Install Ubuntu on a xp,vista,win7 multiboot system


  1. Posts : 21
    XP/VISTA/WIN7 RC1
       #1

    Install Ubuntu on a xp,vista,win7 multiboot system


    I have 2 hard drives, the first has Win 7 RC1 and the second has XP and Vista in their own partitions. The Win 7 boot loader gives me the choice of Win7, Vista and XP when I boot up. The question is: If I install Ubuntu onto the second HD in a currently unoccupied partion, will GRUB (which is sure to take over the booting process, from past experience) still leave me with the 3 choices I have now (assuming I do not select the Ubuntu prompt). I wwould hate to lose the ability to get into the 3 Win systems !

    Thanks, Errol
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 682
    Window 7 build 7600, Xp pro(VM)
       #2

    errolgreer said:
    I have 2 hard drives, the first has Win 7 RC1 and the second has XP and Vista in their own partitions. The Win 7 boot loader gives me the choice of Win7, Vista and XP when I boot up. The question is: If I install Ubuntu onto the second HD in a currently unoccupied partion, will GRUB (which is sure to take over the booting process, from past experience) still leave me with the 3 choices I have now (assuming I do not select the Ubuntu prompt). I wwould hate to lose the ability to get into the 3 Win systems !

    Thanks, Errol
    Grub loader will give you two boot option one that will boot to Ubuntu and another that will load Windows 7 boot loader(normally denoted by DOS os). From there you should be able to boot into the three windows os.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
       #3

    Even Windows 7 boot loader is capable enough to display all the OS including Ubuntu.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,807
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - Mac OS X 10.6.4 x64
       #4

    dinesh said:
    Even Windows 7 boot loader is capable enough to display all the OS including Ubuntu.
    It is but once he installs Ubuntu it will override the Windows 7 Loader (unless he tells setup not to install GRUB). With installing Ubuntu with defaults GRUB will just make a shortcut the the 7 Loader in the boot menu. With the 7 loader...he woul first have to repair his startup problems to get it back as default and then add an entry in either EasyBCD or BCDedit...either way the GRUB handling of things here might be the easiest path
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  5. Posts : 21
    XP/VISTA/WIN7 RC1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Installed 9.04 Ubuntu. On reboot, no Ubuntu prompt


    dinesh said:
    Even Windows 7 boot loader is capable enough to display all the OS including Ubuntu.
    I installed Ubuntu on free space on the 2nd HD, but when asked to reboot, only the original 3 choices appeared 1 Win7, 2 Vista, 3 XP. No sign of GRUB, no Ubuntu prompt choice. Just as if I never installed anything ! It said Ubuntu was installed correctly, and just said I must now reboot to complete the installation. So what do I now do to get the Ubuntu choice ? I expected GRUB to take over the booting, but only the Win7 boot prompts now appear. HELP
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    It sounds to me like you missed a step or forgot to check a box during the partitioner portion of the Ubuntu install. It's like Grub simply didn't get loaded. I'd go back through the reload...and see if anything sticks out. Should be a pretty quick install.
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  7. Posts : 21
    XP/VISTA/WIN7 RC1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Ubuntu install on multiboot system


    pparks1 said:
    It sounds to me like you missed a step or forgot to check a box during the partitioner portion of the Ubuntu install. It's like Grub simply didn't get loaded. I'd go back through the reload...and see if anything sticks out. Should be a pretty quick install.
    I deleted the partition and reinstalled again. This time I noticed a window asking if I wanted to include vista which I previously ignored. So I clicked on it, and hoped this had been the problem. However I'm sorry to report that I'm back to the problem. No GRUB, only the 3 choices as before. Is there some way the Win7 loader can be edited to include Ubuntu ?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 124
    W7 64b - Leopard 10.6.2 - Ubuntu 10.10 (MBP Snow Leopard 10.6.3)
       #8

    Best try EasyBCD

    version 2

    http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642

    use the beta, works better with ubuntu
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 21
    XP/VISTA/WIN7 RC1
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks, the Easybcd sorted out the problem !
      My Computer


 

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