Error while installing Ubuntu 12.04
 

My computer has W7 as the OS and I am installing Ubuntu in its own folder. I have chosen "Other" as opposed to "Alongside W7". When I am ready to insatall and the minor partitions are defined I press CONTINUE and get the error "No root file system defined" and then it says something liok "go to partition menu and correct". I now don't know how to correct.

Bill

Are you trying to install Ubuntu within Windows as a VM, or along side Windows as a separate OS?

@suicidaleggroll: sounds like he's installing it.

@blockie: don't choose "other" or "manual", choose one of the predefined choices. it's the safest way.

Yes I agree that it looks like he's following the steps one would normally take to install Ubuntu on the machine as a separate OS, but from the sound of:
That's not what he wants to do.

The reason I chose "Other" is that I wish to install in its own partition that I have created for it.Can I do that? My bios only has selection for the cdrom which is #1 or HDD which includes only the W7 partition. OOOOHH!!! What am I to do?

@suicidaleggroll: see, told you so (smug grin)!

@blockie: admittedly, the installer's partitioning tool is not exactly intuitive, at least the last time i used it.
but it's pretty straight forward, and it asks you whether you want to "write changes to disk" in the VERY END of the process, so you can try around a little. try double-clicking highlighted entries. and yes, you can install ubuntu into the partition you created if it's bigger than a few GB.

There is no "Other" option on Ubuntu, at least on the last number of releases. Did you mean the 'Something Else' option? Take a look at the link below at the Ubuntu site which is a tutorial on installing Ubuntu 14.04, the latest version. It's not very detailed but you see the different options.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/deskt...ubuntu-desktop

If you have already created a partition for Ubuntu, when you select "Something Else", the next screen is Allocate Drive Space. You should see all the partiitons on your drive(s) and it is here that you select the one you want on which to install Ubuntu by clicking it to highlight it in the main menu. Then click the Change tab below the partition window and you should get a new window with several options. One of them is Mount point and to the right of it is a down arrow. Click it and select "/" without quotes or just type in a forward slash: /, that is the root mount point. Go from there.

The link below has a little more detailed information. Half way down the page under the Installation Type window, there is a 'Read here' link about the Something Else option.

http://www.enqlu.com/2014/04/step-by...untu-1404.html

Which release of Ubuntu do you have?

I have version 12.04 LTS
Trying to find out if I had a "GPT" disk I find that the command "sudo parted -1" is invalid. So I still don't know.
Is there a way I can make screen shots while installing from "Try it now"?
Although I Have read the links provided on the last post I still run into trouble while installing.

Bill

Yes it is but, if you ran sudo parted -l you would probably get results. It is a lower case Letter L, not a number one.

You could try when you get to the Desktop clicking on the Ubuntu icon in the upper left and in the search box, typing snapshot. I think that's the name but don't really know if that is correct or if it will be on your installation medium.
It might be gnome-snapshot?

It seems that trying to put the Unix programs in separate partitions is going to be very difficult.
SO I'll put the partition back to just one and install the Unix program (Ubunto and Norin) alongside Windows 7.
After tryng this last effort ( not really the last,I don't give up easily) I'll get back with the results.
Incidentally, I have had Ubuntu installed "alongside W7" in the recent past and it was OK.

Bill

Terminology problem? Ubuntu isn't a program, it is an operating system.

Did you mean Ubuntu and 'Zorin'? If you install them on the same partition the second one will overwrite the first. I'm not sure I'm understanding what you are trying to do? You refer to installing Ubuntu and 'Norin' but only have one partition?

The Install Alongside option works the vast majority of the time. The problem with it is that it is almost an automatic install since you don't really see what is going on or being done. If something fails, you don't know where to start to correct it unless you are lucky enough to get some message. The 'Something Else' option gives much more control and you can see step for step what is happening. Of course, if you don't understand what you are being asked, it isn't that useful.

Boot the Ubuntu installation media, once you are in live session run Gparted, select your computer hard drive and reduce the windows volume to make room for the Ubuntu installation, you dont need to format that space just make room for it, save the changes and close Gparted.

Make sure you have internet connection to start the installation
click on install Ubuntu, select to download upgrades while installing, also select to install third party software during the installation if you wish to use your computer for MP3, Videos, Youtube, photos and other multi media files.

Next step in 'Installation Type select something else, there select to add a partition table. The installer will display the free room in your hard drive. Select the free space and look at the bottom left of the dialog it will show a + and - sign, click on the + then make a partition of 20 GB, select it to be format on ext4, and select to the mount point of /.

select the free space again and click on the + sign again and make another partition, give it 3GB, format it selecting swap, the system will know where to mount it so you just leave it like that

select the rest of free space, format it to ext4 and select the mount point of /home

save it and proceed with the installation

select your time zone, create and user, create a password, choose if you want to use that password each session or if you want to boot directly to the desktop without logging in, that is up to you.
Also you have the choice to encrypt your home partition it is up to you.

then continue with the installation until the computer ask you to restart.

If you restart the computer and it doesnt give you and option to boot into W7 run the command on the command line
Enjoy!

Thanx TroN-0074,
The last post you made helped a lot. I'm up and running Ubuntu now. I think I'll leave Zorin uninstalled and run it from the DVD to learn what it can do. One I am famioliar with Zorin and feel good about it I'll probably rfeplace Ubuntu.
Thanks again,
Bill

I am glad you got it working. It is a good idea to start with one OS fist, once you know the it in and out you can try a different one.

If you run into other problem remember we are here. Good luck.