SSD is greyed out when installing ubuntu, and no option for dual boot install

[celticwarrior]

The role of EFI system Partition, obviously…

It shouldn’t be that hard to understand that the only partitions you need (in UEFI mode) are the root partition (/) AND the EFI System Partition. The latter is already there, created by Windows, it’s the same you’ll use for all the other OSes (not many, of course because by default Windows creates a very small 100MB partition).

This i why you need to create one in the unallocated space and assign it the root role and selct the other that’s already there, assign its role as well but DO NOT FORMAT.

[deadbread4]

Okay I apologize, its clear to me I need a root partition and an EFI partition, one that’s already created (nvme0n1p1) however I’m just a little confused what you want me to do with it. When I click “change” what do I do in the change window? If I change any of the values it will force me to format the partition, the only other option is clicking ok which does nothing and still keeps the next button grayed out. I do apologize for not understanding something so simple but I’m a bit confused

[peterwhite23]

Select /boot/efi as the mount point for the ESP; that should do it. Be sure to double check that “format” is unchecked.

[deadbread4]

That option doesn’t show up, and even when I add it manually it still forces it to format, the check is literally frozen and won’t uncheck itself

-ps. I cannot reply any more today (yay :/)

-ps.s. can I ask what you mean by moving the last partition to the last windows partition?

[peterwhite23]

Can’t you just untick the “format” box for that one?

[peterwhite23]

@deadbread4

the check is literally frozen and won’t uncheck itself

Then, I think, you should move that last partition up to start where the last Windows partition ends and see if that then allows the normal selection you originally intended, no “manual partitioning”. I think that part of the installer has gotten worse, because it is too limited.

[peterwhite23]

So I wanted to see for myself and booted my toy VM with the live installer.

That’s how you select an already existing ESP; the key is “Leave formatted as …”; the check boxes can’t actually be clicked, I’ve just remembered.

Don’t mind the LUKS stuff and obviously the / is too small; it’s not really a Windows system to install alongside (I’m not going to proceed with the installation anyway), but it is one with an already existing ESP.

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@deadbread4

other OS is literally the only other option available other than enabled

This could indicate that your system is now booting in legacy/BIOS mode. There shouldn’t be any need to disable Secure Boot; Ubuntu will install just fine with it.

[celticwarrior]

Many thanks for the “tutorial”

I though about doing the same because I din’t remember the exact nomenclature (of the new installer), only the general steps and my posts weren’t clear enough because of that. But ended up postponing it because at the moment I have the humble miniPC chugging at 800% CPU - video transcoding - with an almost 40ºC wether thanks to climate change.

[tea-for-one]

@deadbread4

Okay I apologize, its clear to me I need a root partition and an EFI partition, one that’s already created (nvme0n1p1)

Your screenshot in post 18 shows nvme0n1p1 as Swap, it should be your Efi System Partition (ESP).
Did you change it deliberately?

Please confirm that you can still boot into Windows 11?

[celticwarrior]

@tea-for-one

Did you change it deliberately?

Inadvertently and they didn’t commit the changes so no hard but it could have been tragic.

The previous screenshot showed an almost “correct” layout except the unnecessary swap partition and missing the selection of the ESP. And the way to select it is exactly as @peterwhite23 showed.