5

I have a fairly new computer that uses UEFI instead of BIOS and the windows 7 installed on it uses a GPT partition table. (I've looked thoroughly, it's GPT and not leftover GPT scraps). Now, I have a free partition where I want to install Ubuntu but it won't detect my partitions that exist there.

I ran the "Try Ubuntu without installing" option and ran this command in the terminal

sudo gdisk -l /dev/sda

and the result was MBR: protected and GPT: present

I've tried using fixparts and it didn't detect any problems so I assume it's a complete GPT table. So what would be the solution to make ubuntu installer recognize those partitions and install in it?

Do I have to repartition the drive with MBR tables?

Whip
  • 183

2 Answers2

3

The reason for Ubuntu not displaying GPT partitions was becuase the installer was loading in BIOS mode. To view and edit/create/delete gpt partitions on a UEFI system, ubuntu installer must be loaded in UEFI mode.

I followed the instructions on Ubuntu's Community Page and selected my USB as the UEFI version and installer displayed the partitions.

Anyone going through the same thing in the future, my bootloader didn't gave me options for selecting the uefi option in boot order in the Setup page but the direct Boot Menu did showed those options. Boot Menu opens with F12 on my Gigabyte motherboard.

Whip
  • 183
1

No, you don't have to and should not create an mbr related msdos partition table.
Windows is installed in EFI mode, so you have to install Ubuntu in EFI mode as well.

Boot from the Ubuntu installation media and select Try Ubuntu without installing.
Open GParted, create an ext4 partition and a swap partition from the free space.

Start the installation process - choose Something else.
Select the ext4 partition and choose / as mount point.

More comprehensive information you will find here.

Community
  • 1
cl-netbox
  • 31,491