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Ubuntu was running no problems on this laptop before I attempted a reinstall. I simply want a standard default install, no dual-boot.

During installation bootloader failed to install. I continued without a bootloader hoping to install grub from the live cd afterwards (i hoped boot-repair would work). I am confused by the /dev/mapper I keep being greeted with. For example sudo fdisk -l returns

 ~ $ sudo fdisk -l
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: invalid flag 0x91e6 of partition table 5 will be corrected by w(rite)

Disk /dev/sda: 64.0 GB, 64023257088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7783 cylinders, total 125045424 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00028cbd

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *         512      500223      249856   83  Linux
/dev/sda2          500734   250081791   124790529    5  Extended
/dev/sda5   ?  1454279609  3201150582   873435487   b7  BSDI fs

Disk /dev/sdb: 64.0 GB, 64023257088 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7783 cylinders, total 125045424 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0: 128.0 GB, 128041877504 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 15566 cylinders, total 250081792 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 131072 bytes / 262144 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00028cbd

                              Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p1   *         512      500223      249856   83  Linux
/dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p2          500734   250081791   124790529    5  Extended
Partition 2 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p5          500736   250081791   124790528   8e  Linux LVM

Disk /dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p1: 255 MB, 255852544 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 31 cylinders, total 499712 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 131072 bytes / 262144 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p1 doesn't contain a valid partition table
fdisk: unable to read /dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0p2: Inappropriate ioctl for device

Boot-repair returns the following boot-repair report http://paste2.org/cN9Zs1ad

Here is a link to a screenshot of my gparted.

Thank you for any help. I have spent several days to try to resolve this now!

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  • I am using live USB, if I boot without it I just get a blank black screen flashing cursor.
    – Sav-econ
    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:24
  • Are you trying to install cinnamon? Dec 30, 2014 at 11:27
  • Yes. Thank you for any help :-). (And previously i was running 14.04)
    – Sav-econ
    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:29
  • I would recommend booting from a live cd and removing all partitions, effectively wiping your entire hard drive. Then try the Installation again. Remember that ppa's for Ubuntu do not necessarily work with Mint. I don't know if boot-repair is supported on Mint. Dec 30, 2014 at 11:31
  • Thank you. Could you direct me to some instructions on how to do this. I know how yo bring up the partitions in gparted. I also know if i boot the live usb (no cd on vaio z) i can choose the install option with a manual install.
    – Sav-econ
    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:33

2 Answers 2

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If you just want a clean install, I would recommend booting from a live cd and removing all partitions, effectively wiping your entire hard drive. Then try the Installation again.

Remember that ppa's for Ubuntu do not necessarily work with Mint. I don't know if boot-repair is supported on Mint.

How to delete partitions using gparted

  1. Start gparted from a live cd ("try ubuntu" mode)
  2. Select the correct device (physical hard drive) in the right upper corner

enter image description here

  1. Click(top menu) on Device > Create Partition Table
  2. Select MSDos or GPT and click apply (you might get a warning about not being able to inform the kernel)

enter image description here

  1. Reboot and start the installer.
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  • I plan to follow this advice--yes i just want a fresh install. I am not sure how i can wipe partitions before reinstalling. Do you mean by choosing the manual partition install option when i boot from live USB?
    – Sav-econ
    Dec 30, 2014 at 11:36
  • I will add instructions please be patient :) Dec 30, 2014 at 11:39
  • Do these instructions help you? Dec 30, 2014 at 11:55
  • Thank you. I would add that in the upper right corner where you have /dev/sda I have /dev/mapper/isw_ciehbafdfa_Volume0 (119.25 GiB) then there is /dev/sda (59.63 GiB) then /dev/sdb (59.63 GiB) then /dev/sdc (1.87 GiB) which I understand is my live USB. The first one isw... is the only one with partitions on it. This is what has been confusing me as all advice I find refers to /dev/sda. So should I create partition table on the first one 119.25GiB.
    – Sav-econ
    Dec 30, 2014 at 12:11
  • What I understand from your comment is that you have two physical drives (/dev/sdb and /dev/sdc) that are acting like they are one (/dev/mapper/isw_...). Maybe as a raid? Dec 30, 2014 at 12:19
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galgalesh's instructions worked for me. A couple of points to add. In gparted I selected each of the drives /dev/mapper /dev/sda and /dev/sdb (not sdc as this is the live usb I believe) and then did step 3 create partition table. Once I had done this i tried to reinstall but it failed. However I rebooted and tried the reinstall and it worked OK. I was presented with a different screen on the reinstall after I chose the erase everything option I was asked whether i wanted to install on sda or sdb i didnt get this screen in the past. I chose sda and it went through the install process.

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