invalid main GPT header, valid MBR and corrupt GPT

[webmanoffesto]

I have a W7 machine. I want to partition it so I can dual boot W7 & Ubuntu. I'm on an Ubuntu live disk right now.
I have a thread in the GParted forum http://gparted-forum.surf4.info/viewtop ... 466#p32466, but I arrived at TestDisk because I'm still stuck.

I tried gdisk

Code: Select all

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ gdisk /dev/sda5
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.8

Problem opening /dev/sda5 for reading! Error is 13.
You must run this program as root or use sudo!
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo gdisk /dev/sda5
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.8

Caution: invalid main GPT header, but valid backup; regenerating main header
from backup!

Caution! After loading partitions, the CRC doesn't check out!
Warning! One or more CRCs don't match. You should repair the disk!

Partition table scan:
  MBR: MBR only
  BSD: not present
  APM: not present
  GPT: damaged

Found valid MBR and corrupt GPT. Which do you want to use? (Using the
GPT MAY permit recovery of GPT data.)
 1 - MBR
 2 - GPT
 3 - Create blank GPT

Your answer: 2

Warning! Secondary partition table overlaps the last partition by
16717361815834723826 blocks!
You will need to delete this partition or resize it in another utility.

So now I've hit a dead end with both "Disks" and GPT. What do you suggest I do?

[cgrenier]

Use "sudo gdisk /dev/sda" instead of "sudo gdisk /dev/sda5". You do not want to create partititons inside partitions.

[webmanoffesto]

Thank you.
I solved the problem by using an Ubuntu live disk to repartition the whole disk.