ubuntu 9.04 installation failure

[Fred Roller]

Peter Crane wrote:
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> 10 September 2009
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> Dear Sirs,
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> I had a miserable failure trying to install ubuntu.
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> Please help.
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> I am running a PC desktop (unbadged but put together by a reputable 
> Computer shop) with Windows XP SP2 Home Edition.
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> It has an AMD Sempron processor LE 1100 with 1.91 GHz and 960 MB RAM.
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> The single hard drive is partitioned as follows:-
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> C:    Windows software & stuff that finds its way there without being 
> asked.
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> D:    Software that I have installed.
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> E:     49 Gigabytes.  This is where I am trying to put ubuntu.
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> F;     User documents (mainly)
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> I produced a CD from the install file (ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386 from 
> virgin-media) and ran the installer from the CD, selecting the second 
> option (to install ubuntu as a dual-boot system *inside the windows* 
> environment.
>
> .
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> The installation seemed to go without any problems and I rebooted into 
> the new ubuntu.
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> I got some OK system messages until I got to:-
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> A panel called Checking the installation, Installing system,
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> Formatting swap space in partition #1 of /host/ubuntu/disk…
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> Then it seemed to freeze.
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> No blinking lights
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> No change for 25 minutes!
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> The installation did NOT ask for any input from me.
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> I retried it a couple of times.
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> Please help.
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> Regards,
>
> Peter Crane
 From the looks of things the installation needs to create the necessary 
partitions.  From what you have shown you only have one.  If it does it 
may take a while, especially on a sempron. 

Boot from the CD and choose "Try Ubuntu without changing harddrive" (the 
first option).  Once it boots to the gnome desktop open a terminal:

    Applications->Accessories->Terminal

Then run the following command if your hard drive is a SATA

    sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda

or if your hard drive is an IDE

    sudo fdisk -l /dev/hda

copy the information and post here.

If the install is trying to repartition your hard drive then you may 
need to just walk away and give it lot more time.

-- 
Fred
www.fwrgallery.com

"Life is like linux, simple.  If you are fighting it you are doing something wrong."