Expecting swap, found none... Stderr:: '' ... curtin command install- ubuntu installation failed

General
1

Trying to install ubuntu 24.04 then got something went wrong message. Here are two screenshots of the error message.It shows verifying dev/sda3 partition flag,expecting swap, found None. Can anyone help me out???

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You’re running into a known issue that sometimes appears during Ubuntu installations — especially with Ubuntu 24.04, which is still relatively new and might have installer bugs or edge case regressions.

The error:

Verifying /dev/sda3 partition flag, expecting swap, found None

suggests that the installer expected /dev/sda3 to be a swap partition, but it’s not marked or formatted as such. Here’s what it usually means and how to fix it.

What’s Happening

  • Ubuntu’s installer (probably Subiquity or Ubiquity) is trying to validate that your disk layout includes a swap partition.
  • It found /dev/sda3, which it expects to be swap based on either:
    • Your manual partitioning choices
    • An auto-config template
    • A corrupted or incomplete installation attempt
  • But /dev/sda3 either:
    • Isn’t formatted as swap
    • Is marked incorrectly in the partition table
    • Is corrupted or misaligned

This mismatch causes the installer to fail with the “something went wrong” screen.

How to Fix It

Option 1: Use the “Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu” Option

If you’re doing a fresh install and don’t care about existing data:

  1. Boot the Ubuntu 24.04 live USB.
  2. Choose “Erase disk and install Ubuntu” during installation.
  3. Let the installer automatically partition and format everything, including swap (it may create a swap file instead of a partition).

This avoids the issue entirely by letting Ubuntu manage the partitioning.

Option 2: Manual Partitioning — Create a Proper Swap Partition

If you’re manually partitioning:

  1. Boot into the live session (“Try Ubuntu”).
  2. Open GParted (or install it if needed: sudo apt install gparted).
  3. Check if /dev/sda3 exists and what type it is:
  • If it’s not labeled as linux-swap, right-click it → Format to → linux-swap.
  • If it’s not needed, delete it and create a new swap partition (1–4 GB is typical).
  1. Apply the changes.
  2. Re-run the Ubuntu installer, and during partitioning:
  • Assign your root (/) partition.
  • Make sure the swap partition is recognized and marked as “use as swap area”.

This aligns what the installer expects with the actual disk layout.

Option 3: Use a Swap File Instead of a Partition

Modern Ubuntu setups often use a swap file rather than a dedicated swap partition:

  1. In the partitioning step, skip creating a swap partition entirely.
  2. After installation, Ubuntu will automatically create a swap file under /swapfile.
  3. This is cleaner and more flexible in most modern setups.

If the installer insists on a swap partition, you’re probably using custom partitioning with legacy options, or the auto-detect logic is buggy.

Advanced Tip: Clean Up Old GPT/MBR Entries

If you’re reusing a disk that had a previous OS or broken partition table:

  1. Boot into live USB.
  2. Run this to wipe partitioning info (warning: this erases all data!):
sudo wipefs -a /dev/sda
  1. Then open GParted or the installer and create a fresh partition table (GPT or MBR).
  2. Proceed with installation.

Summary

Your installer expects /dev/sda3 to be swap but finds something else. You can fix this by:

  • Letting Ubuntu auto-partition the disk
  • Reformatting /dev/sda3 to linux-swap
  • Deleting the partition and letting Ubuntu use a swap file
  • Wiping the disk and starting fresh