Want to add Ubuntu to Win7 machine ...ie. dual boot

makeorbrake

As per the title, I am trying to dual boot ubuntu with an existing win 7 OS onboard. I've already used gparted - to reduce the existing win 7 partition - leaving an adequate unallocated capacity that ubuntu can use.

Downloaded the latest ubuntu version 11.04 64 bit - tried burning it to cd and using it via usb. In each case, when I boot up from cd (or usb), I get no operating system found.

I'm reading up on it right now - but i'm a bit stumped as regards what the issue may be. Does anyone have any pointers or 'watch-outs'??

loldog

Try using Unetbootin to install Ubuntu to the USB. It always work very well for me. You can get it to install the .iso you have already downloaded.

Are you sure your Windows MBR is intact? Does it still boot Windows OK?

.

makeorbrake

loldog wrote: »

Are you sure your Windows MBR is intact? Does it still boot Windows OK?.

Yes, it certainly seems to be

loldog wrote: »

Are you sure your Windows MBR is intact? Does it still boot Windows OK?Try using Unetbootin to install Ubuntu to the USB. It always work very well for me. You can get it to install the .iso you have already downloaded.

Ok, thanks - will do.

OSI wrote:

Also, a silly question but how did you burn the CD? ie, did you just drag the iso onto the CD and burn it, or did you actually use a proper burning software to write the iso image to the CD.

Yes, burned to CD (and failing that, burned to usb stick also) - and booted from either CD/DVD or USB - but no joy.
As regards burning software, I used nti media maker.

makeorbrake

loldog wrote: »

Try using Unetbootin to install Ubuntu to the USB. It always work very well for me. You can get it to install the .iso you have already downloaded.

Are you sure your Windows MBR is intact? Does it still boot Windows OK?

.

Still no joy I've had to install wubi ie. ubuntu virtual install within the windows c drive. It pisses me off that I couldnt get a proper dual boot onboard - but i guess this will serve my purposes for right now.

croo

I've already used gparted - to reduce the existing win 7 partition - leaving an adequate unallocated capacity that ubuntu can use.

I did this recently and didn't even have to prepare partition or free up disk space. I just boot from the USB (in my case) and when I selected "install" from the boot menu it prompted me with a slider to split the disk between windows & ubuntu.

The only thing not 100% was the new grub2, which looks for bootable OS on the disk rather than having it pre-configured, was finding the recover partition too and both were labeled "Windows 7 (/dev/sda)" - so it was difficult to know which to choose.
A little googling and I found a hack to resolve this at
http://www.bodhilinux.com/forums/index.php?/topic/1028-how-to-grub2-hide-windows-recovery-partition/

One other thing I had to do... many modern laptops are running nVidia Optimus which is not supported under linux (yet to my knowledge!) I got a black screen on boot until I changed the BIOS to disable Optimus.

The fact you are getting "no operating system found" would lead me to think you burned the ISO file to a CD as opposed to creating a CD from the ISO file... if you get my meaning.

makeorbrake

croo wrote: »

I did this recently and didn't even have to prepare partition or free up disk space. I just boot from the USB (in my case) and when I selected "install" from the boot menu it prompted me with a slider to split the disk between windows & ubuntu.

Sure - I've installed a dual boot in the past without any issues - just like you describe above.

croo wrote: »

One other thing I had to do... many modern laptops are running nVidia Optimus which is not supported under linux (yet to my knowledge!) I got a black screen on boot until I changed the BIOS to disable Optimus.

Hmmm....will have to check on that - I have an Acer Aspire 5738G.

croo wrote: »

The fact you are getting "no operating system found" would lead me to think you burned the ISO file to a CD as opposed to creating a CD from the ISO file... if you get my meaning.

I got 'no operating system found' initially. I used the win7 software to burn the application/iso to disk. However, notwithstanding this, I also placed a copy on usb - and used the application loldog provided the link to above. When I run that application - then set to boot into usb upon restart, I get 'press any key when ready' - and at this point it boots into win7....

G-Money

I've set up dual boots relatively easy with the install wizard that comes with Linux. The hard part is trying to remove Linux without having to reformat your entire OS.

I installed the latest Linux Mint build and cannot get it to connect to WiFi. I don't know much Linux but have been able to get other versions of Mint and Ubuntu to connect easily. So it's effectively useless for me at the mo and I would like to remove it. Don't know how though without reformatting the hard drive.

Stuxnet

G-Money wrote: »

I The hard part is trying to remove Linux without having to reformat your entire OS.

I I would like to remove it. Don't know how though without reformatting the hard drive.

easy, first step is to boot into windows, and we want to re-write the windows MBR, this is the little program that boot windows, it was replaced by mint's own version during install, grub its called in linux/mint
here's the website, just scroll down a small bit
http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

install it and run it, go to bootloader setup tab, and WRITE MBR be sure to pick your version of windoze 7/vista or xp

thats windows sorted to boot now,

all you need do now is boot a live gparted cd and delete the ubuntu ext4 partitions/swap parttions you made, and expand your windows ntfs partitions to reclaim the space

makeorbrake

@iPwnage: Thanks - I will give that a try when I get back to base. If I keep smashing my head against a brick wall, i'm sure it will give way at some stage!:D

tman

iPwnage wrote: »

easy, first step is to boot into windows, and we want to re-write the windows MBR, this is the little program that boot windows, it was replaced by mint's own version during install, grub its called in linux/mint
here's the website, just scroll down a small bit
http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

install it and run it, go to bootloader setup tab, and WRITE MBR be sure to pick your version of windoze 7/vista or xp

thats windows sorted to boot now

Even easier way is to boot from the Windows CD, open a command prompt and type "bootrec /fixmbr" followed by "bootrec /fixboot" to restore the Windows MBR, then restart. (then delete the ext4 partitions within disk management in Windows as you said)
If you're using XP, do the same and just enter fixmbr and fixboot (without the preceeding "bootrec /")

(That's directed at G-Money by the way, unless makeorbrake also wants to remove all trace of Linux!)

makeorbrake

tman wrote: »

(That's directed at G-Money by the way, unless makeorbrake also wants to remove all trace of Linux!)

Yes, I was reading that at work last night - and I don't think it had my proper attention! I've just installed and run EasyBCD. However, I'm not sure if it can help me with my situation ie. can't seem to get ubuntu to run from cd (despite changing bios boot order) or via usb.

Under EasyBCD -> Bootloader setup, I get the following;

EasyBCD can automate the process of creating bootable media. Select a partition below to begin;

(drop down shows the following on Disk 0);
- Partition 1 (0x27 - 13GiB)
- Partition 2 (NTFS - 100MiB)
- Partition 3 (C:\ as NTFS - 156GiB)
- Partition 4 (Linux - 15Gib)


Is there any way I can utilise this utility for my purposes (ie. for trying to get ubuntu installed as part of a dual boot with an existing win7 setup)?

makeorbrake

croo wrote: »

One other thing I had to do... many modern laptops are running nVidia Optimus which is not supported under linux (yet to my knowledge!) I got a black screen on boot until I changed the BIOS to disable Optimus.

I just double-checked the spec for my acer 5738G -and it doesn't have nvidia (it's a Intel® GM45 Express Chipset)....

G-Money

tman wrote: »

Even easier way is to boot from the Windows CD, open a command prompt and type "bootrec /fixmbr" followed by "bootrec /fixboot" to restore the Windows MBR, then restart. (then delete the ext4 partitions within disk management in Windows as you said)
If you're using XP, do the same and just enter fixmbr and fixboot (without the preceeding "bootrec /")

(That's directed at G-Money by the way, unless makeorbrake also wants to remove all trace of Linux!)

Cheers, thanks for the replies tman and iPwnage, although I think tman's option seems a lot easier

Stuxnet

not sure hows its "easier" if you follow my method, its 5 clicks of your mouse job done ....no opening and entering command prompts !! also windows disk management wont tell you which partitions are ext format, so make sure your 100% sure you delete the correct partition, or you could potentially delete something you shouldnt... my way tells you what partition is what

good luck, its not hard

omen80

You may have possibly destroyed the MBR when modifying the windows partition??
You could try the following if you're getting nowhere....
1. Save everything you need if you can.
2. Then re-install Windows 7 and just make one big partition when it asks. 3. Once Windows is ok install Ubuntu and you will be able to make a parition for it. It's a simple as Next, next, next......

Once this is done you will get a menu to select between Ubuntu and Windows 7.