I'm attempting to install Ubuntu 12.04LTS, 64 bit onto a Dell Inspiron 15R laptop. I've shrunk down one of the windows partitions and even used gparted to format the vacant space as ext4.

However, the install disk simply does not present any options when it comes to the partitioning step. What I get is a non-responsive blank table

As well as the above, I've changed the BIOS settings so that USB emulation is disabled (as per Can't install on Dell Inspiron 15R), and changed the SATA Operation setting to all three possible options.

Anyway, the install CD will bring up the trial version of ubuntu, and if I open terminal and type sudo fdisk -l, I get this:

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb4fd9215

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1              63       80324       40131   de  Dell Utility
Partition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda2   *       81920    29044735    14481408    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        29044736  1005142015   488048640    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4      1005154920  1953520064   474182572+  83  Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 32.0 GB, 32017047552 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3892 cylinders, total 62533296 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: 0xb4fd923d

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1            2048    16775167     8386560   84  OS/2 hidden C: drive

If I type 'sudo parted -l', I get:

Model: ATA WDC WD10JPVT-75A (scsi) Disk /dev/sda: 1000GB Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags 1 32.3kB 41.1MB 41.1MB primary fat16 diag 2 41.9MB 14.9GB 14.8GB primary ntfs boot 3 14.9GB 515GB 500GB primary ntfs 4 515GB 1000GB 486GB primary ext4

Model: ATA SAMSUNG SSD PM83 (scsi) Disk /dev/sdb: 32.0GB Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags 1 1049kB 8589MB 8588MB primary

Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sr0 has been opened read-only. Error: Can't have a partition outside the disk!

I've also tried a Kubuntu 12.04 and Linuxmint install disks, wityh the same problem.

I'm completely lost here.

Cheers,

Kieran