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The Ubuntu installer gives 3 options.

  1. Install Ubuntu INTO Windows.
  2. Erase everything and install Ubuntu.
  3. Manually install Ubuntu.

What happened to the "resize the Windows partition and setup a dual boot box" option I remember from the last time I installed Ubuntu?

fossfreedom
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st2000
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3 Answers3

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Looks like you're installing from within Windows using Wubi.

If you want to dual boot alongside Windows, its always a better idea to create a separate partition and install. Copy the Ubuntu setup on a flash drive/CD and boot using that, follow on-screen instructions and install on separate partition.

allspark
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First, some details –

Are you installing from within Windows (using Wubi)? If not, which install media are you using (LiveCD, LiveUSB, or text-based)? Wubi is unable to install over the entire hard drive, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're using.

There should not be an "Install into Windows" option. Can you provide a picture or at least the exact text of that option?

The three options that should be available to you are "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows," "Erase disk and install Ubuntu," and "Something else." If you want to manually repartition the hard drive, the third option is your way to go. Otherwise, the alongside option ought to do it all for you automatically.

Cormac O'Brien
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Here's what I have learned:

  1. The Ubuntu installer (at least for option 1) says different stuff depending on what state your HDDs are in.

    I didn't know that. To say the least I was confused. Is this written down anywhere? From the advice people are giving out, I'm thinking this IS NOT common knowledge.

  2. If (I'm guessing) there is no space left on the HDD for a new partition, the Ubuntu installer will only give you the options to install Ubuntu INSIDE the Windows partition using something called WUBI (I think).

However, this might also be because there were already 4 (maximum number) of partitions on the HDD. My guess is that if there were only 3 primary partitions, and they filled the HDD, that the installer would have given me the option I wanted. That is to resize one of the partitions in order to make room for Ubuntu.

So what I ended up doing is backing up and deleting one of the existing partitions. This was on a brand new laptop. Before using the Ubuntu Live CD, I used gparted and resized the Windows partition to half it's original size. I'm thinking the Ubuntu installer might have been able to do this as well. Then option 1 of the Ubuntu installer offered to "install Ubuntu along side of Windows" instead of "into Windows".

Hope this help anyone who stumbles upon my original question.

Community
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st2000
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