Can't install Linux. "No root file system is defined” error
 

I'm running Xubuntu 13.04 off of a USB drive I crated using Pendrive Linux.

I tried to install Xubuntu But I got a “No root file system is defined” during installation.

My computer only has a mSATA 30G SSD drive (this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227746) and it's raw, unformatted.

What do I need to do to install Linux on that drive?

Thank you.

You probably made a mistake on Step 4 of this guide: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...desktop-latest

The options you see on this screen will depend on your drive configuration. You must choose a root file system onto which Ubuntu will install itself. If your plan is to have Ubuntu as the only operating system on the computer, you should choose the option to use the entire drive.

More info here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
and here: https://help.ubuntu.com/12.04/instal...l#di-partition

Be very careful if there are any drives plugged into the computer with data you wish to keep!!

I never got to see the screen on Step 4. I saw a screen exactly like this:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25u14q9&s=7

I can't select anything or do anything on that screen. I've spent hours on this. Please help!

I don't see your drive in that screenshot. Are you sure you physically installed and connected it correctly?
Try first making a partition with Gparted partition editor, then running the Ubuntu installer. Here is help for Gparted: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/help.php

The most basic partitioning scheme is a single ext4 partition that fills the drive, mounted as / (aka "root filesystem"). More complex partitioning schemes are described here: https://help.ubuntu.com/12.04/instal...on-sizing.html

I used gparted to create a partition called /dev/sda1. But that partition is still not showing up on my Installer.

There's an icon appeared on my desktop named "30GB volume - Removable Volume. Not mounted yet". So I guess I need to mount that volume as root before the Installer can see it? How do I do that?

Has it atleast been formatted msdos, if it is atleast msdos you can just let the installer create the partitions.

It's been formatted as ext4. This is a brand new raw drive. No Windows was installed there and I don't want to dual boot with Windows. I just want to install Linux there. But the installer won't let me go any further than this screen: http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25u14q9&s=7

As you can see there's nothing to select on that screen.

I used GParted to create an ext4 partition /dev/sda1. I don't know what to do next.

I'm stumped. Try asking on http://ubuntuforums.org :)

The OP is trying manual install instead of letting the installer do the work, all they have to do is edit partition & label as /, or select erase & use whole drive. Obviously the installer is seeing both drives because they are able to select it. THey can even just erase the partition & select the drive & let the installer create it's own partitions, especially if they aren't making seperate partitions (boot, / home, etc.).

OP got this solved over on UbuntuForums, the problem was the mSATA drive was set up as a RAID. It was one of those new dealies where a small SSD is designed to be used as cache to speed up a larger HDD. Removing the RAID settings allowed the install to proceed. :)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2141924

Great atleast it's solved, maybe the OP should've posted solution here & mark thread as solved.