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ubiquity package

Trying to install Ubuntu 10.10/10.11. Can't see partition table.

Asked by Paul D

Hello,

I'm trying to install a newer version of Ubuntu, 10.10 preferably. When I use live CD, it won't detect any existing OS or partitions. Same with Alternative installer: It won't see ant partitions, just my hard drive. There have been many questions about this but none of them seemed to help.

I'm not sure what to do. I'd like to have a new version of Ubuntu but preferably without having to re-install windows as well. I'm not new to Linux but I'm not to expert wither and never came across such problem. Where did partitions go? Both operating systems work fine, GRUB is always working correctly, but the installers can't see the partitions.

What should I try to do here? Is there anything that can be done or should I just format the disk and install Windows and then Ubuntu?

I would be very grateful for any advice!
Paul

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mycae (mycae) said : 		#1

can you boot to the liveCD and post the terminal (Ctrl+AlT+T) output of:

sudo fdisk -l

note that the last bit is a lowercase ELL, not an EYE

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Paul D (pavster) said : 		#2

Hello,
Sorry for the delay. The LiveCD 10.10 output is:

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0a1dbf78

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2 30401 244188000 5 Extended
/dev/sda2 6375 16573 81923467+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 16574 17019 3582495 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda4 * 17020 19569 20482875 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda5 2 6374 51191091 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda6 23807 30401 52974306 bc Unknown

It sees all partitions, but the installer doesn't see any OS installed, neither Windows or Linux.

Thanks!

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#3

Could you run commands:
   sudo apt-get os-prober
   sudo os-prober
and see if with current os-prober all operating system are detected.
Your first partition is an extended one. It's unusual and so a bug could have persist.
Where is your Windows ??? partition: sda4 or sda5 (I suspect sda4 to be a recovery partition).
I apologize, but I go for a week-end of 3 days, so please post Monday evening to awake me.

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Paul D (pavster) said : 		#4

Hiya!

I think my XP system is installed on /dev/sda4, since the grub start-up screen shows it as Windows partition. sudo apt-get os-probe didn't work, but sudo os-prober showed:

sudo os-prober
/dev/sda2:Ubuntu 9.10 (9.10):Ubuntu:linux
/dev/sda4:Microsoft Windows XP Professional:Windows:chain

It sees it but I don;t understand why the installer doesn't see it... I think I have some sort of strange configuration of my HDD. Do you think it's possible to fix it or should I just reinstall everything? I've been using Linux for ages but never came across such problem. In heard that upgrading the system through the update utility isn't the best thing to do... I had some software issues after upgrading from 9.04 to 9.10 through the upgrade utility.

Thanks!

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#5

"I think my XP system is installed on /dev/sda4, since the grub start-up screen shows it as Windows partition. " : No, most recovery partition use same boot software than XP, and I presume that some use same kernel. Os-prober is unable to see what partition is true XP and which one is a recovery one. It's a poisonous issue when you have both, as both are labeled Windows, and you can activate recovery partition while thinking you activate Windows one! (I verified today behavior on my computer, to check if behavior of os-prober was improved).
Sorry, command is "sudo apt-get install os-prober" to get latest Ubuntu version of os-prober.
If both classical and alternative installers can detect partitions, I can't do nothing to help you. It seems you have found a serious bug in installer, and best is to convert this question into a bug using button "Create bug report". I should be managed by Collin Watson. I suspect issue is having an extended partition in first partition and Windows inside it, but truly I don't know.

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Paul D (pavster) said : 		#6

I created a bug report and I hope it helps. Now I'm going to re-install the system. It would be simpler that trying to get this sorted. Thanks for the help!!!