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I have recently attempted to install ubuntu on my laptop, replacing windows 7.

The HDD was working fine with windows 7.

On my first attempt to install ubuntu it kept giving me an error that was saying it could not create the partitions needed for the installation.

I then tried to manually delete all the partitions that were on the HDD and then attempt the installation. Then it started saying that it could not create the ext4 file system.

So, then i tried deleting partitions again and found out that i had a bad superblock. So, then i tried the suggestions in this link. This did not solve the superblock problem.

So, then i used mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda to try and just format the whole drive. Everything seemed fine, and then the installation failed. It said it was unable to create the partitions again.

I am on the live cd and gparted does not detect any HDD any more.

I need to get ubuntu installed on this HDD. Can someone please assist me in getting this HDD to work again.

Let me know if you need any further details. Thanks!

Output from sudo fdisk -l:

fdisk: unable to read /dev/sdc: Input/output error

prolink007
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1 Answers1

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@prolink007 I did some reading regarding your problem and I found out that left over GPT data on the hard drive confuses GParted. SO, in order to fix the issue you have to use GPT fdisk aka gdisk try the following steps which might help. 

 1. Boot into Gparted and go to counsel    

 2. Type "gdisk /dev/sda" (change "/dev/sda" to whatever is appropriate to access your hard disk,
     if necessary). you can use gdisk -l to print out the info needed

 3. The program is likely to complain that it's found both MBR and GPT data, and will ask which 
    to use. It doesn't matter which you tell it to use.

 4. At the "Command" prompt, type "x" to enter the experts' menu.

 5. At the "Expert command" prompt, type "z" to "zap" (destroy) the GPT data.

 6. Type "y" in response to the confirmation about destroying the GPT.

 7. Type "n" in response to the query about blanking the MBR.

Hope this fix the issue. Let me now

WeloSefer
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