I am using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. I was trying to install Windows8 but at the partition selection I get this error "
We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing partition
But I had installed windows several times from this media before and it worked fine. I think I am getting this error because I have Ubuntu 12.04 already. I want to dual boot with windows 8. How can I achieve that?
Installing Windows
Step 1) Using gparted from the Ubuntu live cd make an ntfs partition.
Step 2) Install windows 8 at this point you will lose the ability to get into ubuntu.
Live CD automatic repair
Step 3) Insert your Ubuntu CD, reboot your computer and set it to boot from CD in the BIOS and boot into a live session. You can also use a LiveUSB if you have created one in the past.
Step 4) Install and run Boot-Repair
Step 5) Click "Recommended Repair".
Step 6) Reboot your system. The usual GRUB boot menu should appear. If it does not, hold Left Shift while booting. You will be able to choose between Ubuntu and Windows.
Using Terminal to restore GRUB
Step 3) Open a terminal either from the menu or use the Keyboard Shortcut: CTRL + ALT + T.
Step 4) in the terminal type
sudo grub-install /dev/XXX
where XXX is the device of your Ubuntu install. (eg: grub-install /dev/sdb). Hint: You can also use /dev/disk/by-label/ if the partition you installed on has a label. You can determine the /dev node for such a device by running:
ls -l /dev/disk/by-label/
This will give the output of something like:
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 data -> ../../sdb2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 data2 -> ../../sda2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 fat -> ../../sda6
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 home -> ../../sda7
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 root -> ../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 swap -> ../../sda5
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Oct 16 10:27 windows -> ../../sdb1
You can also use fdisk if you do not see the /dev/disk/by-label:
$ sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0001bc54
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 18725 150403072 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 18725 19458 5884929 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 18725 19458 5884928 82 Linux swap / Solaris
From here, find only the drive name, ignore the partition number, that is, for partitions labeled "root", "data2", "fat", "home" and "swap" it's all still just sda. This is due to the fact that GRUB is installed in the MBR of the drive, and not on a partition.
Trouble? If other things are messed up, e.g. if you have deleted the partition from where Grub was previously installed, grub-install may return an error message such as "cannot find a device for /... (is /dev mounted?)". You may have to do grub-install a bit differently. Refer to the handy guide on fixing a broken system
Now reboot your system. The usual GRUB boot menu should appear. If it does not, hold Left Shift while booting. You will be able to choose between Ubuntu and Windows.
source - https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows
