With Minitool Partition Wizard:
Shrink D: partition in 40 G
On the unallocated partition create a new (30G) and format it as ext4. On the remaining 10 G make it a swap file.

- Shutdown, detach all other drives (take out the power or SATA connector) leaving on only disk 2.
- Boot from the Ubuntu disk and install on the ext4 partition (30G).
- When finished, boot from the installed Ubuntu.
- Shutdown, attach all other drives.
- On BIOS choose your primary boot disk (Disk 1 - Windows; Disk 2 Ubuntu)
- To choose a different disk to boot from (Disk 1 - Windows; Disk 2 Ubuntu) during POST launch the boot menu.

Thanks. I know how to format, I know how to re-size partitions, BUT I don't know how you arrived at 40G and 30G with a 10G swap, since that D is currently 296G. Also, can Win7 do a Linux ext4 format? As for the rest, the position and weight of my tower along with my fractured spine precludes me doing these physical things just for Ubuntu. I also don't like tweaking the BIOS unless I have someone here more technical than me. So it will have to wait until I have more reasons to open the box.

I'd have guessed that the Ubuntu developers would make this all easier for people with multiple partitions. And none of this explains, to me, why the installer is happy to go with the external USB drive but not the others.

I've copied your process and of course have a bookmark here. Thanks again.

 

[Megahertz07]

Please read carefully:
- Under windows, defrag disk D:
- With Minitool Partition Wizard:
Shrink D: partition in 40 G (when you shrink D: you will have an unallocated partition at the end of the disk)
On the unallocated partition create a new partition (30G) and format it as ext4. On the remaining 10 G make it a swap file.

Minitool Partition Wizard can format a partition as ext4 and / or swap.

 

[Gene Poole]

SUCCESS! To the few who have followed, tried to help, or who may be new to the thread, I got Ubuntu 17.10 installed onto my E drive. It was strange, after giving up on my own and your other untried methods, I decided to let the "Live CD" boot all the way, instead of the frustrating attempts to Install. Once fully Live, after playing a little, I decided to try the Install button on the Desktop. Oddly, it came up with my E drive as the only place to install. OK then, plenty of space there and not USB2 slow. I only then had to authorize to proceed, and it installed all the files. Then it suggested a restart and then, after throwing a relatively long DOS-like error screen, it went into a stall, not booting. Hmm, so I did a physical power cycle and it had created a new logon screen with choices, Windows or Ubuntu, as expected. I tried Ubuntu and all was as expected again. Yay! Now I've rebooted into Windows 7 and all is well on this end. Even though no one needs a new screenshot, I'll include one here for the curious.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Good luck
Looks like it installed on one of the only disks it could create 2 more partitions on since your disks are all mbr so 3 partitions is a max I believe.

 

[Gene Poole]

start a new thread? uninstall Ubuntu. MBR

Now that I've got this Ubuntu dual-booting I've decided I don't like it. For one thing, the browser and email vertical scrollbars are too tiny, so are the OFF/MIN/MAX buttons. Maybe they designed the UX on 1080 instead of 1920. Then today's boot of it brought up Kodi I thought had failed to install last time. Kodi shouldn't auto-boot with the OS, plus it won't see my media folders on the Win partition, plus there's no exit from it besides rebooting. Also, Ubuntu seems childish like a Mac, not made for tinkerers like us.

I've found through the Live CD process that I much prefer PCLINUX OS. It's got some of the granular control I like without being all about the command terminal. So I searched on how to uninstall Ubuntu. First I found How To Safely Uninstall Ubuntu From A Windows Dual-Boot PC
which says to just delete the partition via Computer Management/Disk Management. But then it warns that the MBR will then need repair and one should boot Hiren's, but doesn't specify what's next. I do have Hiren's.

Then I found something at Tom's about fixing a non-booting MBR via the MS Windows install disc, which I do have also. How to Fix Windows 7 When It Fails to Boot

Finally, since I do have Minitool, this: How to Rebuild MBR | MiniTool Partition Wizard Tutorial

But before I go down any of these roads, I figured to ask the Gurus here for any advice.

 

[Megahertz07]

That is why I said to detach all other disks leaving on only the target disk (post #12).
What happened is that Ubuntu has changed the MBR from disk 1 to point to Grub on disk 3 where Ubuntu is installed.

Boot Windows and with Minitool Partition Wizard delete the the Ubuntu partition. As you will also delete the Grub boot loader, Windows won't boot.
Shutdown, detach all other disks leaving on only disk 1.
Boot with Win 7 installation disk and do a boot repair to restore the MBR on disk 1.

Remember: To install a second OS on another HDD, detach ALL other drives.

Many of us in this forum like Zorin. Looks like Windows
Zorin OS - Your Computer. Better.

I like Lubuntu that is light and also looks like Windows.
lubuntu | lightweight, fast, easier
uninstall - How to change Ubuntu into Lubuntu? - Ask Ubuntu

 

[Gene Poole]

Thanks again Mega.

 

[Megahertz07]

You're welcome.
Give us a feedback on what you did.