No Root File System is Defined Ubuntu Error [Fixed]

This Itechguide teaches you how to fix “No Root File System is Defined” error. The guide covers steps for 3 methods to fix the error.

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Why this Error Message?

The error message will come up when you are installing a Ubuntu or other Linux distributions. I once received this error when I was installing Ubuntu.

This may be caused by any of the following:

1. You have not created a valid Linux partition
2. You are trying to use a Windows partition (FAT or FAT32) to install Ubuntu
3. A Linux partition exists but you have NOT defined the root partition (“/”)

Options to Fix the Error

Follow the steps below to fix this error message and continue your Ubuntu Linux installation.

Below are the solutions:

Option 1: Create a Linux Partition and Assign a Root Partition

Follow the steps below:

• On the Installation type page, select a free partition. Then click the + sign to add a partition.

• When you click the + sign, the Create partition window will load.

• On the Create partition window configure the following:

1. On the Size field, the default will be the full size of the partition. Enter a value here in MB.
2. Then select the type of partition, Primary or Logical partition.
3. On the Location for the new partition, select Beginning of space or End of space.
4. Next, select a file system. I selected the default, Ext4 journaling File system
5. Finally, select a Mount point. The Mount point drop-down shows the following options:

• When you finish, click Ok.

Option 2: Delete Existing Windows Partition

If you received this error because you selected a FAT32 or FAT file system, you have to delete it. When you delete the partition, it will appear as a free partition. You can then use the steps in the last section to re-create the partition.

• To delete a partition, right-click it and select Delete.

• You may also select Change to change the file system to a Linux file system.

• When you click Change, the highlighted part of the image below will load. To change the file system to a Linux file system click the Use as drop-down. Select a file system. Then click Ok.

Option 3: Define a Root Partition

This error may still occur if you have a partition but do not define a root (/) partition.

If there is no root mount point, no partition will have the / as mount point. See the image below.

To fix this:

• Right-click on the partition you wish to use as root and select Change. You may also double-click the partition.
• When Edit partition option opens, beside Mount point click the drop-down and select /. Then click Ok.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

There are three possible causes of the “No Root File System is Defined” error. One, if you try to install Ubuntu before creating a Linux Partition.

Secondly, I experienced this error when I tried installing Ubuntu on a Windows partition. Finally, you may also receive this error if you create a Linux partition but fail to define a root partition.

To cover these three situations, I showed 3 options to fix the issues depending on the cause of the error. I am confident that one of them would work for you and I am keen to know which – let me know using the “Leave a Reply” form located at the bottom of this page.

If, however, none of the 3 options worked for you, kindly respond No to the “Was this page helpful?” question below and provide as many details as possible.

Finally, for more Linux Itechguides, visit our Linux How-To page.