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Gparted and Mint installer do not see Windows partitions

Tags:
  • Windows
  • Windows 7
  • Dual Boot
  • Linux Mint
  • Installer
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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August 17, 2014 4:46:52 PM

I've been trying to dual boot windows 7 and Linux Mint 17, both 64bit.

I currently have Windows 7 installed, and I have shrunk its partition, leaving ~60GB unallocated space. (I'm using an SSD, doubt that makes a difference).

When I boot onto the usb (Mint 17), I can see my partitions by going to "Computer". Upon running Gparted, my SSD shows as unallocated, showing no partitions, or even the existence of Windows.

When I try running the Mint 17 installer, I don't get the option to install alongside Windows (which isn't the method I was going to use). Upon selecting the final option, the installer also shows my SSD as unallocated.

Here's a link to some screenshots that pretty much sum everything up:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6m3ox2jg6mo2oe1/AABV-s1PWOi8...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

More about : gparted mint installer windows partitions

August 17, 2014 5:01:33 PM

In windows, put the 60GB unallocated space back into your main partition. Boot back into mint and then try to shrink the partition in Gparted. Make sure it has root privelages (type: sudo gparted in a terminal). Then try to shrink the main partition in Gparted. It's strange that it's not showing up in the installer.
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August 17, 2014 5:12:28 PM

speud said:
In windows, put the 60GB unallocated space back into your main partition. Boot back into mint and then try to shrink the partition in Gparted. Make sure it has root privelages (type: sudo gparted in a terminal). Then try to shrink the main partition in Gparted. It's strange that it's not showing up in the installer.


I've extended my Windows partition back to using the full drive (Minus the 100MB of required space). But it's still showing up as unallocated in Gparted, meaning I'd have to format the drive to do anything with it, and that would remove all my Windows files (and partition). I also forgot to mention (but I included the screenshot) that when I run Gparted I get the following error/message:

"/dev/sda contains GPT signatures, indicating that it has a GPT table. However, it does not have a valid fake msdos partition table as it should. Perhaps it was corrupted -- possibly by a program that doesn't understand GPT partition tables. Or perhaps you deleted the DPT table, and are now using an msdos partition table. Is this a GPT partition table?"

Selecting yes or no deliver the same result of showing the drive as unallocated.
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August 17, 2014 5:22:20 PM

Strange, did you mess around with the Master Boot Record? You an try repairing the MBR. Inside windows, download a program called EasyBCD. Open it up, click Bootloader Setup, select windows 7 and write MBR. Reboot into mint and see if that fixes it.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/easybcd,1.html
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August 17, 2014 5:39:46 PM

speud said:
Strange, did you mess around with the Master Boot Record? You an try repairing the MBR. Inside windows, download a program called EasyBCD. Open it up, click Bootloader Setup, select windows 7 and write MBR. Reboot into mint and see if that fixes it.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/easybcd,1.html


I don't recall touching the MBR at all, but I tried this anyway, still no change =/
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Best solution

August 17, 2014 5:46:48 PM

Ok I think I got it
In mint type: sudo apt-get install gdisks
Then type: fixparts /dev/sda
It should ask for Y or N. type Y and hit enter. That should fix it. You had a broken GPT table somehow leftover on the drive. Now the installer should find your partition.
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August 17, 2014 5:58:07 PM

Thanks a ton! I've been trying different things all weekend, and this finally fixed it! Now I can actually put some time into learning Linux and slowly moving away from Windows.
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August 17, 2014 6:05:06 PM

AdamA7X said:
Thanks a ton! I've been trying different things all weekend, and this finally fixed it! Now I can actually put some time into learning Linux and slowly moving away from Windows.


Good luck. I switched too recently and I'm finding it a lot of fun learning new stuff.
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