Why can't mint find my drive containing Windows?

[mankey365]

I am trying to install Linux Mint 18.3 (64 bit)and created a bootable USB drive using UNetbootin in Windows. I restart my computer and could see an option to boot from the pen drive. I chose the compatibility mode and when Mint desktop opens I try installing mint.

I see the following error:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BytuJ ... lDZlp3b2VJ
It says that the computer has only 4 GB.

I check the free disk space and don't see the drive where Windows is installed.


I was under the impression i could choose the drive and overwrite Mint on the C drive (where my windows is currently installed). What am I doing wrong?

Do I need to make a partition and proceed?

[Pierre]

is the machine currently running win-10 ?
as you may have to do a little preparatory work:
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=163126
that's written for win-8x, but does apply to win-10 as well.

have a close look at the section called Preparing Windows for the Linux Installation:
- yes , that's written for a dual_boot system, and it's not that different if you wish to erase the Windows System itself.

[Spearmint2]

Why did you choose compatibility mode?

[mankey365]

No particular reason for the compatibility mode. I tried with the normal mode and had the same outcome.

@Pierre - I did the preparatory work - disabled secure boot, disabled fast start up and a partition on the main C drive. But the linux installation can't seem to find the new partition. Is it because the partition is NTFS and not FAT?

[Spearmint2]

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=163126#p847875

Take a look at this, make sure you are doing a complete reboot, or cold reboot.

[Spearmint2]

Don't you have to add the new drive into the UEFI BIOS before it can be used? Have to make it available? You could try running the efibootmgr program. Check to see if it's installed.

Code: Select all

aptitude show efibootmgr

[mankey365]

How do you add the new partition into the UEFI BIOS before it can be used? This should be done from Windows right?

Are you suggesting using efibootmgr for the above? Again, this should be done from Windows?

I was doing a cold reboot.

[Spearmint2]

efibootmgr is a linux program.