Thanks Supernova for your idea, but I would appreciate a little elaboration on "how to install both operating systems". I have fdisk my harddrive as you, exception windows xp (under xp with partition magic). But how now to install the MBR & GRUB etc. into the righ partitions?
Will appreciate your answer!
thks,
harry
I have three hdd's in my computer. The first harddisk (80GB) holds all operating systems and is partitioned as follows:
This partitioning scheme may seem overly complicated. I partition this way for several reasons. Notice the MBR and GRUB are on different primary partitions. This allows me to install/uninstall Linux or Windows without any issues. I just need to remember to set the 'Active' primary partition accordingly. The system can only boot from a single primary partition at any given time. If GRUB is removed, the MBR partition must be set active in order to boot Windows. Running a "tri-boot" configuration (XP-7-*NIX), the root "/" is set as the active partition making GRUB the default boot manager for all operating systems.
With my current setup, either Windows partition can be reformatted at anytime without having to worry about breaking the other. As a precaution, I backup the 100MB partition to a Ghost image. Should the MBR become corrupt or Windows XP needs to be reinstalled (which results in the Win7 boot code being overwritten), I can restore the MBR to working order using this backup image. Alternately, I can also use [url="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749177%28WS.10%29.aspx"]bootsect.exe[/url] to accomplish the same thing. Since MBR and GRUB are kept separate from each other, messing around with the NTFS partitions doesn't affect my Linux installation, and vice-versa.
Whether you choose to install all operating systems on a single harddisk (like I have) or use a separate drive, doesn't really matter. The underlying concept is the same. The important thing to remember is to install GRUB to the root "/" partition instead of the partition holding the Master Boot Record (MBR). This will give you the most flexibility and eliminate startup issues should you want to remove Linux or reinstall Windows at some point in the future.
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Ubuntu 9.10 Is Here!
Started by Supernova, 2009-10-30 00:36
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38 replies to this topic
#27
Supernova
Super Member Posted 2009-11-12 12:42:01
The Master Boot Record (MBR) should be on your Windows XP partition (C:) by default. DO NOT attempt to move the MBR. The safest way to get the MBR installed to a dedicated partition is to start over...
To install GRUB boot loader to the Linux root "/" or drive of your choice, access the Advanced setup options (scroll down to Step 9). #28
harry
Advanced Member Posted 2009-11-13 10:51:39
The Master Boot Record (MBR) should be on your Windows XP partition (C:) by default. DO NOT attempt to move the MBR. I don't understand.... you made a 100MB partition for the MBR and a 30GB partition for windows 7... The install for windows doesn't give an option to choose your MBR location, only where to install w7!? The safest way to get the MBR installed to a dedicated partition is to start over... Sorry, I have only basic knowledge on these not common tasks...  allthugh my friends think I'm a computer "expert"  To install GRUB boot loader to the Linux root "/" or drive of your choice, access the Advanced setup options (scroll down to Step 9). Above comment also applies for the linux install procedure. Any step by step tutorial starting from partitioning on to full functional operating systems? I don't want to bother you to much...  Thanks again, harry #29
Supernova
Super Member Posted 2009-11-14 01:39:31 Quote I don't understand.... you made a 100MB partition for the MBR and a 30GB partition for windows 7... The install for windows doesn't give an option to choose your MBR location, only where to install w7!? Let me ask... Whilst installing Windows 7, were you already running another operating system (e.g. Windows XP) beforehand? If so, was it installed before or after you created the 100MB partition? << This makes all the difference and will determine how your dual/tri-boot configuration will take shape. Assuming you were already running Windows XP and are going to install Windows 7 as a second operating system, Windows 7 will overwrite any existing MBR it detects. So if you had XP installed before you made changes to your partition configuration, the newly created 100MB partition cannot be used to hold the MBR; thus, it becomes useless. Do you follow? Quote Any step by step tutorial starting from partitioning on to full functional operating systems? I don't want to bother you to much... #30
harry
Advanced Member Posted 2009-11-14 11:08:08
I used partition magic under xp and only left my data partition intact (I moved it to the end of the drive). If necessary I also can remove the data partition as I do have back-ups.
I therefor think that all operating systems, ubuntu & xp are removed. The 100 MBR is the first partition. I think it is best to install first w7 and then ubuntu, right? thanks again! harry
Quote I don't understand.... you made a 100MB partition for the MBR and a 30GB partition for windows 7... The install for windows doesn't give an option to choose your MBR location, only where to install w7!? Let me ask... Whilst installing Windows 7, were you already running another operating system (e.g. Windows XP) beforehand? If so, was it installed before or after you created the 100MB partition? << This makes all the difference and will determine how your dual/tri-boot configuration will take shape. Assuming you were already running Windows XP and are going to install Windows 7 as a second operating system, Windows 7 will overwrite any existing MBR it detects. So if you had XP installed before you made changes to your partition configuration, the newly created 100MB partition cannot be used to hold the MBR; thus, it becomes useless. Do you follow? Quote Any step by step tutorial starting from partitioning on to full functional operating systems? I don't want to bother you to much... #31
Supernova
Super Member Posted 2009-11-14 12:04:34
Always install Windows first. If you plan on using more than one version of Windows, install the older version first then install the newer one. To have the MBR installed to the 100MB partition, you must set the partition Active.
Note: After installing Ubuntu, you won't be able to use GRUB to boot the system until you change the Active partition from the 100MB drive to the Linux root "/". #32
Prasert
Senior Member Posted 2009-11-14 18:49:35
Gave Ubunto 9.10 server a try over the last two weeks. What a headache.
Apache2 - configuration files are split up compared to any other distro's. Not handy. Bind9 - installation from repository is incomplete, several default configuration files are not installed Cistron Radius - just impossible The absence of a proper root environment - irritating. Even working in 'sudo -i' is still causing problems. The only good thing about it: no graphical shell. Centos beats Ubuntu by far when it comes to a server installation. #33
bendejo
invasive member Posted 2009-11-22 12:34:36
I used partition magic under xp and only left my data partition intact (I moved it to the end of the drive). If necessary I also can remove the data partition as I do have back-ups. ... Now that all your data is backed up and you are free to do whatever to your disk, once you figure out the solution of what to put where, I suggest a redo the whole partitioning scheme using gparted. There is a live version that boots from a CD/DVD or pen drive. Quote No, you can't choose where to install the MBR. When you install Windows, the MBR will always be written to the first primary partition of the harddisk. I run a dual boot laptop, and have been leaving a few megabytes at the start of the disk as unallocated, I think I started doing this back in OS2 days, when some boot selector programs required their own, self-defined, mini-partition. So, it looks like I should actually define that space as a partition. An NTFS partition? Also, is this the the primary partition that should be set to active ? #34
Supernova
Super Member Posted 2009-11-22 18:50:17
I've always kept the boot files on its own mini-partition, separate from the operating system partition. It makes things very easy to manage should something go wrong -- especially in a dualboot or tri-boot configuration. Initially, I used FAT16 for the mini-partition. But due to certain circumstances (for which I won't go into here), I later changed the filesystem to NTFS.
The primary partition containing the boot manager has to be set Active in order to boot the system. Perhaps I should have worded my post differently... Quote No, you can't choose where to install the MBR. When you install Windows, the MBR will always be written to the active primary partition of the harddisk. #35
Richb2004v2
Super Member Posted 2009-11-22 20:53:06
I have Windows 7 AND Ubuntu 9.1 on separate hard drives. Considering the price of hard drives, I find it difficult to justify dual boots. I am not a techie for sure and I once tried the dual boot. It was a disaster and I found it impossible to get rid of the Linux boot. A partition program and a complete format was required to get Windows working again. So you put Ubuntu on a separate external hard drive? This sounds like a good idea. I was about to attempt a dual boot but have been worried about messing up my XP install. How did you do it and are there any disadvantages to it? #36
Supernova
Super Member Posted 2009-11-22 21:53:15
There are no disadvantages to installing Ubuntu on a second hard drive -- many people do this. It all depends on your needs and what you feel works best for you. I choose to keep all my operating systems on a single (dedicated) hard disk, as I find it much easier to manage.
Edited by Supernova, 2009-11-22 21:58:38. #37
Richb2004v2
Super Member Posted 2009-11-23 08:37:16
So would a flash drive be adequate or an actual external HD? I guess a small external HD is quite cheap now.
Does it not make the operation slow at all? Is it easy to set up during install, and does 100% of the OS go to the HD? Thanks. #38
Gary A
Titanium Member Posted 2009-11-27 11:39:57
In the past I must have made a number of mistakes. It seems like external drives of any kind make changes to main Windows drive. I always unplug my windows drive whenever I use Linux. The separate hard drive works fine for me. It's just a matter of unplugging one SATA drive and plugging the other drive in.
#39
TwentyBaht
Senior Member Posted 2009-11-27 14:39:44
Yes, I've been using Ubuntu 9.10 and like it a lot.
That said, there have been current postings about changes/problems/BIOS read in the new GRUB 2 bootloader. From what I read, I think the GRUB 2 method of hard drive identification may be the reason for some of the postings. For example, I'll use my own case. Laptop with Vista installed. For safety, to try the new 9.10, I took out the internal Vista drive and used only an external USB drive to install 9.10. The install went perfectly. Then, after a couple of days of trial, I put the internal drive back in. Everything good. Internal Vista drive recognized and usable in Ubuntu. Ran the system for a few days. Then, thinking about adding another distribution to the external drive, and, to be safe again, I took the internal drive back out. And, booted from the external drive as before. Ubuntu would not boot. Did a little reading and saw a few things about the hard drive identification thing. Put my internal Vista drive back in. And, booted the laptop. Ubuntu did a file check, and booted right back up and ran as as before. Took the internal drive back out to test this again. Same result. Interesting. I think it has to do with installing onto an external drive. It installs originally as sda. When the internal drive is added then it becomes sda. And, the external then becomes sdb. From my experience, it would seem GRUB 2 makes a drive change one time. Or, maybe in only one direction. But, I also notice that in 9.10, GRUB 1.97 is still in alpha. Maybe, this drive scenario is only with my laptop, though. I want to compliment Supernova. That is a very elegant partitioning scheme. |
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