Why don't I have the option ''Install Ubuntu alongside'' my other systems?

Question

Why don't I have this option?

here's my disk layout

sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders, total 1250263728 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5b53cc54

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *        2048      409599      203776    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2          409600  1153767021   576678711    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3      1216962560  1250050047    16543744    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4      1250050048  1250261679      105816    c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Disk /dev/sdb: 4005 MB, 4005527552 bytes
32 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3880 cylinders, total 7823296 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x20d8782d

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *          63     7822079     3911008+   c  W95 FAT32 (LBA)

Solution 1

The ubiquity installer offers to Install inside Windows when it cannot install alongside. i.e. when you already have 4 primary partitions used. This means that splitting the Windows partition is not possible.

If you select this option, it copies wubi.exe to the Windows Startup folder, so that when you next boot Windows it will automatically run Wubi.

Since you don't want to install with Wubi, you'll need instead to remove one of the primary partitions, and try installing again.

Here is an example of what ubiquity shows (although in this case the user has Windows XP, not Windows 7):

Solution 2

There are several possibles causes:

1. Your system already have 4 primary partitions:

   

   The solution is removing one.

2. Windows wasn't shutdown correctly. You must make sure Windows shutdown, no hibernation, no suspend, but a clean shutdown.

3. Your NTFS partition is dirty. You must check all your NTFS partitions for errors using:

   chkdsk /f c:
   

   For each partition, d:, e:, etc. Make sure you do this from Windows, not Linux.

4. If you are using Windows 8, disable fast boot. If you don't is like you are hibernating the system.

5. If Ubuntu installer reports an empty disk, it's more likely that you have leftover GPT data that needs to be removed.

Solution 3

In your windows system run a chkdsk on your disks for faults and relaunch Ubuntu installation.

And while you are in your windows system check your disks under Disk Manager (right click on Computer>Manage>Disk Manager) if it says that your disk is dynamic you wont be able to rezise them so the option of installing side by side cannot be handled by Ubuntu (is a Windows thing).

If you have a dynamic disk you have 2 options, format all and reinstall or use Microsft's own solution for converting dynamic disks back to basic. (note: ignore the title and body of that KB, go straight to the workaround). No warranties there!

Solution 4

The best thing is to backup your data and re-install Windows. When you are in the reformat drive screen you can choose to create new partitions. Always create at least 2/3 of the drive to be dedicated to the following:

[Windows XP][Free Space ---------------------------------------]

So you can create the following..

[Windows NTFS][-----------FAT32---for---storage----][Linux EXT4]

View more solutions

Comments

[thom]

check your partitiontable for errors

[Rod Smith]

See my answer to askubuntu.com/questions/370667/….

[kudy]

Indeed, it seems to be I have 4 primary partions. That is the answer to my problem.

[Ahmadgeo]

I guess you will have to use WUBI after all :)

[bcbc]

@Ahmadgeo you don't have to use Wubi. You just need to remove one of the partitions. This is actually very common to have OEM-installed computers shipped with 4 partitions used.

[Ahmadgeo]

@bcbc; The problem with OEM partitions is that they are either small in size, or are Recovery partitions so I -personally don't like to mess with :)

[bcbc]

@Ahmadgeo right. I don't like it either. But if you want Ubuntu (and not with Wubi or a VM) then there's no choice.

[Ahmadgeo]

@bcbc Totally agree that it will be better (especially if performance is a consideration). So; it is up to Stein to decide what he wants and me to wrap up (and consider the down-votes I got; a small price for such a wonderful and constructive conversation I had with you :) ) Nice knowing you bcbc :)

[celavju]

I have two partitions. 50 and 200 gb. 50 gb partition is the system disc. I already tried to take small piece (20 gb) of 50 gb and format it in fat32, doesn't work. Also, I tried same thing with allocation space, doesn't work. Windows 7 is not recongnized. chkdsk /f c: live@live:~$ chkdsk /f c: chkdsk: command not found live@live:~$

[Braiam]

@celavju that command is from windows...

[Rod Smith]

If Secure Boot were a problem, the Ubuntu installer wouldn't boot up at all. Secure Boot does not cause a disk to appear to be empty once Linux is booted -- it causes Linux (or even GRUB) to not appear at all unless a Secure Boot tool like shim or PreLoader is installed. Booting the installer in Legacy mode will just cause problems on an EFI system, because then you'll have a mixed-mode (BIOS/EFI) installation, which is harder to handle than a system in which both OSes are installed in the same mode (BIOS or EFI).

[celavju]

Ok, I feel dumb! Just few minutes ago I deleted everything and install Windows again. Now a have two partitions, system secure (100 mb) and C (rest of hard disc)... same thing happen. Nothing is recongnized! Please Rod Smith, explain, what should I do?

[celavju]

Sorry for my ignorance... :(

[Braiam]

@celavju no need. Just boot up windows, open the command line and type those commands.

[user68186]

Another possibility is Intel Smart Respose. Also see askubuntu.com/questions/164980/…