Ubuntu could not found SSD during installation process: real story

A few days ago I’ve bought a notebook Acer Nitro 5 515–54 and as usually decided to install Ubuntu 18.04 LTS as a second OS.

This notebook has only one storage device, SSD disk, and I didn’t think that it could became a part of problem.

As usually I’ve created the installation LiveCD on 4GB flash-card via rufus program using standard options to write the ISO (MBR for UEFI/FAT 32/ISO).

But after typical manipulation in BIOS and during installation process I’ve got a message that it’s not enough memory for Ubuntu installation: my Ubuntu installer didn’t see the SSD driver. What’s wrong with this notebook?

First of all, I tried to rewrite my flash-card Ubuntu installer with another options in rufus program. No result.

In the second, I read this paper and changed the SATA mode to AHCI. Windows was lost as a result. After the installation I wanted to check the existing Windows 10 installation and selected Windows Boot Manager, only to see the infamous INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE screen.

Crying, I googled again and again before I’ve found the next link about Windows Safe Mode and it helped me!

I need to share my pain and resume the right way for newbies (and for myself, to reproduce it after years).

Short resume for “SDD not found” problem:

• load Windows
• launch cmd as admin
• execute next command bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal
• restart the computer enter the BIOS settings via F2 button
• change the SATA operation mode from the existing value to AHCI
• load Windows in SafeMode
• launch cmd as admin
• execute next command bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot
• reboot and Windows will automatically start with AHCI drivers enabled

Short resume for newbie Ubuntu installers:

• shrink the SSD disk to make free space for next Ubuntu installation
• prepare the flash card with the Ubuntu via rufus program
• restart the computer enter the BIOS settings via F2 button
• add the Ubuntu flash-card as a first boot device in BIOS
• disable FastBoot
• F10 to save and continue
• choose the Ubuntu install point in the Boot Menu and run the Ubuntu installation process