[X] disk partitions with Win7/Ubuntu

install gparted and use it...

New to Ubuntu: read the Ubuntu Manual, it's very informative: http://ubuntu-manual.org/
Click on the "download Button" to download the latest PDF version.

Thank you Marco,
I forgot to tell that I had alraedy installed and tried out Gparted. It shows me a disk as /dev/sda of 298.09 GiB (almost the full original 320 GB on my new notebook) and describes it as "unused", mentioning also that there is an invalid partitiontable and an incorrect fingerprint. I have no clue what to do with that information.
Thanks you for the manual reference: I look it up.

To be usable in Windows your shared partition will have to be formatted as NTFS and then be assigned a drive letter.

You should be able to do this in Windows, actually—it certainly worked for me (coincidentally with a 320GB Win7 Dell). If I remember correctly, disk management is a tab of Computer Management, under the Administrative Tools section of Control Panel. Partitions are listed in a row. Right-click to get the menu for formatting and drive letter assignment.

Could you boot under Ubuntu (from disk or from CD), and type in a terminal:
     parted -l
where "-l" is a lowercase "-L", and post result. It will help us to have a more accurate view of situation.

The "fingerprint" is probably the two bytes signature of MBR (first sector on disk which contains both boot-loader to active partition and partition table). It should be fixed the next time you change a partition. A trick is to use fdisk, and to ask it to write partition table without having done any change.

Hello delance:
Thank you; typing parted -l in a terminal did not give any output at all...??

If you booted from hard disk, it should have told you "you must be administrator" or something like this.
Sorry, command is
    sudo parted -l
If you get nothing again, it means you have no hard disk...

Delance:
Thanks again.
Now I get this reply (in Dutch; I will translate afterwards):

hugo@ubuntu:~$ sudo parted -l
Fout: Ongeldige partitietabel op /dev/sda -- onjuiste vingerafdruk 0. (invalid partitiontable on dev/sda -- incorrect fingerprint 0)
Negeren/Ignore/Annuleren/Cancel? ^C

Model: ATA WDC WD3200BEKT-7 (scsi)
Schijf /dev/sda: 320GB
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512B/512B
Partitietabel: msdos

Nummer Begin Einde Grootte Type Bestandssysteem Vlaggen
 1 32,3kB 41,1MB 41,1MB primary fat16
 2 41,9MB 15,8GB 15,7GB primary ntfs opstartbaar
 3 15,8GB 215GB 199GB primary ntfs
 4 215GB 320GB 105GB extended

Waarschuwing: Kan /dev/sr0 niet openen voor lezen en schrijven (Bestandssysteem
is alleen-lezen); /dev/sr0 is geopend voor alleen-lezen.
(Warning: Cannot open dev/sr0 for reading and writing (File system is read-only); /dev/sr0 is opened for read-only)
[I suppose this relates to the cd]

Fout: /dev/sr0: onbekend schijflabel (Error: /dev/sr0: unknown disklabel)

I hope that you will be able to extract from this a way to a solution. Thanks beforhand,
Hugo

/dev/sda: 320GB

 1 32,3kB 41,1MB 41,1MB primary fat16 ??? another recovery partition
 2 41,9MB 15,8GB 15,7GB primary ntfs opstartbaar probably recovery partition of Seven ?
 3 15,8GB 215GB 199GB primary ntfs Seven
 4 215GB 320GB 105GB extended empty extended partition
--------------------------------------------
Sorry, but I'm a little lost.
Do you boot Ubuntu from another devices (in this case, which one) and you want to have a shared partition between local Seven and external Ubuntu ?
Or do you want to install Ubuntu, and be able from Ubuntu to write/read data into current Seven partition ?

Thank you.
The primary FAT was already there when my notebook arrived 3 days ago.
The 2nd part is indeed the recovery partition for Win7.

I installed Ubuntu alongside Win7 from the downloaded file. It only seemed to permit a partition of its own of 30 GB max.
I then decided to subtract a part of about 100 GB from the Win C: disk/partition in order to create a partition (which I did under Ubuntu) where I could restore my data (saved on an external disk using Déjà Dub from my Ubuntu Netbook), hoping that I would be able to access it from Ubuntu as well as from Win7. I could restore the data and Ubuntu could read it but not so did Win7. I then tried to change to a different type of organization (I believe it was Linux extended, or it was HPFS/NTFS, one of these first the other second). Afterwards Ubuntu nor Win7 recognize that partition.
In the meantime I created a life-cd for GParted and after running it, the only thing it said is "dev/sda (298.09 GiB unused; partition table not recognized". This is obviously not correct since as well Win7 continue to function from that disk (in the remaining part of the 320 GB disk, called C:) as well as Ubuntu (I suppose in its 30 GB partition, which I do not see however when using "Disk Utilities").
I have the impression that the outlook is rather hopeless, but I do not like to start from scratch, having received a few days ago my Dell Studio i7 with Win7 installed and operational...

I hope this clarifies enough for the expert to give me some sound advice... thanks beforehand.

Hugo

sda4 is an empty extended partition, so Win7 and Ubuntu have nothing to recognize.
You have no Ubuntu partition on your hard drive, but you are able to boot...Did you install with Wubi, from Win7 ? In this case, you have a virtual partition INSIDE Win7 partition, and it would make situation more sensible. Can you check if in WIn7 you have an option to uninstall Wubi/Ubuntu ?

Thank you.

In Windows, the C: disk is detected as having 185 GB.

I installed with Wubi, and as far as I understood independentlly of Win7. However when running the Win control panel, I see that I could uninstall Ubuntu, from C:\ubuntu\uninstall-wubi.exe.
It seems to have gotten in a messy situation. What could I try?

"C:" is not a disk, but partition sda3. I can't explain the difference in size.
Your Ubuntu partition is a virtual partition INSIDE Win7 partition.
So do you want to:
1) have Ubuntu partition inside Windows and use Wubi
2) have a true dual boot with installation of Ubuntu on a dedicated partition on hard disk
3) have both Wubi and installation of Ubuntu on a dedicated partition on hard disk, and in this case, why (because it looks me like a situation in which you have both drawbacks of Wubi and dual boot solution).
What are your goals and your constraints ?

Thank you again.
What I wanted and want is 2): a true dual boot system where Ubuntu is on a dedicated partition and where my home directory can be accessed from both sides.
I used Wubi because I understood that this would bring me to the situation 2) and indeed when I start the pc I have the choice between both OS's. Both seem to continue to function quite well. The problem that I have is that I have lost 105 GB and the restored documents. I could of course reinstall Ubuntu and restoring my documents once again, after having cleared up the partition problem. I have however the impression that I can only achieve this through a reformatting of the entire 320 GB disk. That is precisily what I would like to avoid in order to keep the original Dell configuration as much as possible.

I'll be back in one hour.
You will not have to partition your whole disk. But you need to download ISO image of 10.04.1, and to burn it on a CD, to prepare install with a dual boot.
You can't have your "/home" directory visible from Win7, except if you find a Win7 driver for ext4 file system (it existed for XP). Instead, you can access NTFS partition of Win7 to share files. Ubuntu will refuse to install /home directory on a NTFS file system, because it will be too "dirty" for configuration files (and too dangerous, there are some restrictions on the way Ubuntu access NTFS file system, e.g. you have no "Trash" folder, what is deleted is really deleted).
As you have 105 GB unallocated, when you install Ubuntu from CD, simply ask to "use free space on disk" and NOT "whole disk". So your Win7 partitions will not be erased. After, Grub (Ubuntu down-loader) should detect Win7 partition and make a multi-boot menu.

Hello Delance:

I am presently in the process of installing Ubuntu from the cd I made for 6th or 7th time. A couple of times I went to a new install because my restored data could not be read and I decided finally to try and assemble all disk space outside of what is used by Win7. However I run into serious trouble because the notebook gets completely blocked upon restarting, leaving me no further access than through the Ubuntu cd.
The message I get upon restarting is like this:
   no module name found.
  Aborted
  Intel UNDI, PXE-2.1
  Realtek PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller Series U2.26 (090219)
  Client MAC address 00 26 B9
There I have to hit a key, the system keeps busy for a long time and finally stops altogether.
It gives me the impresion that for some strange reason it wants to boot from a network...?
That problem seems to have started after I gave in to the suggestion (after the first reinstall, I believe) to install 2 proprietary drivers, one for wireless internet access (which has not yet funcioned in that Ubuntu system, while it does under Win7), one for my graphics card. The next times I avoided doing that, but the problem persists.
As said, I am trying once again a new install, after having assembled all free space into one partition (apart from the swap, which I left there).
Do you have any suggestions? I am getting hopeless...

"to try and assemble all disk space outside of what is used by Win7": each time you change partition table, you must provide it to me, else I can do anything => "sudo parted -l"
Can you boot on Ubuntu CD with option "Try but don't install" and then System->Administration->Check Hardware, and check network connection, graphic and some others if you want.
I'm surprised by message, because it seems Grub is trying to boot from network instead of disk. Are you sure not to have type on a key during reboot or during installation to have asked a boot by network (PXE) ?

Thanks again.
I forgot to include the overview. I am sorry; here it comes:
Model: ATA WDC WD3200BEKT-7 (scsi)
Schijf /dev/sda: 320GB
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512B/512B
Partitietabel: msdos

Nummer Begin Einde Grootte Type Bestandssysteem Vlaggen
 1 32,3kB 41,1MB 41,1MB primary fat16
 2 41,9MB 15,8GB 15,7GB primary ntfs opstartbaar
 3 15,8GB 129GB 113GB primary ntfs
 4 129GB 320GB 191GB extended
 6 129GB 315GB 186GB logical ext4
 5 315GB 320GB 5179MB logical linux-swap(v1)

root@Hugo-Dell:/home/hugo#

At last it seems, after installing once more in the largest free disk space that I could make, that I've got the system to function again; I also restored again the data files from my Ubuntu netbook into the standard /home dierctories, which is easier. From within Ubuntu I can access the Win7 data partition, but not vice-versa.
It seems however that :
- I do not have any wireless internet connection, although I have configured the name and the access code.
  In the meantime I still do not dare to install again the two management programs which were and are still suggested:
1) These package contains Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driverfor use with Broadcom's BCM4311-, BCM4312-, BCM4321-, andBCM4322-based hardware.
2) 3D-ondersteund, niet-vrij grafisch stuurprogramma voor ATI-kaarten.
Dit stuurprogramma is vereist om de 3D-mogelijkheid van grafische kaarten van ATI te benutten, en ook voor de 2D-versnelling bij nieuwere ATI-kaarten.
- The desktop seems old-fashioned and ackward; I have to put all icons of program/controls access manually into the panels. The reason is probably that I restored some configuration file stemming from my Ubuntu netbook. The original layout was much more comfortable and attractive...

As far as your question "Are you sure not to have type on a key during reboot or during installation to have asked a boot by network (PXE) ?": I am of course not 100% sure, but I am pretty sure. Anyhow, why would it persist in going astray, not allowing to correct afterwards?

Many thanks beforehand.

1-So now you have Ubuntu installed in extended partition and it looks right.
2-As I explained before, Windows is unable, by default, to read Linux partition, even in read-only mode. You will have, for this, to search on the web a driver (it existed for XP, I don't know for Seven).
3-Sorry, I don't use WIFI and can't help you. Best is to post a new question on this issue.
4-As I did German as first foreign language, I'm able to guess what means point (2). Not sure it's the case for other people!
It seems you are asked to change of graphic card controller. For this go to System->Administration->Proprietary Driver and select the other driver (or deselect the current one).
5-If the Ubuntu version you use in both computers is not the same, you can have some little problem during restoration.
6-As you are able to boot, PXE point is not an issue.
Could you tell me on which point (excluded WIFI) you need more help ?

Thank you once more.
After having believed that I had managed to overcome my main problem, I took some hours off. But alas..., switching the notebook on again the same halting message (no module name found; Aborted...) is there and the only thing I can imagine is to reinstall once more; I cannot even access Win7 (although after the first install Win7 was the default cfirst choice, I wished it still was).
This situation seems to be completely crazy!

Very important. Can you confirm that your boot order in BIOS is:
   CD-ROM -> Internal Disk on PATA/SATA -> Network/PXE boot
If it's true, it means boot on internal disk failed, and BIOS is trying to boot from network. So PXE error message has not to be managed.

Hello Delance,
Thank you.
Yesterday evening I reinstalled once more in the largest partition that I could make and taking care to install independently from my restored data. The latter are still on a separate partition, called sda6 hereafter. That partition I had decreased to its minimum, during the installation. I believed that my main problem, the /not/starting from network, could stem from the data from my netbook, as well as the uncomfortable desktop layout. It seemed so since now I could start well, as well Ubuntu as Win7.
This morning however, after the system stopped because of the battery running out, I had the same ' aborted' problem. Very strange.
Now I am running on the life/cd, as you suggested.
Seeing that Gparted is available from the menus, I ran it with the following information as result
dev/sda1 fat16 DellUtility 39.19 MiB
dev/sda2 nfts Recovery 14.65 GiB
dev/sda3 nfts OS 105.63 GiB
dev/sda4 extended 177.78 GiB
    dev/sda6 ext4 59.60 GiB
    dev/sda7 ext4 108.69 GiB
    unallocated unallocated 1.00 MiB
    dev/sda8 unknown 4.65 GiB *I could delete it, so I did. It had been a swap file
    unallocated unallocated 5.00 MiB
    dev/sda5 linux-swap 4.82 GiB

I could delete dev/sda8, so I did. It had been a swap file.
Afterwards I increased sda7 to its maximum. This is the new situation, which seems to look neater.
parted -
dev/sda1 fat16 DellUtility 39.19 MiB
dev/sda2 nfts Recovery 14.65 GiB
dev/sda3 nfts OS 105.63 GiB
dev/sda4 extended 177.78 GiB
    dev/sda6 ext4 59.60 GiB
    dev/sda7 ext4 113.35 GiB
    dev/sda5 linux-swap 4.82 GiB

Using Parted -l in a terminal gives this
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 32.3kB 41.1MB 41.1MB primary fat16
 2 41.9MB 15.8GB 15.7GB primary ntfs boot
 3 15.8GB 129GB 113GB primary ntfs
 4 129GB 320GB 191GB extended
 6 129GB 193GB 64.0GB logical ext4
 7 193GB 315GB 122GB logical ext4
 5 315GB 320GB 5179MB logical linux-swap(v1)

Now running System Testing, I see this strange result for the hdd
WDC WD3200BEKT-7
Memory Stick

Is this correct?

The hdd is obviously not a memory stick. Could that be part of my problem? I saved the complete report as CheckboxReportLifeCD010910.txt and will send it separately, together with the grub file.
I will restart now and see how it evolves. Thanks.

It looks strange that a hard disk is confused with a memory stick, but both are managed the same way. It should not be a problem.
Now, when you boot on hard disk, what did you get ?

N: sda
S: disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD3200BEKT-75F3T0_WD-WXG0A7978659
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673 DISK UUID ?????
N: sda1
S: disk/by-uuid/3030-3030
S: disk/by-label/DellUtility
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part1
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda2
N: sda2
S: disk/by-uuid/5A40B0AF40B092ED
S: disk/by-label/RECOVERY
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part2
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda3
N: sda3
S: disk/by-uuid/D02CB4AD2CB49048
S: disk/by-label/OS
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part3
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda4
N: sda4
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part4
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda5
N: sda5
I'm not used to file CheckboxReportLifeCD. It contains a lot of information. I extracted what I'm able to manage.

S: disk/by-uuid/a74e4b37-c35d-44a1-903c-bc49f36c6c4b
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part5
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda6
N: sda6
S: disk/by-uuid/1846f700-f9d8-4272-9997-a0614c052549
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part6
P: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.2/host0/target0:0:0/0:0:0:0/block/sda/sda7
N: sda7
S: disk/by-uuid/d4043a08-89bf-4b7b-b253-2386667ea99d
S: disk/by-id/wwn-0x50014ee2adecb673-part7

grub.cfg
-----------
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
set root='(hd0,7)' i.e. sda7 new partition which holds last installed Ubuntu
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, met Linux 2.6.32-24-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 set root='(hd0,7)'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=d4043a08-89bf-4b7b-b253-2386667ea99d ro quiet splash
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, met Linux 2.6.32-24-generic (herstelmodus)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
 set root='(hd0,7)'
 linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=d4043a08-89bf-4b7b-b253-2386667ea99d ro single
}
It looks right.

So I go back to my question:
    Now, when you boot on hard disk, what did you get ?

As I told in the separate mail, I could not, getting the 'aborted' message again.
Hitting F2 afterwards showed that indeed the boot sequence is:
Hard Drive
USB Storage
CD/DVD...
Removable
Network

There seems to be no problem there. What else can I try? The fact that the system starts properly sometimes and not other times is very confusing and troublesome.

Thank you.

I presume Grub search a driver to read a device, perhaps the Ubuntu partition file system. It fails to find it. Then BIOS get back the hand and try network boot, which lead to PXE error message.
I read again grub.cfg file, and see:
  insmod ext2
  insmod gfxterm
  insmod vbe
  insmod gettext
Unfortunately, I'm not currently on a Ubuntu computer, and can't check on my configuration. You could have a look at "/boot/grub" to search if these drivers are present. You could also ask some help to actionparsnip or marcobraida, who are probably on a Ubuntu PC, and can describe the content of their /boot/grub folder. I will have a look at 18:00.

Once more I reinstalled everything, Win7 (with some reduced possibilities) and afterwards Ubuntu 10.04. Before installing, I had made a free section on my hdd. After having Win7 operational, I installed Ubuntu into the free section, 'side by side', letting the installer handle the partitions. Now the system seems to be functional and stable.

I still have no idea what went wrong and why my pc insisted on so many occasions to try and start from a network, in vain of course.

For those interested in this very time consuming process: making separate partitions before installing Ubuntu, following the guidelines in the Ubuntu Linux book by Mark G. Sobell (separate /, /home, /usr, /var, /boot), and telling the 'Déjà Dup restore' to restore my data files into the "original" places, was a bad idea; nothing functioned properly!

Thanks for all assistance.