Not a pro at dual boot and am a glutton for punishment!

[BBOSAK2143]

Now I have the desktop working great with dual boot but of course is two different hard drives, one is TB one is 500gb. In fact was beyond simple and is very sweet with my OS and Windows7 appearing as options in grub2. Now, here is the tipper! I then decided to do the same to the laptop. Of course we all know laptops have no provisions for 2 hard drives(or you know I would do that!!!!). Anyway I load my OS and leave 160gb/500 for Win7. Of course since we all know Win7 must be on ntfs I used gparted to create it! Did that last night before I went to bed. Was about a 15 minute load time on my OS without an internet connection. So now I go to load Win7 on the 160 ntfs partition I created. Nope no can do!!!! You guessed it, smoke and flames are coming out of my ears again!!!!! I mean daily I hear "Oh how great it is!" I guess these people are in a coma, cause to be honest there is nothing much so great with it! If I was a little brighter(just am not a genius!) I would have been able to figure how to get MS Streets & Trips & MS Office 2010 and I would not touch the system with the longest pole around! Just too many heartaches! Once again, I am going to thank TheeMahn for showing me what a real OS can do!!! Am spoiled with Linux!!! I mean, things get done, no crashes and no nightmares to wake up to in the morning!!! What more could someone ask for???? I mean, I just got done loading this thing yesterday with Windows(which was on prior for a week) after it contracted 3 worms from just trying to download a free video converter! Still here I am wanting to get the hap-hazard system dual booting with mine. I think I am looking for trouble! Still would like to do it as have already downloaded a half a gig of drivers and junk for it!!!! Yeah, the so easy-system!!!! Here's the big joke, I will not even have usb 3 on there!!!! Video driver is over twice the file size of the one I downloaded for my OS, sound drive enormous and so forth! I mean not even sure with all that crap if will even have enough space to check my email!!!! Nah,but you know what I feel about this deal as time is of the essence and just want to do this so can have as this next week is it!!! Ran poor on the networking with 60% but least will pass! Just want to graduate and get on with things! So anyone that is a pro at this please let me know what I am doing wrong and will be greatly appreciated!!!!

[pam]

I really dont see what the problem is with windows7/8. Windows 8 clearly is a top notch OS. Win7 now is not really worth much.

Install windows, then linux...grub will pick up windows chainloader automatically.
It you have done the reverse...meaning installed linux first and then windows, do this:
Insert your linux cd/dvd/flash and boot live from it, next follow the steps here and install boot-repair...
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Recov ... ingWindows

[BBOSAK2143]

Read the article but they are saying load Win7 first. Has been a long time since even thought of doing the dual boot, but is necessary for a bit. I guess in the single drive department is not as easy as the dual drives!!!! Not keen on having 7 load first, but so goes it!!! Win8 not really, do not have anything to work with it, if we can say work with Windows???? All the school stuff is on 7 anyway and this is the reason for this whole mis-adventure anyway!!!! Other 2 reasons are since I am just not smart enough to get Office 2010 or Streets and Trips to work in Wine!!! I give up on that ordeal as I have tried every Linux OS with Wine plus my own with so much other Windows related utilities and what are the results?????? Never works! Mostly I prefer Libre Office but unfortunately my school does not! So far no one makes any other programs than GPS types for Linux and I like the layout better. I do have Google Earth for the roads eye view,but the directions and stuff is needed here and there for finding things in the sticks out here!!! Hey before I forget, thanks for looking after me!!! Do not know what I would do without all you great people looking out for me!!!! Am going goofy in these last few weeks as the pressure is on! I feel like am roosting in a large pot on an open flame!!!!! Kind of like the ole Wylie Coyote cartoons!!!! Lots of pressure things to do, will be glad to get this degree and get on with things!!!! Get situated will do as said a while back be working to give back to Linux and here!!!! Can never thank everyone here enough!!!! You are family in my book!!!! If I had the cash, would have you all over for a cook out some time!!!! Love it here always! 7 loaded and am loading mine, see how things go from there. Video looked good even though ASUS claims needs drivers same goes for sound, heard no problems. Not a big sound buff on the laptop so really do not care. Have the desktop for sound files and does great on Linux!!!! Anyway back to it as still have a report to type up also. Thanks once again!!!!

[Xanayoshi]

I'm going to be honest...I skimmed over most of this.

Ok

Sooo

Setting up a dual boot with Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux.

First, Pam is correct, but I am not sure if that would be the way for you to go...

Generally the installations are set up the way they are to try to get Windows users to try Linux.

We start with a standard Windows install--------------------------------------------------(For the record, I would set up my partitions first and think this method sucks)

You basically would go about business as normal, and eventually you will have a PC with Windows 7.

Now we take our Linux install and choose install alongside Windows 7.

After install, reboot...if you let the installer do all the work..you should have Grub2 with Windows 7 and Ubuntu(Ultimate, Whatever Ubuntu based) listed.

[Xanayoshi]

I remember reading about your desktop setup, it makes no sense to use Bios to switch.

The easiest remedy is to get Rescatux w/SuperGrub 2!

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/rescatux/

Pop that bad boy in, install grub to your mbr, have it pick up your systems, grab some Ice Tea and relax, summer is almost here.

[Xanayoshi]

Last I checked you were somewhat of a Virtualbox enthusiast. Why not use it to learn about partitioning?

[tanmay.01]

yes windows first a nd the linux... put windows in virtual box and install office.

I have the same problem and use windows only for office. I dual boot it.

Pam and Xan i dont know where you read linux first and then win. (its possible but you need to recover the grub then, which is quiet hectic.)

[Micro]

Why dual boot when there is Virtualization Use Linux as the host and Windows as a guest. Windows will run better virtually without having to deal with all the machines drivers. Thats a fact. And you can snapshot or clone. That works alot better than windows restore. And you can have multiple env's open at the same time. So if you are worried about installing a new piece of software or driver that may break Windows, take a snapshot and if it ruins Windows, just revert back to the snapshot. Hows that for management Plus you can passthrough anything from the virtual machine host to the guest. I have all usb passthrough and even a smart card reader passthrough to my Windows work vm. Dual booting will become obsolete, esp since you have to log off then on to another OS. Redundant isn't it It's not the best logical choice anymore. Save yourselves the headache and centralize the management of your OS's...

[Xanayoshi]

yes windows first a nd the linux... put windows in virtual box and install office.

I have the same problem and use windows only for office. I dual boot it.

Pam and Xan i dont know where you read linux first and then win. (its possible but you need to recover the grub then, which is quiet hectic.)

Pretty sure I typed

"We start with a standard Windows install"


I didn't read anything anywhere..just lots and lots of installs..
Undecable Boot

Nahhh..not hectic..

Rescatux w/ SuperGrub 2!!!

[Xanayoshi]

Why dual boot when there is Virtualization Use Linux as the host and Windows as a guest. Windows will run better virtually without having to deal with all the machines drivers. Thats a fact. And you can snapshot or clone. That works alot better than windows restore. And you can have multiple env's open at the same time. So if you are worried about installing a new piece of software or driver that may break Windows, take a snapshot and if it ruins Windows, just revert back to the snapshot. Hows that for management Plus you can passthrough anything from the virtual machine host to the guest. I have all usb passthrough and even a smart card reader passthrough to my Windows work vm. Dual booting will become obsolete, esp since you have to log off then on to another OS. Redundant isn't it It's not the best logical choice anymore. Save yourselves the headache and centralize the management of your OS's...

Well sure..if you have the RAM!!!