I run Ubuntu 10.04, it is corrupted hard drive that is a mess! I have backed up all my documents. Have a CD of the latest Ubuntu 12.4 LTS sitting here waiting.

When I try to update the OS to Ubuntu 12.4 I just get one weird message after another, Never get to a point where I can erase and repartition the drive, tried everything, FED UP!

I just want to erase the whole DAM thing and start fresh with a new installation.

I would like to be able to do this through menus, but if you explain step by step I guess I could do it from a terminal, if you do not leave out anything.

Thanks to all.

This looks like a failing hardware. Replace your hard disk. You may try some live CD including utilities to check it, though, but I wouldn't take the risk.

Replacing a harddisk without even knowing if it is faulty sounds strange to me. Behavior like this can be caused by different hardware failures, so before replacing anything I recommend to run some tests, in the first place for the RAM and the harddisk.
For the RAM you can use http://www.memtest.org/#downisoMemtest86+ for the harddisk you should use the diagnosis tool of the disks manufacturer.

1 members found this post helpful.

The install cd may be corrupt or cd drive may be unclean

get system rescue CD or parted magic cd/usb for testing

1. RAM
2. gsmartctl will tell you about any hard disk issues

There is nothing wrong with the hardware. The problem is with Ubuntu 10.04, it is either corrupted or a hacker as messed it up! I have made several disks for the new version of Ubuntu but none will let me install the latest version.

I get the following note: No Root File System is defined. Please correct this from the partitioning menu. That is it totally.

The only way I can envision installing the new Linux 12.04 is to erase the hard drive and install from there.

Now there is even someone downloading something from my computer every few days, while I'm working or not, the modem is constantly working for about a half hour to 45 minutes. This affects the speed of me using the computer.

OK, make it this way:
- Boot from your Ubuntu CD into Live-Mode
- Start a terminal and launch the command[warning]This command will overwrite every single byte on your harddisk with zeroes. No data recovery is possible. Handle with care ![/code]Depending on the size of your harddisk this command may run a few hours and will end with the error message that there is not enough space on the disk. At this point any single byte on the harddisk is zeroed out.
Now reboot the system, start the install again and choose the "Use the whole disk"-option (or similar named) when it comes to partitioning.
If it still doesn't work then it is most likely a hardware error (which also may explain slowdowns).

1 members found this post helpful.

Tobisgd, thanks.I will give it a go and let you know.

By the way, when you install a new distro,... a handful of suggestions:

1) Create a separate partition for /home. Give the root partition about 1/3 of the disk. And give the other 2/3 to /home, with a little left over for swap.

2) Make your password at least 8-10 characters. Anything less and a machine password cracking program might guess it in a couple of weeks.

3) Research and learn how to limit ssh logins to your machine. Disable root ssh logins, and move the port to something in the 50000+ range... That'll help thwart crackers a little bit...

4) Make sure you use at least WPA2 encryption on your router, and make sure you disable remote administrator or WiFi administrator logins on the router,... and change the default admin password...

If you have trouble with any of the above,... ask for help with it.

This doesn't sound reasonable at all. You really think that you need or want a 300GB /-partition on a 1TB harddisk (or even 600GB on a 2TB disk)? You will hardly ever need more than 50GB for / on a desktop system.

In addition to that mix in lower and uppercase characters, numbers and special characters.

Even better, don't run SSH if you don't have a need for it. Most people that have only one machine at home have the need to run a SSH server on it. If you have the need then disable root login, as already stated, and use key based authentication instead of password based authentication.

eeehhh, ...weeeelllll,...

I don't know of many off the shelf machines with 2TB HDs... Mostly, I see 750GB drives. And with enough apps installed,... Assuming we're talking 250GB,... not that unreasonable if you run a home intra-net web server, have a MythTV installation, maybe a game server for a few 1st person shooters, and a MMO game or two as well,...

Oh,... and multiple kernels installed (w/ full source),... or VMs run with root authority (like a default KVM install)...

100% agreed. I once again (I did once before on these boards) would like to refernce the XFCD cartoon:
http://xkcd.com/936/

Point taken,... and good advice. But many (most?!) distros roll out with ssh enabled, root ssh logins enabled and a standard port 22... Kind of like the Empire putting up billboards that say, "Rebels, fire your proton torpedoes here!," on the Death Star's exhaust port.

1 members found this post helpful.

This is not a time to bicker guys! I will be deleting everything in a very few minutes.

However I am printing your last few messages and hopefully not my last rights!

I will get back to you because I am unsure of how to do some of the things you suggest.

Thanks to all, see you soon, I hope!

I'm Back! I went to the "Accessories" and clicked on the "Terminal" window.

I entered the command exactly as you told me to, and received the following message: '/dev/sda/': Permission denied.


Am I supposed to enter my system access number before bringing up the terminal window, If so how? confused!

Sorry, I sometimes forget that there are systems that need sudo to get full privileges.
Try it this way:It will ask you for your user password, but it will neither display it nor other characters when you type it in, just type it in blindly and press Enter.

LOL, I do that also! I'll get back to you.

Greetings from Ubuntu 12.04.
Everything went rather smoothly do to your expertise (TobiSDG and JaseP) I forgot to tell you guys what I am running.

Lian Li case, PC Power and Cooling 910 watt power supply, MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard, AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Processor × 6, 8Gb ram, GeForce GTX460 graphics card, 500 GB Hard Drive. Thats the Major stuff. I built this myself and it runs very smoothly and fast, normaly, LOL!

Well, so far so good, but I will have to play with it for a few days till I have sufficient knowledge to ask more questions. Right now I don't see access to a firewall, how to change the "Port" as JaeP suggested, what the heck does "SSH" mean, etc. They seem to have lowered the user's ability to access things, but I'm not really sure yet.

However, once again thanks for not leaving me "stuck in the boonies so to speak", I'll be back.