I am very new to ubuntu. I downloaded ubuntu onto my computer and have recently had several problems. It looks like someone has partitioned my harddrive, leaving me with only 4 GB to work with. It also seems like there is some type of loop on my files and folders. I can't access them. I have reinstalled ubuntu several times, only to seemingly further restrict my access to things each time. Also looks like someone has the root control over my computer. How can I gain back control of my computer. How can I get around the root access? Get back my files, etc. Be able to use all of my harddrive (500 GB) and not just 4 GB? Even when I go onto the internet, it seems that they are transferring stuff. I get a message at the bottom of the screen where it says something like, "transferring data to xxx webpage." Please help. This is a nightmare.

Click the ubuntu logo, type 'terminal' and click the terminal icon. Once you have a terminal window, type
You will be asked for your password, type it.
Then you will be asked for a new password, this will be the root password. Enter a secure password and remember it. Anyone who wants to do something with the root account from then on will need that password. Then type
take a screenshot and post it here. Hit 'q' to quit cfdisk and then type
(you may have to reenter your password)
Now ask yourself who have had access to your computer.

If you have fully reinstalled several times then I struggle to work out how anyone could have taken over your computer that quickly. Could it be a family member/room mate/whatever doing this? Also, have you verified that the install CD you are using is genuine? Does the md5sum match the one on the website? For example if I run:I can then match the md5sum on the website here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuHashes/

From your experience with linux and the things you are saying I think this is actually a PEBKAC (problem exist between keyboard and chair ) issue.

The message you are getting about transferring data... we really need more information to investigate that. A screenshot would seriously help.

"Even when I go onto the internet,"
As in firefox?

I am pretty sure if someone controls your computer he won't be showing you that he is copying data over to the internet.

As of your 500GB that you want to fully use, install ubuntu with using the full drive (allowing it to recreate the partition table, which WILL result in ALL DATA lost).
Maybe you are installing over and over again to different partitions. We need a partition layout for this. (probably windows is installed as well?)

I don't get what you mean by the files and directory loop.

If you had any data put on any drives you should be able to copy them over using a live cd.

1 members found this post helpful.

I think he did something wrong with the partitioning of the disk, which is why I asked for a screenshot of cfdisk, but just to be safe, it might be a good idea to change the root password and lock the sudoers file.

Installing ubuntu over & over again is the problem. Most likely you never erased the other setups.
Try downloading gparted-live,
or, use the disk manger,
or, even just post output of That way you know how many linux paritions you have.

... as I mentioned before. However the OP is not answering our questions.

It sounds to me like you just don't know how to use the system properly. The chances of somebody re-hacking your computer the instant you set it up time and time again are basically zero. If you want to make sure, disconnect the network connection, reinstall the OS one more time without EVER reattaching the network connection, and see if everything is still behaving as it does now.

Howdy, Paranoid2010.

First, DON'T PANIC. Next, stop re-re-re-installing Ubuntu. -Now. It's the Windows approach, and not appropriate here. If the message you got was about a loop device, or a loop-back device, relax, these are normal parts of a Linux operating system. If you cannot access your files and data right now, don't worry, this too is very likely fixable.

Since you are new to Linux, here's a tip: the forums can help you better if you give precise information. I keep pen and paper at my computer. You won't always know how to copy or save information that appears on-screen, but you can jot it down. You can also get the gist of those annoying messages that flash by quickly. More information is nearly always better; that's why other posters have asked you for screen-shots and command outputs. Examples of more precise answers we want from you:

1) What version of Ubuntu are you using? If we know the precise interface you are using, we can walk you through things better.

2) Assuming you are using Ubuntu 12.04, "Precise Pangolin" -- when you installed, did you check the box marked "download updates while installing" ?

If you did, there may be a LOT of web traffic relating to that. The uploading of information about your system to a remote website might be info needed by the update servers, in order to send the appropriate packages to your machine. -AND if you interrupted it, and came back to it later, package management would keep trying to do it, automatically, in the background, until it was finished, or until you told it definitely to stop. To the uninitiated, this might appear sinister...

Do you remember the website that the info was being sent to? An actual URL, or even a domain name, would be _very_ helpful. If it's a standard Ubuntu server, then you have no worries on that issue.

3) The default installation with 12.04 is "install Ubuntu next to other operating systems". Did you install that way?

If you did, each install would be slotted in next to all those that went before. Minimum install space for 12.04 is 4.4 GBs. Maybe you created numerous 4.4 GB partitions. This may have used up your hard drive space with a series of identical installations. Your data may be right where you left it, surrounded by an Ubuntu clone army. Small, 4GB clones.

Find out what you've actually done to your hard drive. Follow mennohellinga's instructions, and show us what cfdisk's output is. If you get many listings of the basic Ubuntu partitions, that may be the problem. There are several ways to remove surplus partitions.

Even if you only have one Ubuntu installation, it may not "see" the partition containing your data. Under Linux, partitions must be "mounted" before the running OS can access them. Windows and Mac do this automatically. It is hidden from you, so you never have to worry about it. Under Linux, it's a choice. Again, read a few howtos about "mounting partitions under Ubuntu 12.04", just so you're not guessing. I haven't used Precise Pangolin's "Unity" desktop, so perhaps somebody else who has, can suggest a good graphical tool to mount and unmount partitions. I use the Enlightenment desktop, and mount/unmount is one mouse click. Hopefully Unity has a painless way to do it, too, but I haven't found it. You may have to do it at the command line. Until you mount the partition containing your data, there is no way that Ubuntu will be able to access it.

Anyway, these are my best guesses and suggestions, until you provide us with more info. Later!

I think he's realized what he's done and is too embarrassed to respond.