Husnain Ahmad asks:

I am trying to install Ubuntu 12.04 using WUBI.exe from within Windows 7. All goes well but when it restarts and installation proceeds it gives and error “No root file system defined”. I have tried booting from live USB and Live CD but the same error occurs. Then i downloaded 11.10 version and booted into it using live USB but same error occurs there.

Now the thing is that I have 4 partitions on hard disk: 1- C: 147GB (with Windows 7 installed) 2- D, E which I use for file storage in Windows 3- G: 19GB NTFS formatted from Windows.

I am trying to install Ubuntu into this G drive. I want to keep my Windows 7 files and installation intact. I have tried it a while ago for 11.10 and at that time it all went super smooth. I have tried rebuilding the partition table from cmd.exe in Windows and i have also tried by formatting my G drive to ext3 using Easeus Partition manager in windows and then installing using wubi but wubi.exe didn’t detected the partition formated to ext3. When I ran the installation wizard from within Ubuntu running through live usb, i got a window with DEVICE= /dev/sda and no type no size nothing.

Here when I choose my 320GB drive it just gives the option as in picture and when i pressed install the same error “no root file system defined”. I have tried to select the new partition table option but it gives me the window to create a partition by dividing 320GB whole into whatever i want. I don’t proceed into that option because i think i will ruin my windows 7 stuff.

I am posting the pictures at of installation steps i have defined in the following link please have a look. https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D0690308_082_7483607

https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D0690308_082_7483603

Browser: Firefox 14
System: Linux-Ubuntu
Tagged: boot issue, dual boot, install operating system, linux tips, ubuntu

6 Answers -

0 votes

memo1288

October 17, 2012

Hello.
I also had this problem recently, and it took me a while to figure out what to do. I didn’t use WUBI but a live CD, so these steps may be a bit different.
When trying to install Ubuntu, you should see at some point a window like this:
http://www.techdigest.tv/assets_c/2009/04/ubuntu-install-partitions-thumb-550×412-87956.png
If you are able to see the existing partitions like that, then you can define a root file system by selecting the partition in which you want to install Ubuntu, selecting “Edit partition”, and in Mount Point, you have to choose “/” (either that or “/home”, I can’t remember exactly. I think it was “/”). That should make it a root file system, and allow you to proceed. You should not have to modify anything else about that or any other partition. Creating a SWAP partition is recommended, but not necessary.
If you are unable to see the existing partitions at any point, then I don’t know what to do. You should not create new partitions in Ubuntu, only edit the partitions that you already have.

Adrian Rea

I think this may be the wubi installer making the bootloader think that the ubuntu is within the windows partition but I am not sure. You may need to seek help on ubuntuforums. You say the same happens on a live CD, are you sure it is booting the cd? check that it is booting the cd and that the cd works ok on other systems. good luck

Justin Pot

I agree: there’s no way this should be showing up for the live CD. Something is off about that.