Score:0

repeated "non-system disk" error after installs, formats and partitions but can still see and write to disk via LiveUSB

er flag
olc

I installed Ubuntu, and keep getting a "non-system disk".I had a couple of different flavors of Ubuntu installed, checking them out, and they all ran fine.

Then I got fancy and decided to install two flavors, and I tried to partition it in advance.

Prolly not relevant: I don't recall the exact config for the partitioning before the problem first happened, but I think it was in this vein: 1gb or mb free before first just cuz was default, 16gb (maybe for swap? maybe just ext4?), 40gb ext4 or dos, 40gbext4, rest free), tho that probably isn't relevant since I've since reformatted and repartitioned it a ton since.

Since then, I've tried a ton of suggested fixes via LiveUSB boot based on searching on the error message, but same result.  Didn't keep a log, but I've tried every variation I could think of pre-wiping disk, various formatting schemes, trying to misc installs by "erase disk and install" and alongside, etc. 

I've tried installing Linux Lite, as well as four flavors of Ubuntu, lubuntu, x, std, and one other.The installs all appear to work fine, and I can see the installs on the disk when I re-boot to a LiveUSB.

I'm able to boot a LiveUSB and see and reformat and repartition the hard disk, and I can read/write to the hard disk after booting the the LiveUSB.

I feel like I somehow corrupted the mbr or something and none of the partitioning and formatting is overwriting it, but what do I know..

Thanks a bunch for any suggestions.

:)Ben

oldfred avatar
cn flag
UEFI or BIOS installs? Only Ubuntu & official flavors supported here, so Linux Lite is off topic. Last install is in control of boot and that must match default boot mode set in UEFI/BIOS. Most systems are UEFI, so installer should be booted in UEFI mode. From Ubuntu live installer: Please copy & paste the pastebin link to the BootInfo summary report ( do not post report), do not run the auto fix till reviewed. Use ppa version (2nd option) or any working install, not older Boot-Repair ISO https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair & https://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair/home/Home/
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