Any Tips?

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:09 pm **(#1)**

Well when I first came back that day I tried to install Ubuntu on my computer again by booting from USB on startup. Tried a few times and I couldn't figure out how. After searching around on info about my computer, the way it is setup, installing Ubuntu might not even be that easy as there is apparently already 4 partitions on the hard drive (some old limitation)

Anyone have any ideas how to help? I'm also rather nervous about messing up my whole computer too D:

it's a Lenovo y580 if you want to google anything.

Another question suggested flavors? I was just going with Ubuntu as it's the most heavily supported, but if something is supported well around here (I might have a few dumb questions from time to time I'm willing to use about any flavor)

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16173

Willy wrote:

Well when I first came back that day I tried to install Ubuntu on my computer again by booting from USB on startup. Tried a few times and I couldn't figure out how. After searching around on info about my computer, the way it is setup, installing Ubuntu might not even be that easy as there is apparently already 4 partitions on the hard drive (some old limitation)

Anyone have any ideas how to help? I'm also rather nervous about messing up my whole computer too D:

it's a Lenovo y580 if you want to google anything.

Another question suggested flavors? I was just going with Ubuntu as it's the most heavily supported, but if something is supported well around here (I might have a few dumb questions from time to time I'm willing to use about any flavor)

Try Fedora 18. ( i think that is the newest release)

In my opinion it's the best and is widely supported here.
O, Molly, and Tux use it and i used to on my old machine, so i can help with some things if need be.
Just download the iso on USB stick and launch from the stick.Try it out or install from there.Fedora gives you many options on partition installing so you should be able to figure it out rather easily. You can also install side by side windows/fedora i believe.

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:26 pm **(#3)**

Rod wrote:

Willy wrote:

Well when I first came back that day I tried to install Ubuntu on my computer again by booting from USB on startup. Tried a few times and I couldn't figure out how. After searching around on info about my computer, the way it is setup, installing Ubuntu might not even be that easy as there is apparently already 4 partitions on the hard drive (some old limitation)

Anyone have any ideas how to help? I'm also rather nervous about messing up my whole computer too D:

it's a Lenovo y580 if you want to google anything.

Another question suggested flavors? I was just going with Ubuntu as it's the most heavily supported, but if something is supported well around here (I might have a few dumb questions from time to time I'm willing to use about any flavor)

Try Fedora 18. ( i think that is the newest release)

In my opinion it's the best and is widely supported here.
O, Molly, and Tux use it and i used to on my old machine, so i can help with some things if need be.
Just download the iso on USB stick and launch from the stick.Try it out or install from there.Fedora gives you many options on partition installing so you should be able to figure it out rather easily. You can also install side by side windows/fedora i believe.

I intend to dual boot.

Thats the problem though, when you go to dual boot you turn your computer and then boot from USB from the boot menu (hit f12 when starting) and I didn't have the option for USB...Do I have to do something special to the USB stick? I didn't think I did last time I dual booted so idk

YAFU · **Joined:** Nov 09, 2011 **Posts:** 726

Does your machine have installed any Windows in UEFI (secure boot) mode?

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16173

Willy wrote:

Rod wrote:

Willy wrote:

Well when I first came back that day I tried to install Ubuntu on my computer again by booting from USB on startup. Tried a few times and I couldn't figure out how. After searching around on info about my computer, the way it is setup, installing Ubuntu might not even be that easy as there is apparently already 4 partitions on the hard drive (some old limitation)

Anyone have any ideas how to help? I'm also rather nervous about messing up my whole computer too D:

it's a Lenovo y580 if you want to google anything.

Another question suggested flavors? I was just going with Ubuntu as it's the most heavily supported, but if something is supported well around here (I might have a few dumb questions from time to time I'm willing to use about any flavor)

Try Fedora 18. ( i think that is the newest release)

In my opinion it's the best and is widely supported here.
O, Molly, and Tux use it and i used to on my old machine, so i can help with some things if need be.
Just download the iso on USB stick and launch from the stick.Try it out or install from there.Fedora gives you many options on partition installing so you should be able to figure it out rather easily. You can also install side by side windows/fedora i believe.

I intend to dual boot.

Thats the problem though, when you go to dual boot you turn your computer and then boot from USB from the boot menu (hit f12 when starting) and I didn't have the option for USB...Do I have to do something special to the USB stick? I didn't think I did last time I dual booted so idk

Then i would try to load via live CD.

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:39 pm **(#6)**

YAFU wrote:

Does your machine have installed any Windows in UEFI (secure boot) mode?

That was one of the things I was reading about online...it appears as though win8 always requires UEFI (don't know if that is proper ussage of the word) though

@Rod: I don't have any CDs around though :lol

and it should work from a USB stick. Maybe it needs to be enabled through BIOS? that was another thing I was reading but I have no idea how to do that

YAFU · **Joined:** Nov 09, 2011 **Posts:** 726

So if you have Windows 8 installed in EFI mode, is not Ubuntu's or any distribution fault, but is Microsoft fault :yell

. So if this is your problem you should search about how to install Ubuntu on UEFI mode.
If not UEFI problem, you should give details of those partitions you have, file systems and for what you use each of them. And also give more details about when you start to have problems in the installation process.

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:55 pm **(#8)**

YAFU wrote:

So if you have Windows 8 installed in EFI mode, is not Ubuntu's or any distribution fault, but is Microsoft fault :yell

. So if this is your problem you should search about how to install Ubuntu on UEFI mode.
If not UEFI problem, you should give details of those partitions you have, file systems and for what you use each of them. And also give more details about when you start to have problems in the installation process.

the 4 partitions are from the manufacturer and so is the win8 install, so I have no idea what 2 of the partitions are used for. I know this computer has some sort of "rapid boot" mini ssd and then a 1TB harddrive. those are 2 of the partitions and from what I was reading another is a backup that windows uses, and there is some other fourth that I do not remember.

And the problems I have when trying to install is I can't even start the install because I can't boot from USB

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16173

Willy wrote:

YAFU wrote:

So if you have Windows 8 installed in EFI mode, is not Ubuntu's or any distribution fault, but is Microsoft fault :yell

. So if this is your problem you should search about how to install Ubuntu on UEFI mode.
If not UEFI problem, you should give details of those partitions you have, file systems and for what you use each of them. And also give more details about when you start to have problems in the installation process.

the 4 partitions are from the manufacturer and so is the win8 install, so I have no idea what 2 of the partitions are used for. I know this computer has some sort of "rapid boot" mini ssd and then a 1TB harddrive. those are 2 of the partitions and from what I was reading another is a backup that windows uses, and there is some other fourth that I do not remember.

And the problems I have when trying to install is I can't even start the install because I can't boot from USB

Yes i believe booting with F4 key will bring up boot options? Not sure if that is correct or not. Could be F8.I would Google that :lol

Quote:

The Advanced Boot Options menu lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.

Then boot from the flash USB stick from that boot screen.

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:05 pm **(#10)**

Rod wrote:

Willy wrote:

YAFU wrote:

So if you have Windows 8 installed in EFI mode, is not Ubuntu's or any distribution fault, but is Microsoft fault :yell

. So if this is your problem you should search about how to install Ubuntu on UEFI mode.
If not UEFI problem, you should give details of those partitions you have, file systems and for what you use each of them. And also give more details about when you start to have problems in the installation process.

the 4 partitions are from the manufacturer and so is the win8 install, so I have no idea what 2 of the partitions are used for. I know this computer has some sort of "rapid boot" mini ssd and then a 1TB harddrive. those are 2 of the partitions and from what I was reading another is a backup that windows uses, and there is some other fourth that I do not remember.

And the problems I have when trying to install is I can't even start the install because I can't boot from USB

Yes i believe booting with F4 key will bring up boot options? Not sure if that is correct or not. Could be F8.I would Google that :lol

Quote:

The Advanced Boot Options menu lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.

Then boot from the flash USB stick from that boot screen.

when I googled it before I found f12 to be the key... http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=SF13-T0025 I'll try hitting f4 and I remember f8 did something else, and it didn't get me to a boot menu but did do something else just don't remember what, it's late here so I'm not trying anything right now sorry

Odinbc · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:09 pm **(#11)**

Willy wrote:

Well when I first came back that day I tried to install Ubuntu on my computer again by booting from USB on startup. Tried a few times and I couldn't figure out how. After searching around on info about my computer, the way it is setup, installing Ubuntu might not even be that easy as there is apparently already 4 partitions on the hard drive (some old limitation)

To find out what's on your partitions.
(I don't have Win8 but it should have the following)
Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Disk Management
Give it a minute, it will display details of each partition.
A screen shot might be helpful for anyone who's troubleshooting.

K1TesseraEna · **Joined:** Sep 22, 2012 **Posts:** 2089 **Location:** US

Why not use Virtual Machines either from Oracle or VeeAm?
No booting or partitions required, both host and guest OS's are up and running simultaneously.
You can even use an external hard drive for guest OS.
Booting between OS's is so yesterday.

GnuTux · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:18 pm **(#13)**

A VM is a good approach. :bigthup

YAFU wrote:

So if you have Windows 8 installed in EFI mode, is not Ubuntu's or any distribution fault, but is Microsoft fault :yell

. So if this is your problem you should search about how to install Ubuntu on UEFI mode.
If not UEFI problem, you should give details of those partitions you have, file systems and for what you use each of them. And also give more details about when you start to have problems in the installation process.

this.

Win8 machines use secure boot so you'll need to find a good online guide for the exact version of Linux you'll be installing alongside Windows 8. If your laptop uses a SSD, then there are other issues you'll need to contend with (swap partition).

I do not recommend Fedora 18 for this because the F18 release contained a new version of anaconda (the Fedora installer), which really wasn't ready for primetime. If you would like to use Fedora, the new release (Fedora 19) is scheduled for next week: Tuesday July 2nd, 2013 and I would just wait for that.

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:19 pm **(#14)**

I don't want to dual boot, as I just well don't :lol

don't want to deal with win8, but still want the option to use it if I ever need to.

and as for that screenshot.

Okay tux, I may just wait and see what else comes of this thread...as I really don't want to break my computer

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 16173

Willy wrote:

I don't want to dual boot, as I just well don't :lol

don't want to deal with win8, but still want the option to use it if I ever need to.

and as for that screenshot.

Okay tux, I may just wait and see what else comes of this thread...as I really don't want to break my computer

Wow Willy how much RAM does that machine have :lol

YAFU · **Joined:** Nov 09, 2011 **Posts:** 726

I'm not sure that the UEFI is your problem and I have not had to install anything in EFI mode, but just in case I say that maybe you should set your BIOS to boot the LiveUSB in EFI mode. Maybe this will help:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
http://askubuntu.com/questions/91484/ho ... m-efi-uefi
http://www.ambitious-vision.net/en/fedo ... fi-how-to/

Highly recommended, make a backup of all your important data, if possible on an external drive.
Please, you do not give up and do not make Microsoft achieves its goal with UEFI...

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:27 pm **(#17)**

Rod wrote:

Willy wrote:

I don't want to dual boot, as I just well don't :lol

don't want to deal with win8, but still want the option to use it if I ever need to.

and as for that screenshot.

Okay tux, I may just wait and see what else comes of this thread...as I really don't want to break my computer

Wow Willy how much RAM does that machine have :lol

8GB lol...I intend to eventually upgrade to 16 even though it's not officially supported it's been done enough times. Why is it listed as something weird?

K1TesseraEna · **Joined:** Sep 22, 2012 **Posts:** 2089 **Location:** US

GnuTux wrote:

A VM is a good approach. :bigthup

I used to have Oracle's VirtualBox with Ubuntu/Fedora and Win 8 customer preview. Win 7 was the host.
That's 3!!! operating systems on my PC. I have dual monitor set, switching between OS's with the speed of mouse cursor.
No waiting for system reboot. Shared folder allows to move files between OS's.

GnuTux · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:32 pm **(#19)**

Willy wrote:

I don't want to dual boot, as I just well don't :lol

Oh, OK. You can disable UEFI via your BIOS, then should be able to boot a live version of Linux from a CD or flash drive. A flash drive is much faster and you can enable "persistent" mode, which allows you to maintain your information from one boot to the next.

http://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD/Persistence

http://help.ubuntu.com/community/Instal ... omUSBStick

If you are planning on using Ubuntu, read though this..

http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

Willy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:36 pm **(#20)**

YAFU wrote:

I'm not sure that the UEFI is your problem and I have not had to install anything in EFI mode, but just in case I say that you should set your bios to boot in EFI mode. Maybe this will help:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
http://askubuntu.com/questions/91484/ho ... m-efi-uefi
http://www.ambitious-vision.net/en/fedo ... fi-how-to/

Highly recommended, make a backup of all your important data, if possible on an external drive.
Please, you do not give up and do not make Microsoft achieves its goal with UEFI...

I don't intend to let them win!

those first two links honestly kind of scare me away from this because I don't want to much up my computer :/

I'm almost wondering if I could make a live CD to install windows on here, and then do a full wipe and have Ubuntu boot off the SSD and have windows as my second OS, just as it would be if I installed them in reverse order. Would this solve the UEFI issues? And any of the other acronyms mentioned in this thread? (a lot of this is over my head sorry)