Why cannot the Ubuntu installer recognize my SSD?

Question

I am attempting to install Ubuntu 17.04 on my Dell XPS 15. I have disabled secure boot and hibernation mode in Windows. When I run the Ubuntu installer from a USB drive, it skips asking me what "installation type" I would prefer, and brings me right to the manual partitioning option. The problem is that nothing shows up, and clicking on the "+" and "change" buttons causes the installer to freeze: Manual Partitioning. According to GParted, Ubuntu is not recognizing my computer's SSD, merely the USB drive that I am using to boot it: GParted in "Try Ubuntu" mode. Is there a fixable bug that could be causing Ubuntu to fail to recognize the SSD?

Solution

Make sure to have a backup of your important Windows files!

You've got a single SSD set up in RAID mode, and the Ubuntu installer won't recognize your SSD until you switch your disk setting in the BIOS from RAID to AHCI.

Making that switch comes with some problems though, as Windows will no longer boot. Looking at this article https://samnicholls.net/2016/01/14/how-to-switch-sata-raid-to-ahci-windows-10-xps-13/ will show you how to make the change without having to reinstall Windows.

Boot to Windows with your current SATA controller configuration
Open Device Manager
Expand Storage Controllers and identify the Intel SATA RAID Controller
View properties of the identified controller
On the Driver tab, click the Update driver… button
Browse my computer…, Let me pick…
Uncheck Show compatible hardware
Select Microsoft as manufacturer
Select Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller as model
Accept that Windows cannot confirm that this driver is compatible
Save changes, reboot to BIOS and change RAID SATA Controller to AHCI
Save changes and reboot normally, hopefully to Windows

Now you should be able to install Ubuntu in a dual-boot configuration.

Comments

[Boris Hamanov]

In your BIOS, is the SSD setup as RAID, or something else?

[Aldous Tuxley]

@heynnema RAID is enabled at the moment, yes.

[edencorbin]

Could I just switch from RST to AHCi, install ubuntu and then change between RST and AHCI to determine which system I want to boot into? Maybe this would be bad for the system/hardware/windows, I don't know. Thoughts?

[Boris Hamanov]

@edencorbin see my other answer here.

[edencorbin]

thanks, I went for it and it worked well, also found this helpful: medium.com/@petragospodneti/…. Just a few boots in but seems to be working great! Running flex-5-1570

[Andrew]

This helped with my Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB that was set up with RST for Intel Optane and an HDD.

[Murey Tasroc]

This put my computer in an automatic repair loop and I had to reset. Do not follow these instructions.