Ubuntu

karmic 64 bit install not seeing sata hdd

Asked by pete smout

hi,
I've been given a new(er) pc with win xp already on a 160gb SATA hard drive, when I try to install Ubuntu 9.10 (karmic) along side onto the same drive the install gets far as setting up the partitions (step 4 of 6 I think!) and stops as the partitioner does not 'see' the hdd.

As already mentioned the hdd already has win XP on it and is working fine.

for the record machine specs are:

AMD 64 3500+
2.5gb RAM
Nvidia geoforce 6600 graphics
160gb SATA hdd (connected to 'SATA1' on m-board, no SATA0)

This is not the first time I have installed Ubuntu although it is the first time I have used a 64bit install or SATA hdd.

Using 9.10 (Karmic) 64bit install cd

Many thanks

Pete

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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Did you MD5 test the ISO you downloaded?
Did you run the CD verify?

Revision history for this message
pete smout (petersmout03) said : 		#2

hi,
no to MD5 test i used bit torrent download option so self checking (I believe)
Yes to CD verify

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pete smout (petersmout03) said : 		#3

Hi,

Just checked MD5 all ok!!

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

good, please MD5 check in future.

Ok I have 2 suggestions:

1. Disable all unnecesssary hardwrae in BIOS for the duration of the install (Sound, LAN, BlueTooth etc) to make the system as basic as possible.

2. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootOptions

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Tom (tom6) said : 		#5

Hi :)

Yes, use the UBuntu Cd to boot up from to give you a "LiveCd session"
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD
It is the easy way of trying out the different boot-option combinations imo

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Revision history for this message
pete smout (petersmout03) said : 		#6

hi,

still no luck, have tried using live cd, Gparted (from system / admin on live cd) sees the disk as /dev/sda/ with no prompting, it's even resized the existing NTFS partition and left me with a 50/50 split of ntfs (win xp) and unallocated space? which it has formatted all except 5gb (for swap) to ext4 and yet when I click on the install ubuntu option on the desktop I get to stage 4 of 6 creating the partitions and it does not see the device even exists let alone that the hard work has already been done for it!!!

I am completely stuck now and do not know where to go next

please help.

regards

pete

Revision history for this message
pete smout (petersmout03) said : 		#7

Hi,

Having played around in my BIOS settings (Award BIOS version 6.00), I have noticed that the Hard Drive in question is listed as 3rd Primary Master? With first being none? Having tried to set my first 'Primary IDE to the SATA drive in question I have discovered it is impossible?! I'm given 2 options manual / auto if auto selected it reverts to none, if i select manual then i get no further options to select that drive.

Any thoughts all appreciated I am so fed up of XP ! :)

Revision history for this message
pete smout (petersmout03) said : 		#8

Hi,

Problem solved!! From live cd open terminal and type sudo apt-get remove dmraid , no password needed in live cd aperantley then install!!

Note the option for 'no dmraid' in other options <F6> from the live cd boot screen DID NOT WORK only the way above worked!!

Thanks for your help guys!

Pete