[vox-tech] Cannot install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7

Fri Nov 8 10:15:36 PST 2013

My problem might having something to do with EFI/UEFI support. I was
reading Roderick Smith's webpage on this topic:
www.rodsbooks.com/linux-uefi/#isitefi

He mentions that: you can also try booting a boot medium that contains
*only* an EFI-mode boot loader. The USB flash drive or CD-R image of rEFInd
is a good choice for this test. I downloaded the rEFInd utility and burned
it to a CD. When I tried to boot from the CD I get a blank screen and
spinning fans.

And according to Dell Support, I am running the most recent BIOS version
(A12).

Interestingly, when I purchased the laptop in ~May of 2012, I had no
trouble resizing the partition and installing Linux. I don't recall what
BIOS version it had then, but I think it was A02. I wonder if the new BIOS
is causing problems now.

On Fri, Nov 8, 2013 at 9:50 AM, Thomas Johnston <trjohnston at ucdavis.edu>wrote:

> Alex, thanks for the reply.
>
> First, how would you even turn secure boot off? I don't see it listed as
> an option the BIOS settings. Drop it to Legacy, how?
>
> I primarily use Linux for my personal endeavors; however, there
> situations/applications for my work where I am forced to use Windows. And
> although I could run Windows in a virtual environment, I don't know how
> well that would work when I need to remote desktop into my office computer.
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 8, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Alex Mandel <tech_dev at wildintellect.com>wrote:
>
>> Generally turning Secure Boot off makes life easier (Isn't supposed to
>> be necessary after 12.10). Also turning fast boot off while working on
>> an install generally helps make it easier to switch around settings when
>> troubleshooting. UEFI should be ok, but if turning off Secure boot
>> doesn't help you might have to drop it to Legacy.
>>
>> I've never encountered an issue where I couldn't see the existing
>> partitions I made ahead of time but it could be secure boot related.
>> I haven't done a recent Ubuntu fresh install but they usually have a
>> choice to use the free space available and the advanced menu has always
>> let me pick partitions and assign mounts.
>>
>> And yes if the hard drive is set earlier in the boot order you shouldn't
>> expect other boot devices to work at all, even though some bios have a
>> F12 boot menu it's not fool proof.
>>
>> Side track as others mentioned in the previous thread, what's the goal
>> of this install? If you don't plan to primary boot linux all the time
>> there are much easier ways (ie virtual machines).
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Alex
>>
>> On 11/08/2013 09:19 AM, Thomas Johnston wrote:
>> > I recently started a thread asking about partition schemes:
>> > http://lists.lugod.org/pipermail/vox-tech/2013-November/016793.html
>> >
>> > After reading the numerous helpful comments, I decided to keep it simple
>> > and go with an NFTS partition for Win7, and an extended partition that
>> > contained partitions for / and /home (both in ext4 format).
>> > Great. I used GParted to format the drive and create the partitions and
>> > then installed Windows 7 and all the updates without a problem. Windows
>> 7
>> > is as happy as a pig in mud.
>> >
>> > I then created a live USB of Ubuntu 13.10 with the UNetbootin tool (in
>> > Windows). I boot from the live USB and select the option to "Install".
>> When
>> > I get to the "Installation type" page, I see options for:
>> > (a) Erase disk and install Ubuntu
>> >     (i) Encrypt the new Ubuntu installation for security
>> >     (ii) Use LVM with the new Ubuntu installation
>> > (b) Something else
>> >
>> > No option to install alongside Windows.
>> >
>> > Clicking on "Something Else" would allow me to create a new partition
>> > table, but it does not "see" the partitions that already exist.
>> >
>> > A Google search reveals that this installation dilemma is common. Some
>> of
>> > the problems were due to users having more than 4 primary partitions.
>> That
>> > is certainly not the case here.  I have also seen posts about the disk
>> > system being "dynamic" and that causes problems with the Ubuntu
>> installer.
>> > Also not the case:
>> >
>> > Current partition table (according to Windows disk management tool):
>> > C: 150 GB, Layout = simple, File System = NTFS, Status = Healthy
>> (System,
>> > Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition), Free Space =
>> > 108.57 GB, Fault Tolerance = No, Overhead = 0%
>> > 315.76 GB unallocated
>> >
>> > Other posts discuss UEFI BIOS, BIOS options such as Secure Boot and
>> > FastBoot. I cannot figure out if any of these would apply to me or
>> not.In
>> > Windows 7,dxdiag (direct X diagnostic tool) tells me:
>> > System Model: Dell System XPS 15z
>> > BIOS: Default System BIOS
>> >
>> > BIOS settings:
>> > Intel Speedstep = enabled
>> > Virtualization = enabled
>> > Integrated NIC = enabled
>> > USB emulation = enabled
>> > USB powershare = enabled
>> > USB wake support = disabled
>> > SATA operation = AHCI (other option is ATA)
>> > Adapter warnings = enabled
>> > Function Key Behavior = Function Key
>> > Charger Behavior = enabled
>> > battery health = performing normally
>> > miscellaneous devices:
>> >     external USB ports = enabled
>> >     eSATA ports = enabled
>> >
>> > Interesting thing about the boot order:
>> > if I have the hard drive before the USB storage device, I cannot fully
>> boot
>> > into the live USB. I will see an initial splash screen that is most
>> black
>> > with two small icons on the bottom center that resemble a keyboard =
>> stick
>> > man surrounded by a circle. The system will then "hang" with a blank
>> screen
>> > and the fans going at about 50%. Disabling Intel Speedstep in the bios
>> also
>> > seems hang the live USB.
>> >
>> >
>> > Motherboard Board:
>> > Dell Inc.
>> > Product: 00WW5M
>> > Version: A00
>> > Serial Number: .3SJSQS1.CN4864322A0095.
>> > Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
>> > BIOS: Dell Inc. A12 09/07/2012
>> > example for sale on ebay: http://bit.ly/1gwcdX9
>> >
>> > Hard drive:
>> > Seagate Momentus: ST500LX003-1AC15G (500.11 GB) --
>> > drive 0, s/n W2003D1H, rev DEM3
>> > This is a hybrid drive.
>> >
>> >
>> > Any ideas?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > http://lists.lugod.org/mailman/listinfo/vox-tech
>> >
>>
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