Not sure if this is the right place to ask or if anyone can help me, but today, I installed the ubuntu ISO & converted it to a bootable format on an 128GB SD card (All my USBs are too small) I ran the installer as normal & here’s where I think I messed up. I allocated a 27GB partition for linux but that option didnt apper on the installer upon being asked where to install to. Thinking nothing of it, I ran the installer clicking on the install to drive option & halfway through it failed saying something like Error16 Drive is busy & the installation was only half done. now on attempt to restart windows is completely gone & all I can do is boot up a very fragmented Ubuntu without internet & firefox works very slowly. If anyone can help, then it’s appreciated. I’ve always wanted to try Linux & just got an SD card large enough to do it, but now this happens.

  • Tramort@programming.dev
    0·
    5 months ago

    You’re getting good advice here.

    “Bricking” though normally means turning a software problem into a hardware problem. You just have a software problem, which is infinitely easier to fix.

    Don’t fret.

  • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
    0·
    5 months ago

    You removed Windows. Not sure why Ubuntu is slow, but that may be because of snaps.

    The internet issue may also be just because of missing drivers.

    Please test if it works on a live USB or SD (I guess, never used an SD Card) before.

    And yes, Windows installer is notorious for removing Linux, so install Windows again, then inside of Windows use their shitty partition manager and shrink the big storage partition, then install Linux in there

    • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
      0·
      5 months ago

      Note that I dont recommend Ubuntu as they got pretty shitty. They theme the desktop environment GNOME a lot, and everybody hates their Snap package system. Instead I highly recommend Fedora, which is a less opinionated distro.

      I also dont recommend dual booting with Windows, as you should never update Windows again, which is a security risk. The updater often removes the Linux bootloader and you need to unbreak that.

      • Ezek@sopuli.xyzOP
        0·
        5 months ago

        I will try another Disto if I can. I restored windows too. Are there other, safer methods to do this if I only have one SSD. Also, If I do reinstall how do I tell the installer specifically which partition to use

        • boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net
          0·
          5 months ago

          Shrink the main NTFS storage partition of Windows.

          This will be empty space.

          Install into empty space.

          Never used Ubuntus installer but Fedoras installer should work fine. Just dont delete anything

  • Eheran@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    I agree, if the data loss is no issue and there is no need to recover anything, just start from scratch.

  • chi-chan~@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 months ago

    Install Windows again, then install Linux.

    Windows is annoying with it’s bootloader, but when you have separate drive, it would be way smoother experience.

    • Fonzie!@ttrpg.network
      0·
      5 months ago

      Or better yet:

      • Run the live Linux environment, run gparted, wipe every partition of the disk
      • Reinstall Windows, wiping everything
      • Launch Windows, launch dskmng, shrink Windows by the needed amount (having another OS shrink it might break it)
      • Reinstall Linux, it should offer to install alongside the other system if there’s enough space