Hello forum people!

First of all i want to make clear that i am a total newbie in linux.
Now with the problem:
- I want to dual boot linux mint alongside windows.
- I just got the latest version of linux mint MATE from their site.
- I created a live usb disk and launched it from there.
- I can't install it, because the installer doesn't see my partitions.
- I took all the steps (chose the language, selected "somewhere else" from the second screen...) And when i arrive at the screen in which i edit my partitions i can only see my WHOLE hard drive with 500 Gb free space on it... Keep in mind that i don't want to delete windows, i want to run linux alongside it.


I looked at some other forum threads in search for some answers and i couldn't find anythinh useful.
I am a total noob when it comes to linux, i don't know anything so i need detailed answers, dummed down for me.
All i could find were some threads on other forums as well but i couldn't understand anything, please help.

Did you verify the download of the Mint iso after you downloaded it? If you go to the site below and click on the 32-bit or 65-bit for Mate it will give you the number and you can run the check with the command:

You need to exact name of the Mint iso in the command above. Another possibility is a bad burn to the DVD. I've seen some posts on this problem at the Ubuntu forum which you might check. I don't use either myself but I would say you made a good choice by stopping the install. If you selected Something Else as an install option and don't see your other partitions and continued, you probably would have overwritten windows.

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

I've downloaded linuxmint-17.1-MATE-64bit (rebecca).
I didn't use a dvd since i have some problems with my laptops cdrom...i placed linux mint on a live usb. And please explain where to put that command, in the windows cmd or linuxs terminal. I am sorry for making you dum things down for me but as i said i am a little bit confused when it comes about linux since this is the first time i am trying to install it.

I also tried installing other versions of linux...ubuntu, lubuntu, xubuntu..etc all with the same result, they are not displaying my windows made partitions within the linux installer.

Do you want to create a live USB?
Or do you want to install Mint onto one of the partitions on your hard drive?

I simply want to install a version of linux....preferable mint. I want to use linux mint alongside windows.dualboot.
As i said i already have windows installed, so i made a live usb with linux mint on it. I restarted the computer, i booted from the live usb..and once i arrived in linux i went ahead and opened the installer...when i reached step 3 (the part where i need to select what partition should linux be installed onto.) The installer doesn't show the partitions i have on my hard drive it just shows my whole hdd as an unpartitioned drive with 500 Gb of free space.

I see. That's unusual.

What is the file format of the new partitions you created in Windows?
What program did you use to do the partitioning?

You could always re-create the partitions on your hard disk from your live USB.
Then you could use your USB Mint installer to install a distro onto your hard disk.

I agree with Higgsboson: How have you partitioned the disk with your Windows software?

You should be able to run GParted from your live USB (I think it's available in the Mint distro) and use it to see what you've got. You'll need to shrink your Windows partition first, then partition the now "free" space created to hold your Linux Mint system. How you partition the "free" space depends on whether you want a separate /home partition, swap, etc, or just go with the default.

If you don't set up the partitions first it won't matter which distro you use, you'll only be presented with a "Use the whole disk" option. (Which is why we're asking how you've partitioned the drive under Windows )

Play Bonny!

Checking a few sites, it seems it doesn't exist on windows and you have to download it. The link below is to the microsoft download site:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=11533

You haven't indicated which version of windows you are using which can make a big difference. It would be a good idea to post some details on your partitions. If you already have 4 partitions and are using an MBR booting scheme, you need to make some changes prior to trying to install. Without more details, we're just guessing here. Try the suggestions above, particularly using GParted to see if it shows partitions.

I am using windows 7 64.
My 4 partitions are basic, not dynamic...3 of them are primary and 1 is logical.
I created the partitions using the build in windows tool, disk management.

I tried using gparted from the linux live usb terminal but it says i need to be rooted..and i don't know what that means , i've used windows all my life and i am looking for an alternative os...i am the absolute noob when it comes to os and tehnical terms..i've searched the internet high and low for people with the same problem and i saw the some problems on other forums but the threads were incomplete.

Open a terminal by going to the Menu tab in the extreme lower left of the Mint Live CD and type in the terminal: sudo gparted
All lower case letters, then hit the Enter Key. Should open GParted.

Boot back to windows & open "Disk Manager" check & see if the partitions are Dynamically Allocated if so linux doesn't like it & won't work for dual-boot unless you reformat & reinstall wins. You may want to check to see if there's a way to make the change with an existing installation.

thank you all for your quick answers...to answer the last questions my partitions were not dynamic, they were basic and primary.
I finally backed up my content from windows and reinstalled it...apparently now linux sees my partitions and i've installed mint.

I don't know what exactly caused it..

Glad to know you got it working
Congrats.