In the process of installing Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop AMD64, I will edit this post with results.


Chose english language, and connected it to my wifi. now continuing with the installation.


*POPUP*


"This computer currently has windows vista on it. what would you like to do?

* Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Vista

* Replace windows Vista with Ubuntu

* Something else


Chose the first option


EDIT: Select Drive: SCS1 (0,0,0) (sda) - 250.01GB ATA Hitachi HTS54252 - 98.1gb.

(this is a drop down list, and that is the only option^)


Install Now - Chosen.


*POPUP*



"Write Previous changes to disk and continue?

Before you can select a new partition size, any previous changes have to be written to disk.

You cannot undo this.

"Go back or Continue."

Continue - Chosen


EDIT: Ubuntu gave me the option to import my previous files from windows vista, i selected the main hard drive (for me it was C:/)


EDIT: installation complete. now restarting the computer.


EDIT: All of my previous files are now onto Ubuntu, but they cannot be used due to the fact that ubuntu is incapable of running .exe files.

Hard drives are right easy to install, but I think the error with 7 and 8 was with how the drive was setup, ie ACHP or whatever.

Are you sure the laptop was not in 2 partions? Windows and a data drive? I'd assume it would have been an even split, so as you had 179Gig, I'm rethinking that.

Are you using a recover partion, hard disk or cd/dvd for Vista?

Good luck, but i think ubuntu is doing it okay, so it seems your drive is good.

@Patonb im using a recovery tool that I had named in one of my previous posts.

After that, I just created a bootable USB with ubuntu and did the installation.

This is a good temporary fix, but I want to install to windows 7 and delete the other systems sometime in the future.

EDIT: Ubuntu is pretty slow/laggy, and seems to freeze often. not sure if my laptop is the cause or if its that way for everyone. (The software app store kind of thing crashes often)

DOUBLE EDIT: If i mark this as solved, will I still be able to post in this thread?

Yes you can mark it solved and post. Ill mark it unsolved if appropriate.

Hi again.

Tried booting into windows now, since I can't even run a .exe file on ubuntu.

"Windows failed to start.. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause."

To fix the problem:

1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, then click next.
3. click "repair your computer"

Status: 0xc000000f (6 zero's)

Info: the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

EDIT:

Ran normally, gives this error

a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

if this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. if this screen appears again, follow these steps.

check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. if this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for nay windows updates you might need.

if problems continue disable or remove any newly installed hardware.

or software. disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. if yo u need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer. press f8 to select advanced startup options: and then select safe mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x000000ED (6 zero's) (0x87BF04F8, 0xC0000185, QX00000000 (8 zero's), 0x00000000 (8 zero's)

This thread: Solved Computer not ACPI compliant - Windows 7 Forums I believe is your issue with 7 and 8.

I think that may be the answer.. I'll get started on it once I get home tonight.

Although it wasn't the same problem as mine, the steps it took to fix his problem looks like it might work for me.

Here are some links that I'll need to repair this.

1)

Solved Computer not ACPI compliant - Windows 7 Forums

2)

DISKPART : At PC Startup - Windows 7 Forums

3)

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums


EDIT: I don't think that I have to all of that just yet! I found out that I was trying to install 64bit windows 7 on a 32bit system.. now im about to try again using the proper 32bit install.

Well I guess it wasnt the fault of my installation disk, as that worked in my other netbook and upgraded smoothly.

I put it in the installation USB and it took over 9 hours in the first "setup is loading" screen before i turned it off.

EDIT: I guess in a way, Ubuntu solved it.. I'll mark this as solved and start another thread with my new problem