Why can't I install Ubuntu or Wubi on a Windows Dynamic Disk?

Question

I've been trying to install 12.04 for a while now, I'm running on Windows 7 and I already made the partition (it's dynamic). I've tried booting from a disc and also the Windows installer. I haven't tried used any repair-boot programs or anything. Every time I tried to load from either, I get an error:

command=C:\windows\sysnative\bcdedit.exe /set {03f9077f-661f-11e1-845a-d08b36406c3d} device partition=U;

retval=1

stderr=An error has occured setting the element data.
The request isn't supported

stdout=

Then after that, it makes a log file with information that I don't understand.

If it is simply due to the fact of it being a dynamic partition, someone please help.
If it is more extensive, anyone with details on possible solutions or definite ones please express them.

Solution 1

Note: Wubi is Ubuntu installed onto a Windows drive via the Windows installer

Neither Ubuntu nor Wubi will boot from a dynamic disk

Neither Ubuntu's bootloader GRUB nor Wubi's bootloader GRUB4DOS can recognize a Microsoft dynamic disk/volume/partition (SFS), and so they cannot boot from it; there is no sense in installing either when you won't be able to boot.

You have three options:

• Convert the dynamic disk to basic (backup all data first!), after which you can install Wubi or dual-boot with Ubuntu.
• Add another hard disk to your system, install Ubuntu on it and set your system to boot from it; you can choose to boot Windows or Ubuntu from the GRUB menu at startup
• Keep the disk as is, and run Ubuntu in a virtual machine, such as Virtualbox or VMWare Player.

Solution 2

The best way to install Ubuntu is on a separate partition in dual boot with your Windows system. My experience over several installations: after a while nobody still uses Windows OS. The only extra to do: with Gparted make a ext4 partition on your PC, and install ubuntu on that partition. Thanks to grub you will be able to dual boot.

Comments

[Andrejs Cainikovs]

Can't really help you solving this, but remember that you always have an option to install Ubuntu using bootable media.

[Anders]

Are you running this as System Administrator in MS Windows? Exception: Error executing command >>command=C:\Windows\System32\bcdedit.exe /set {2708afc0-9ffa-11e1-bc51-d167219ffa25} device partition=E: >>retval=1 >>stderr=An error has occurred setting the element data. The request is not supported. could be interpreted as you don't do that.

[Suhaib]

you mean installing it using virtualBox or virtual PC ?

[Liviu]

when you say that are you asking if i'm trying to run it as a virtual machine? if so, i am not. i got it to load if i used my C:\ drive but it doesn't install. how can i make a partition and it will actually recognize it at start up?

[Andrejs Cainikovs]

This has absolutely nothing to do with Firewall, but yes, disabling Antivirus sounds like a possible option.

[daniel]

In my experice, some firewall really prevent some functions, like "Zonealarm free firewall", it has trusted-zone which is may prevent some functions like act as a server like.

[DennisOakdale]

I do not use any kind of antivirus programs. I have only windows' firewall. However it is also blocked. Therefore I do not think that my problem is related to a firewall issue.