[SOLVED] Installation trouble

I'm trying to install 32bit Linux on top of Vista (trying to install to replace, since I don't want need or desire to use vista ever again) and i'm at a bit of a loss. I had to use Unetbootin since both usb drives and disk drives are disabled by malware on vista. It worked so far, got me to live mode (where I'm posting this from) but i'm having trouble with selecting partitions.

when I go on to install and replace over vista I get the following choices -- http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... /Drive.png and after selecting one I get the following popup

-- http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... enshot.png

For some reason SDA and HDA partitions do not come up (as I was told they should be on another forum) when trying to replace vista.

I also tried to use the "something else" option, but again, this is a little confusing for me, here are some screenshots of the partitions i get on this menu:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... nshot2.png

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... nshot3.png

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... nshot4.png

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z10/ ... nshot5.png


As you can tell, I don't really have the greatest grasp on the process, so some help and advice would be hugely appreciated, this forum has been nothing but a help thus far.

Some extra info:

I haven't edited any windows partitions -- since I thought i'd be replacing vista with Zorin, and I have no idea how to edit partitions
I haven't uninstalled vista or formatted the drives (though I have deleted everything apart fom MS word and firefox and defragged both drives)
There's no way I can use usb or disk drives. both have been corrupted by malware, which is the reason I'm switching to Zorin OS

Any other info you need, please ask, im not entirely sure what else I should include

You get the first message because you cannot install Zorin in a partition of 130mb.
I believe that through the live CD (or USB in your case) you should first open gparted (system->administration->Gparted) and from there you can delete all partitions and create an entire new one.

After that, start again the installation and hopefully this time you will have the option to sellect the entire hard disk space (120gb).

Hi,

what you need to do is select the "Use entire drive" (Replace Vista with Zorin) option when the installer asks you where you want to install.. This will wipe the drive and automatically create the partitions for you!!.

Your hard drive is "/dev/sda" under Linux not "C". This is also where your bootloader will be installed automatically!!.

If you create your own partitions, they will get drive letters like "sda1 - sda2 - sda3" and so on!.

The drive "/dev/zram0" is a USB drive and as MV has pointed out to you, too small for an installation!!

Regards Wolfman

Hi Wolfman.
If you see the first picture that solidor has uploaded, it seems like in the installation procedure, the only available option/partition offered for zorin to be installed is this small partition of 131mb. This is why I suggested first to get in gparted and delete/clear everything.

madvinegar wrote:Hi Wolfman.
If you see the first picture that solidor has uploaded, it seems like in the installation procedure, the only available option/partition offered for zorin to be installed is this small partition of 131mb. This is why I suggested first to get in gparted and delete/clear everything.

Hi MV,

I think that he may have somehow mounted his drives!!??.

Please check in the Live Home Folder before you start to install that none of the drives are mounted before you start the installation.

Take a look at the picture and you will see where it says 81GB File System (as an example!), there is a pyramid to the right of it, this means that the drive is mounted, right click if you see such a symbol and then on unmount!!.

Regards Wolfman

Wolfman wrote:I think that he may have somehow mounted his drives!!??.

Maybe you are right! I think it might be possible, even through the live CD.

Wolfman wrote: there is a pyramid to the right of it

Best description I've heard regarding the "eject" sign!!

Hi guys, sorry I couldn't reply sooner, I had a little bit of trouble with the installation.

I figured out that the reason it was only displaying the USB drives on a full wipe was because the version of UNetbootin i was using to install from my HDD was corrupted on download so didn't execute properly, or so I was told. I did eventually just delete and re-distribute partition space, however, this means that I deleted my windows vista boot files and even more unfortunately, the installer then crashed, which resulted in my laptop rebooting... which resulted in the loss of the Linux boot files which where stored on the HDD not usb or CD -- quite an ordeal really I did manage to solve it though, I installed from a USB drive after all, since the malware blocking both my usb drive and cd drive from reading anything was effectively wiped out along with vista. Managed to use a library computer to format a USB stick to boot linux and now i'm back online

i have to say, thanks to everyone, this forums has been hugely helpful in getting my laptop operational again. Now it's time to explore the possibilities of linux