hello all,

I just installed Ubuntu 9.04 on a desktop that has just under 1 TB harddrive (I made it a dual boot with Windows XP). everything installed just fine. but then I have another desktop that has 64-bit Windows XP and the harddrive is 1.45 TB. before I installed XP I partitioned the HD so that 1.3 TB is reserved for Windows and Ubuntu was supposed to be installed into 150 GB partition. well, it didn't install with the error GRUB 18 error message and now I don't even have access to Windows (which is not really that big of an issue right now). does anyone have any idea as to why GRUB is not able to recognize this large cylinder? is there anything that I can do, say change some settings in BIOS or maybe change my partition size? thanks for any help

r.

What's your partition structure? One partition for xp, one (or more) for Ubuntu? Which is first on the drive? Can you use your install CD and run output of command: sudo fdisk -l and post here. May need a BIOS update, how old is the system board/chipsets?

I have one partition of XP and one for Ubuntu (actually 2 for Ubuntu: 5GB for SWAP and 130 GB mounted for / for Ubuntu).

XP is first on the drive.

when do I run "sudo fdisk -l"? I don't remember having the capability to use the console. the installation stops half way through.

it's a brand new computer, purchased about 2 months ago, hence I believe that BIOS should be relatively new as well.

r.

ps. do you think that it would make a difference if Ubuntu was first on the disk? also, would it make any difference if I was to split Windows into two separate partitions?

I didn't think grub had a problem until closer to 2 TB - but I don't have anything that big to test.
Certainly having Linux (/boot actually) near the front of the disk will help. I always build a small /boot partition at the start of the boot disk on every system I have.
Moving Windoze (to make room) will be a problem - re-install might be best for that as well.

Sometimes earlier I'd also faced same problem with dual boot ubuntu with windows . It was giving error 18 and error 17 respectively, no progress further , no access to any of OS .

After checking it with live cd it was discovered that the hard disk was not properly connected during regular maintenance , i.e. it was loosely connected . when connected again properly ....bingo !!!!!!!!

everything was running nicely , without any error . So check for hard disk connection ,, reconnect both power & data cables ..

Best of luck.....

Keep the boot files within 137 gb mark.