Installation stuck at "Creating ext4 file system"

Question

I would like to ask for assistance in the following installation problem.

Here I choose the option Erase disk and install Ubuntu and next Continue on Writing the changes to the disk? dialog.

The problem is that when the installation is in that status, there is no progress and the installation cannot be completed.

If there is another option I should follow, please let me know. I remain at your disposal for more details.

I would like to edit the question, adding two more photos to ask for more instructions.

In this photo is the initial screen when I run GParted.

When I click on Device, and then Create Partition table, I have the following message and I cannot continue.

Could you advice how much should be the size of the partitions? My disk capacity is 300 GB and the memory is 2 GB. When I try to create the new partitions I have the following error:

Thank you in advance,
Nikos

cl-netbox · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-06T09:57:26.197

5

Boot from Ubuntu installation media.
Select 'Try Ubuntu without installing'.

Open GParted -> press the Windows key and type GParted.
Open GParted and delete all partitions you find on the disk.

Create a new partition - format it with ext4 - a size that fits your needs.
Create a new partition - format it with swap - a size matching the RAM.

On the desktop click Install Ubuntu, when asked choose Something else.
Select the ext4 partition you had created with GParted for Ubuntu before.
Select / as mount point and ext4 file system as format - start the installation.

Update addressing your comment that you receive errors and cannot create partitions :

Open GParted - click on Ignore.
Click on Device on the top menu.
Now click on Create Partition Table.
Select gpt when you have UEFI BIOS.
Select msdos when you have legacy BIOS.
Now you can create new partitions on the disk.

Update addressing your comment that you receive an error partition is currently active :

Screenshot shows that the swap partition is mounted.
Right-click the partition sda5 and click on Swapoff.
Right-click the partition sda2 and click Unmount.
In case it is not possible from Ubuntu media,
do it with the original GParted Live media.

edited Mar 06 '16 at 09:57

answered Mar 01 '16 at 17:55

cl-netbox

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Thank you, I tried but was not possible to create a new partition. Now, I have the error "Libparted Bug found!" "input/output error during write on /dev/sda" and as options Retry, Cancel, Ignore. – Nikos Mar 03 '16 at 20:32
I am sorry but i still cannot complete the installation. I open the GParted and I delete the partitions, but when I clink on Create Partition Table I have another error message "1 partition is currently active on device/dev/sda". Do you know how I could upload pictures of the steps? Do I need to create a new question? – Nikos Mar 06 '16 at 08:54
Was the disk mounted? – Mohit Rajan Mar 06 '16 at 09:37
I edited again the question with another photo, because I have another error. – Nikos Mar 08 '16 at 17:20
@Nikos : Please create the partitions with GParted before installing Ubuntu, then choose Something else and select the ext4 partition you created before for Ubuntu ... just do everything exactly as described. :) – cl-netbox Mar 08 '16 at 17:36
could you advice how much size should be the partition ? and how much time it normally takes to create? – Nikos Mar 08 '16 at 20:21
@Nikos : I made a Q&A that explains everything in a detailed way -> http://askubuntu.com/questions/743095/how-to-prepare-a-disk-on-an-efi-based-pc-for-ubuntu/743098#743098 - For Ubuntu I recommend a minimum of 20 GB - for Swap a size matching the RAM. Creating new partitions does only take seconds ... :) – cl-netbox Mar 08 '16 at 20:43
there should be something wrong on my disk... it took about 30 minutes to create the ext4 partition and I received an error when I tried to create the swap partition – Nikos Mar 08 '16 at 21:34
@Nikos : This most likely seems to be the case ... you can try one alternative : Click on Device and create a new partition table, select mbr when you have a legacy BIOS, select gpt when you have an EFI based BIOS, then create the new partitions ... if you still receive errors, you unfortunately should replace the disk. :) – cl-netbox Mar 09 '16 at 08:45
I selected gpt, but I still have very long time to create a new partition... If I buy an SDD hard disk would be a problem with Ubuntu? I am still planning to install the Ubuntu from the USB. – Nikos Mar 09 '16 at 18:37
@Nikos : Select gpt when your PC has UEFi BIOS, select mbr when your PC has legacy BIOS (in this case you do not need the fat32 efi partition) ... and of course it is no problem to install Ubuntu on a SSD ! :) – cl-netbox Mar 09 '16 at 18:47
how could I know if the PC has UEFi BIOS or legacy BIOS ? – Nikos Mar 09 '16 at 18:54
@Nikos : When the PC is quite new, has the Secure Boot feature and came with Windows 8 or 10, it most probably has UEFI BIOS ... in case it is an older PC (what it looks like in your screenshots - because of the extended partition shown there) and came with Windows 7 or earlier, it most likely has legacy BIOS. :) – cl-netbox Mar 09 '16 at 19:04
I try one more time and i would like to ask for your support. I select Device and then Create New Partition table but then there is no option "mbr". The available options are: aix, amiga, bsd, dvh, gpt, mac, msdos, pc98, sun and loop. Do you know which option should I choose? – Nikos Mar 10 '16 at 16:59
@Nikos : When you have legacy BIOS, select msdos (that is for mbr), when you have UEFI BIOS select gpt. :) – cl-netbox Mar 10 '16 at 17:10
I still have error – Nikos Mar 10 '16 at 17:25
@Nikos : I am very sorry about this ... unfortunately I am running out of ideas ... most probably the disk is damaged ... but before you buy a new disk, please tell me what PC you have and how old it is, so that I can recommend the best option for you. :) – cl-netbox Mar 10 '16 at 17:37
thank you very much, what information you would like from the PC? and how can i find them? – Nikos Mar 10 '16 at 17:41
@Nikos : Producer (e.g. DELL) - Model (e.g. Insprion) and age of the PC ... :) – cl-netbox Mar 10 '16 at 17:44
the age is between 5 and 10 years, there is no identification of producer or model, the processor is Pentium dual-core CPU E5200@ 2.50 GHz – Nikos Mar 10 '16 at 17:52
@Nikos : Thank you for the information ... my recommendation : do not spend any money for a new disk ... better buy a new PC. :) – cl-netbox Mar 10 '16 at 17:55
but the disk will cost about 70 euro while the new PC will cost more than 400 euro... – Nikos Mar 10 '16 at 17:57
1

I would like to inform you that I bought a new disk and the installation completed properly. Thanks again for your support. – Nikos Mar 14 '16 at 17:10

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 14 '16 at 08:34

Make USB bootable and open ubuntu in try ubuntu mode. Open -> Gparted select the partition in which you want to install ubuntu. if it is already unallocated right click on that partition to create a new partion.

-> select partition type as ext4
-> create partition

Now your problem where you were stuck.

-> while installing Ubuntu
    -> select something else
    -> select the partition in which you want to install Ubuntu double click it
    -> select mount point as /

and follow rest installation steps its done

Installation stuck at "Creating ext4 file system"

2 Answers2