Directory Assistance

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 03:46 AM

So yes I am new to Linux in general, but my main question is I had Ubuntu as a secondary boot off of windows XP. I installed it about a year ago... tinkered with it for a while then left it be. Just booted it back up a few weeks ago and started to update it. Found that i had a 9.04 Version of Ubuntu and the newest version is 9.10. Tried to just have it update itself, but during the process it froze my machine and i had to shut it down after a day. Turned it back on and tried to boot Linux again. It booted, but not in a GUI interface just command lines. As I am a not familiar with any type of commands with Linux, I then deleted it from Windows or so i thought through the uninstaller. I am now trying to re-install Ubuntu 9.10 and cant. I get a message saying
An error has occurred: Cannot install into h:\Ubuntu.
There is another file or directory with this name.
Please remove before continuing.
Any ideas?

Bryan

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 03:53 AM

Try formatting the partition with the live cd with cfdisk.

You could also check if the Live CD is damaged by checking it in the menu, and possibly wiping GRUB of the MBR with Super GRUB. (in sig.)

First try to format the partition though.

I you have already you may want to use the dd command to zero the disk a few times so all traces of the previous install will be obliterated.

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:05 AM

Ok Um... Didnt quite understand what you were wanting me to do. I didnt install Linux correctly last time. I ran the install from an .iso Image and installed it within Windows. I did not have a cd.

The partition is gone, and i cant format that old area because i already deleted/uninstalled it through windows.

As far as DD command... I am very new to Linux still and dont really know what that is.

I dont have a working OS of linux right now... Just windows.

Sorry, I know alot about Windows, but nothing about Linux.

Bryan

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:06 AM

As far as trying what ever this super GRUB is... the site is down at the moment or something like that...
Super Grub Disk Wiki has a problem

Sorry! This site is experiencing technical difficulties.

Try waiting a few minutes and reloading.

(Can't contact the database server: Unknown MySQL server host 'adrian15.globatmysql.com' (1) (adrian15.globatmysql.com))

Bryan

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 04:07 AM

So you were using a virtual machine? What do you mean "in Windows"?

Do you actually have unpartitioned space on your HDD?

I am quite confused also

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 04:08 AM

http://supergrubdisk.org/

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:12 AM

So yea, What I believe i did originally was Installed Linux in just some free 30 GB space on my secondary drive. With-out partitioning it. I installed Linux in Windows.

Dave_Devnull · 01-16-2010, 04:12 AM

Is the OP trying to install this from inside of Windows? In which case AFAIR That needs the Alternate Ubuntu install CD.

This may help: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...on/FromWindows

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_Devnull

Is the OP trying to install this from inside of Windows? In which case AFAIR That needs the Alternate Ubuntu install CD.

This may help: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...on/FromWindows

I think hes got one of those qemu setups.

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:17 AM

So I Downloaded Ubuntu 9.10 and it is in a .ISO file. I opened the .ISO file in PowerISO in windows and then clicked the wubi.exe file. A screen came up and said Ubuntu Installer. It gives me a choice of what drive to install it to, what installation size, to set my user name and password, then says to install. This is how i did it last time and it worked.

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:18 AM

But this time it gives me that error...
An error has occurred: Cannot install into h:\Ubuntu.
There is another file or directory with this name.
Please remove before continuing.

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgreen006

So I Downloaded Ubuntu 9.10 and it is in a .ISO file. I opened the .ISO file in PowerISO in windows and then clicked the wubi.exe file. A screen came up and said Ubuntu Installer. It gives me a choice of what drive to install it to, what installation size, to set my user name and password, then says to install. This is how i did it last time and it worked.

Ah, so you are using a VM!

Excerpt from wikipedia:

Quote:

Wubi adds an entry to the Windows boot menu which allows the user to run Linux. Ubuntu is installed within a file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\root.disk), as opposed to being installed within its own partition. This file is seen by Linux as a real hard disk. [1] Wubi also creates a swap file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\swap.disk), in addition to the memory of the host machine. This file is seen by Ubuntu as additional RAM.[1]

I would delete those two files first, then search for "wubi" and "ubuntu" and perhaps "h:\" in the Windows search and delete all relevant files.

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:28 AM

So I ran a scan on my drive, and only a folder named Ubuntu came up. Inside that folder was a Install folder and a disks folder. Inside both of those was a folder named BOOT. but inside both of the boot folders there was nothing. Do i just need to delete the empty folders?

Bryan

lupusarcanus · 01-16-2010, 04:35 AM

Yes. Delete the whole "ubuntu" folder.

Also go in my Computer -> C:\ and check for Ubuntu in there as well.

That should fix your problem, unless wubi writes registry entries. i would think you are safe though. Add/Remove programs is another place to check.

bgreen006 · 01-16-2010, 04:40 AM

AHH!!!... More error messages... Cannot download the metalink and therefore the ISO. Umm....What?

Bryan