This is what happened. First the background. I've worked with a Ubuntu Virtual Machine and got tired of it because of memory problem. So I decided to install it as a host OS. I have second internal disk with more than terabyte of free memory. About 300 GB on this disk is devoted to Windows Server. The free space was actually 1104.29 GB.

So, I downloaded an iso file, burned a disk, put it in the bay and restarted the machine. Changed the boot sequence, fine. All the Ubuntu pictures went through and progress bars behaved properly. in the process the install broke my free disk space into three part: 16.00 GB, 539.82 GB and 548.47 GB. I was wondering why but let it do what it wanted to do.

Then the usual: "You must restart your computer." Fine, I did but when the machine came back I could not see Ubuntu in the start menu. Only Windows 7 and Windows Server, as before. I checked the partitioned internal disk, partitioned by Ubuntu, BTW, and found all three sections empty. The disk I designated for Ubuntu with letter U has only one file: bootsqm.dat. That's it.

So, the install partitioned my hard drive and stopped there. I saw all those advertisements that Ubuntu has such and such software, etc.

Then I ran bcdedit.exe in cmd prompt and could not find any trace of Ububtu.

What happened and how can I install Ubuntu as a stand alone OS?

Thanks, - A.

Are you using the standard MBR method to boot or GPT?
Which option did you select during the installation? There are usually several options and the best to use is 'Something Else' which is a manual install. Other options don't really give you any control and you won't know what happened if something went wrong. The install usually creates a / (root filesystem) and a swap partition although you can manually change it and you may have an option to create a separate /home partition.

If your machine boots directly to windows, you didn't properly install the bootloader. You won't see anything in the windows boot file, bcdedit unless you put it there. Windows won't boot any Linux system unless the user manually configures it. You can use third party software such as EasyBCD. You might take a look at the very detailed tutorial at the link below and compare what it shows to what you did.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/u...all-guide.html

Wow! Thank you for the lesson. In the meantime I just tried to re-install the same Ubuntu and got a shocking news: The installer said that I already had Ubuntu installed and wanted to give it a yes or no as if it should re-install it? I said YES. The second install skipped a few stages as compared with the first one. In the end I have the same: "nothing:" no way to boot Ubuntu.

Now I will try everything you suggested. Many thanks, - A.

Change the boot order of the hdd's, gru was installed ti the Ubuntu hdd.

bcdedit.exe

try not using BCD

grub can boot windows and ubuntu and everything else just fine

What is gru and what is grub? You guys speak in riddles.

Answering to yancek: I tried one more install and when I came to that window where I was given the "choice" of replacing the Ubuntu or do "something else" I chose something else and then pointed the installed to the hard disk slated for Ubuntu where it seems one file is already sitting: "bootsqm.dat," hopefully it is what is left from two previous installations. Almost instantly got this error message:

So, I went back, changed that choice to "Replace the previous installation" or similar and first time in to days got the Ubuntu Desktop. There was an icon: Install Ubuntu. I clicked on it, it went through all steps and I still do not have Ubuntu in the start menu.

What are other things you are talking about: gru and Grub? Where can I get them?

OK, I changed the boot sequence, pointed to the hard drive (SATA1) where the Ubuntu is supposed to be residing and it could not boot. It said: "No boot device available."

I am wondering if I can set up a boot loader for Ubuntu somehow on a CD/DVD or a memory stick and boot every time from that and store all my file on the hard drive? Is it realistic?

Also what are GRU and GRUB?

I really need to solve it. I cannot work with my VM - it is running out of memory. I cannot set up a new VM, the VirtualBox creates machines with ridiculous limitations every time I try. I need to install Ubuntu as a stand alone OS. Please help.

When you use the "Something Else" option you will get a window labelled "Allocate Drive Space". In that window, click on the partition you want to use to install to highlight it and then click the Change tab below that window. This should give you an "Edit Partition" window which will show the size (you can change or leave it, whatever), Use as would be the filesystem type which should be ext4, select the check box to Format and to the right of Mount point, click the down arrow and select "/" the forward slash option which is the symbol for the root of the filesystem. If you don't do that, you will get the no root filesystem defined message.

There is also an option for "Device for bootloader installation" and the default is /dev/sda. If you leave that, it will install the Grub (GRand Unified Bootloader) bootloader to the master boot record and should create a boot menu for Ubuntu and windows. Not seeing Ubuntu in the boot menu and just having the windows boot options means you did not install the Ubuntu bootloader to the master boot record. If you want to use the windows bootloader you will need to manually configure it yourself or use third party software such as EasyBCD. Grub is better but your choice.

If you are still having problems, can you boot the Ubuntu install medium and go to the site below, download and run the bootinfoscript and post the output (a results.txt file) here. Instructions are in a link in the Description box, read that first. The results.txt file will have detailed info on your drives/partitions, boot files, etc. which will be helpful in finding the problem.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/

Thak you very much yancek. I will try it tomorrow. It is already rather late in my area.

My bad AlexBB I was posting from an Android phone with very small screen. I was referring to grub.
If Ubuntu isn't installing why not try debian?

I was trying to find one of my previous posts and found this one which appears to be unresolved. After so may obstacles I finally found a way to install Ubuntu. I first installed Ubuntu 12.04 version which went without a hitch. It gave me the double boot, everything. After I first opened the Ubuntu desktop it immediately offered me to upgrade it to 14.04 which I did also. Now everything is working. I can also boot to Windows 7 if I want. So, my conclusion is that the installer for 14.04 has bugs. Thanks everyone.

Glad to know you solved your problem.
Congratulations.