Can't choose to install LL besides the existing OSs

[Jonas]

Hello, friends.

When I run the installation program after I booted LinuxLite via USB, I cannot choose then to install this OS besides the other two which are already installed. The only options shown me is to erase the Lubuntu OS and install LinuxLite, to erase all and install LL or to do "something else [setting partitions and so on]".
So why can't I install LL for Dual-Boot as I did already with Lubuntu?

Another issue: The keyboard is messed by dealing with LL started via USB. I use a netbook and it seems like, the numpad has assigned to regular buttons on the keyboard. So pushing "j k l" I get "1 2 3", pushing "u i o" I get "4 5 6" and so on.

I'd be glad if you could help me.

[Jonas]

Btw, it is (quite an old) Samsung NC10 netbook with Windows 7 OS and, as mentioned, Lubuntu.
Processor Intel Atom.

[Valtam]

For the keyboard issue try Fn + Numlock or Fn + one of the F1 - F12 keys.

[gold_finger]

Sorry, I don't have time right now to search for possible solutions to the keyboard issue, so can only direct you to use this search engine to look up possible info on that (and any other Linux-related questions):  Linux Beginner Search Engine.

As for install issue, it's best to have some unpartitioned, free space on the drive to install to before starting the installation.  Chances are that all space currently on the drive is being accounted for by partitions already there.  You'll likely need to shrink one or more of them to make room for the LL installation.  After shrinking, if you want the "Install along side" option you need to leave the resulting free space unpartitioned.  If you create partitions for LL ahead of time, then you would use the "Something else" option and choose them on the following page.  There you will need to set the mount points and file system format as well.  If you want the grub boot loader of LL to take over booting responsibilities, then leave the default destination for bootloader installation as it is at /dev/sda.  (NOTE:  if you do the "Install along side" option, it will automatically put grub on /dev/sda and LL will be in charge of booting computer.)

If you don't want LL to control booting, then set the installation of the bootloader to the same partition you designate for "/" (root).  You'll then have to boot into Lubuntu and run sudo update-grub in a terminal to add the LL boot choice.  (If Windows is still running the booting (with EasyBCD), then add it to the boot choice there.)

If you are unsure how to proceed or want advice on best way to adjust partitions, boot into Lubuntu and take a GParted screenshot of the hard drive.  Post that back here for us to look at.  Also post back with the output of the following terminal commands.  (Note:  I don't know if the inxi command is present in Lubuntu.  If it's not, then don't bother with the command.)

Code:

lsblk

Code:

sudo fdisk -l

(That's a lowercase "L" at the end.)

Code:

inxi -Fxz

[N4RPS]

Hello!

Yes, it IS always best to use the Partition Editor in the LiveCD (GPartEd) to shrink and/or move your current partitions around to make room for the Linux Lite install, then create those partitions BEFORE you run Ubiquity (the installer). There, you can select 'something else' and choose exactly where to put the install in that portion of the installer that calls GPartEd. Not saying you will, mind you, but people who don't pre-plan their installs have wiped out what they had to begin with...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[Jonas]

Sorry for the late reply and thank you so far.

Valtam's hint worked out.

Screenshot's attached.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Jonas]

I try now to get space for new partitions with gparted and try again installing it after. Let's see if it works out.

[gold_finger]

The current partitions are using entire disk.  Your biggest partition is /dev/sda1, the Windows partition.  If the partition is not filled with data, you can shrink that by 20-30GB to make room for the LL installation.  Boot into Windows and defragment the drive (likely called "C: drive" in Windows) first.  Then shrink the drive using Windows disk management tools if possible.  Don't create any partitions in that resulting free space with Windows.  After shrinking, reboot into Windows again to let it make any necessary adjustments to the new size.

I think your best bet after doing the above is to start the installer and choose the "Something else" option at the "Installation Type" screen.  On following page, highlight the free space, click "Add" (or "+" sign) to make a new partition.  The partition type can be "Primary"; choose Ext4 file system type; Mount Point = "/" (root); size = whatever size of free space is.  You don't have to do anything about Swap -- the LL installation will use the same swap partition that you already have on the drive.

Near bottom of same partitioning window it will ask for "Device for bootloader installation"?  It will be pre-filled with /dev/sda.  Like I said before, if you want LL to control booting, then leave it as it is.  If you want Lubuntu to remain in control then change that /dev/sda to the root partition that you just set up.  In that case, you need to run sudo update-grub in Lubuntu to add the LL choice.

If at some point you decide to eliminate which ever Linux is in control of booting, you need to transfer control of booting to the other one before deleting anything.  Otherwise you will lose ability to boot system if you delete controlling OS.  Don't worry about that now -- just giving you a heads-up for later if the need arises.

[Jonas]

Well, I got new space by gparted. I left Windows its minimum of 40 gigs which it insists on and set the rest (80 gigs) free.

So I did then what you advised me to but when I pushed the install button, it told me that there is no SWAP partition assigned and that it is totally recommended and so on but I could proceed even without. I got back and saw in my screenshot that sda6 is called SWAP and assigned manually sda6 to the SWAP. Now it installs. Keeping fingers crossed XX 

[Jonas]

Unfortunately, LL hung up during installation. I restarted, and for some reason then, at the next launching of the install program, the option to install LL besides the exitsitng OS showed up. Then it told me to assign unpartioned space and I did. But unfortunately, also this installation process was finally not successful.
No clue what is going on here. I have to say, that I didn't do gold_finger's instruction to "prepare" the disk on Windows (defragging and so on) but I do not really believe that this should be a big problem.

Well, my last step was, to delete the partion of Lubuntu becuase I recalled that Lubuntu was the only of the three Linux distributions (manjaro, Lubuntu, LinuxLite) which gave the option to install it besides Windows. So I wanted to get rid of Lubuntu and check if without it, the other dists would work.
Well, by that I couldn't start anymore because Lubuntu's start menu didn't manage anymore booting so I couldn't even start windows then. But I considered a collapse of the hard disk which I had the impression was already very messy anyway, so that was fine. So I will erase everything now and start from the very beginning (deleting all partitions and reinstalling Windows).

I will try installing LL after again.

Btw, I saw that some partions were locked. Did that the LL installation program?