Ubuntu

ubuntu cd doesn't see win 7 partition

Asked by Milardo

.My problem is that I cannot install latest ubuntu with win7 in dual boot configuration. For example, if i have win 7 installed and then use the ubuntu cd to install ubuntu, the cd says my computer has no operating systems on it. The other way around if I have ubuntu installed on it and then try to install win 7, win 7 recognizes the linux partition but will not allow me to install win 7 unless i totally delete ubuntu partition. Does anyone have or had a problem like this, or think that it is a problem with my hard drive, or is it a problem with my laptop (motherboard, controller, etc.) I've updated it with the latest bios , ec.Thanks in advance for any help.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

If you want to dual boot then you should install windows first but don't just click like a madman, stop and read the screen and think

If you partition the disk at install time of Win7, you can leave unpartitioned space to put Ubuntu on. The default for Win7 is to use 100% of the disk for its partition which is not your intention yet most windows users will dumbly click next until the installer runs then resize. You can completely bypass the resizing malarky if you partition the disk properly and plan partitions.

Leave unpartitioned space when you install Win7 then when Ubuntu nistalls just point it at the unpartitioned space and the dual boot will be managed.

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Milardo (zerosportslegacy) said : 		#2

Hi, I've got plenty of space left over for ubuntu.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Yes but is it partitioned?

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Milardo (zerosportslegacy) said : 		#4

I've got a desktop pc which i configured the same way as my laptop and I have had no problems installing ubuntu alongside win7. Anyways, my configuration is win 7 using about 390 gb of my 500gb hard drive. The other space is not partitioned just empty space.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Cool then the installer should give the option of using the empty space, or you can use the custom partitioning and spaceify a / partition and a swap partition equal to the amount of ram you have (if you have 2Gb or more ram) or 2 x ram (if you have less than 2Gb ram). Set the filesystem as ext4, you could even have a seperate /home partition which has its benefits, in this case you should use 10Gb for /, the same value for swap and the rest for /home. 10Gb for / is more than enough for anyone.

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Milardo (zerosportslegacy) said : 		#6

That is my problem the ubuntu installer doesn't see the win 7 partition. it just says my computer has no operating systems on it. I've posted on the ubuntu forums and was told it is because my hard drive has a gpt partition table and that is probably causing problems.

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Milardo (zerosportslegacy) said : 		#7

Yes it was the gpt partition table which caused the problem. These are the steps I took (not necessary for everybody) to solve my problem. After searching i found this post

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9236110

Which led me to this site

http://www.rodsbooks.com/gdisk/

I used the tool to convert my partitions from gpt to mbr. It seemed to work and it didn't erase my partitions, however after reboot i couldn't startup win 7 or repair them. However now Ubuntu cd recognized them. I had a previously saved image of win 7 so I reimaged my hard drive and then I then tried to install Ubuntu which recognized the win 7 partition again with no problem and installed successfully. More info at this post.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1486004