1:00 AM
Paul B
I usually wouldn't write something like this. I mean, everyone know how to do a dual-boot setup right? I thought this setup would be just as simple. I mean I've done dual-boot installs hundreds of times, why would this one be any different?
I don't know about your system, but when I tried to dual-boot my Dell Mini 9 with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.04 I had some problems. You see, I always start with the Windows Install first, then install Linux last so Grub can take over as the bootloader. I am sure most of you do too!
That's what I did first. I booted up with my Windows 7 DVD, and deleted all of the old partitions, then I partitioned my drive in half and installed Windows 7. After that, I booted up with Ubuntu, and started to install, and here is where I had the problem. Ubuntu didn't see the Windows 7 partition as an operating system! When the installer got to the disk partitioner, it showed that I had 32GB of free space! That was strange because when I mounted the hard drive from the live CD I could see all of the Windows 7 files. WTF!?!
I'm not sure what it is, but Ubuntu doesn't understand how Windows 7 does it's partitioning even though Windows 7 is using the same NTFS that we have all grown to love. Never fear though, I found a solution that works.
After playing around with different settings and installs, I finally found the best way to install it (for me anyway). Here is what I did:
Did any of you have problems dual booting with Windows 7? Did you get it to work a different way? Did your's work out of the box? I want to hear about your experience in the comments!
I don't know about your system, but when I tried to dual-boot my Dell Mini 9 with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.04 I had some problems. You see, I always start with the Windows Install first, then install Linux last so Grub can take over as the bootloader. I am sure most of you do too!
That's what I did first. I booted up with my Windows 7 DVD, and deleted all of the old partitions, then I partitioned my drive in half and installed Windows 7. After that, I booted up with Ubuntu, and started to install, and here is where I had the problem. Ubuntu didn't see the Windows 7 partition as an operating system! When the installer got to the disk partitioner, it showed that I had 32GB of free space! That was strange because when I mounted the hard drive from the live CD I could see all of the Windows 7 files. WTF!?!
I'm not sure what it is, but Ubuntu doesn't understand how Windows 7 does it's partitioning even though Windows 7 is using the same NTFS that we have all grown to love. Never fear though, I found a solution that works.
After playing around with different settings and installs, I finally found the best way to install it (for me anyway). Here is what I did:
- Boot up with the Ubuntu 9.04 CD
- Opened a terminal, and run Gparted
>sudo gparted - Create an NTFS partion (I used the first half of the disk)
- Quit Gparted, and reboot
- Boot up with the Windows 7 DVD
- When asked where to install, select the ntfs partition you created in step 3 and click next
- Windows 7 will install
- After Windows 7 Installs, bootup using the Ubuntu CD again and proceed with the install as usual to the empty partition
- Ubuntu should now see the Windows 7 partition as a Windows Vista Partition, and now you can dual boot!
Did any of you have problems dual booting with Windows 7? Did you get it to work a different way? Did your's work out of the box? I want to hear about your experience in the comments!
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