Solved! Cannot boot OS on Inspiron 11 3162/3164

Sidebar Sidebar
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560
My problem is a Dell laptop with a soldered SSD and RAM, I cannot change the SSD. The computer's bios doesnt detect the integrated SSD anymore, but booting into Ubuntu lets me see the SSD. So its a corrupt MBR. Can this be repaired?.
 
Solution
M
I have found the solution after going through a grueling process of unlocking the LVM volume using an Ubuntu Live CD, then formatting the SSD MMC using the same CD, to NTFS.

Afterwards I flashed the BIOS, and then used a Dell OS Recovery Tool to restore it to it's factory settings.

Now its working again. I learned my lesson, and that is to not install Ubuntu on such a newer machine like this that uses UEFI (which is a new technology that is INCREDIBLY annoying).

Thanks anyways for the help, hope this helps someone else in a similar position.
Sort by date Sort by votes
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560


I just booted into an Ubuntu LiveCD, and I noticed that with the use of the "Disks" program, or even "Gparted", I cannot delete the volume.

I read somewhere on Google that the drive may be an "LVM" formatted drive, and needs to be deactivated using a command line, in order to unlock it and delete the partition.

I still cant find instructions on how to do that yet.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ironsounds

Ironsounds

Distinguished
Jul 31, 2011
510
0
19,260
Hello... will this help?
https://askubuntu.com/questions/277399/how-to-unlock-partition-in-gparted

"If partitions are showed with a lock in gparted, then they are mounted. Usually GPartEd is able to unmount them, but sometimes this isn't possible, so you have to manually unmount them with the following commands as root:
•umount /dev/sda1
•umount /dev/sda5

If you aren't logged in as root (root normally has '#' at the end of the command prompt whereas a normal user usually has '$'). You need to add sudo in front of the commands."
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560


If I could be root while running Ubuntu off of a Live CD than I could do these commands. Is this possible?, thanks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560


i cannot unlock the LVM partition if I am not a ROOT user. As far as I am concerned I cant become ROOT while running Ubuntu off the Live CD.

The only progress I've made so far is that I have successfully started installing Ubuntu on another HDD so that I hopefully will be able to become ROOT while actually booted into Ubuntu, will update my progress in a couple of hours.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ironsounds

Ironsounds

Distinguished
Jul 31, 2011
510
0
19,260
Hello... Ok that sounds like a good plan.

If you want a basic Disk formatting tools in/for MS-DOS FAT32 mode.

1) take a USB sick and plug it in a Windows OS computer
2) right Usb drive and "format" FAT32 click 'make bootable-add basic MS-dos to stick"
3) now you should have a Bootable Usb stick with basic format commands and other basic drive commands.

here is command list https://www.computerhope.com/overview.htm

fdisk C:\ will do Partition operations create-delete
format C:\ will do Partition formatting
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560


I appreciate that advice but those tools cannot unlock an "LVM Partition" can they?. This is an Ubuntu feature that only Linux can unlock I think. I wasn't the one that chose LVM during the very first Ubuntu install in the first place, that was my mom.

Anyways, Ubuntu is installing on a separate 500GB HDD, so hopefully I will be able to unlock the LVM partition using a command line from Terminal while logged in as Root, will update this thread in a few minutes. Thanks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
M

mynameisjoe1

Estimable
May 8, 2015
16
0
4,560
I have found the solution after going through a grueling process of unlocking the LVM volume using an Ubuntu Live CD, then formatting the SSD MMC using the same CD, to NTFS.

Afterwards I flashed the BIOS, and then used a Dell OS Recovery Tool to restore it to it's factory settings.

Now its working again. I learned my lesson, and that is to not install Ubuntu on such a newer machine like this that uses UEFI (which is a new technology that is INCREDIBLY annoying).

Thanks anyways for the help, hope this helps someone else in a similar position.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ProPravesh
  • Solved
Solved! HDD in caddy is not working while SSD works fine
Replies
1
Views
3K
Laptop Tech Support
hang-the-9
hang-the-9
Haseeb_Ahmad
  • Locked
  • Question
Question Dell laptop turns on and in 20 seconds it turns off with a clicking sound, need help!
Replies
1
Views
9K
Laptop Tech Support
antb556
A
Y
  • Question
Question Choosing between two laptops
Replies
8
Views
4K
Laptop General Discussion
Etrius vanRandr
E
booboo123
  • Question
Question My ssd is not detected after failing to upgrade to windows 11 beta from dev channel
Replies
3
Views
4K
Laptop Tech Support
BEAUFORD_SAVAGE
B
Y
  • Question
Question laptop recommendation for full-on idiot
Replies
7
Views
3K
Laptop General Discussion
Etrius vanRandr
E

TRENDING THREADS

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom