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Salman Khan
Asked: 2019-08-10 21:40:04 +0800 CST

Probing for devices to install to failed - Ubuntu Server Installation

  • 772

When trying the install Ubuntu on my old PC, I get the below following error.

Probing for devices to install to failed
-------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately probing for devices to install to failed. Please report a bug on Launchpadm and if possible include the contents of the /var/log/installer directory.

I tried to google the error but goggle does not seems to have the answer either.

System Specifications:

  • Toshiba Satellite C640-I4016
  • Core i3 1st Gen
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 500 GB hard disk

This is while attempting to install Ubuntu Server 18.04.3 LTS. It is a Live Bootable USB made using Rufus.

system-installation server boot rufus

7 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    The 'live' server version has fewer capabilities than the standard installer (but includes 'live' function for other uses that is really useful at times), so I'd suggest trying a different version of Ubuntu 18.04.3 server from https://ubuntu.com/download/server

    If you clicked 'download' last time, click the 'alternative downloads' button first for other options...)

    The following may also be useful - https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-install-ubuntu-server#0

    This is just comments copied from above (that worked)

    • 11

  2. Basically the server live boot images are garbage, that or Ubuntu really hates installing on write-protected USB stick. Instead, use the net installer mini.iso the latest is 73 MB, and you can get it here.

    Zero problems during install, btw the other answers/suggestions were useless.

    • 7

  3. Removal of the NVMe worked for me too. Problem was the small screw that held the drive in place fell into the power supply. Just turned the computer upside down, gave it a shake and the screw came out.

    • 2

  4. I had the same error today, disabling JMicron SATA controller in BIOS solved the issue.

    In my case hard disks (both SATA) were visible in the system (/dev/sda and /dev/sdb) and I was able to access them via cfdisk, but the installer was failiing with the message "Probing for devices to install to failed". My motherboard (an old Asus) has 4 SATA ports handled by mobo's chipset and also an additional JMicron controller which provides PATA, one extra SATA port and one eSATA.

    • 1

  5. I ran into this error today as well, and worked around it by temporary removal of the NVMe disks from the system (I was planning to install to a plain SATA disk)

    • 1

  6. I had the same issue to install Ubuntu Server 18.04.3 on several SD cards. As guiverc suggested, using the network installer image, AKA mini.iso, from alternate downloads instead of the standard image worked but it took much more time. A better solution for me was to re-format the installation destination media, in my case delete the partitions on my SD card, and try again.

    • 1

  7. This was such an annoying error to encounter! What worked for me was to download the "Alternative Ubuntu Server installer", which has all the partitioning options, and it had no problem whatsoever. The default iso with the "live-server" in its name apparently is lacking something.

    • 1