Installing Windows 7 in logical partition?

Hi,

I have a machine with Ubuntu Linux already installed. I would like to install Windows 7 in a dual boot environment. The Ubuntu Linux is currently taking the first 3 primary partitions (2 is formatted as ext3 file-system and 1 as swap). I want to add 2 more partitions for Windows 7. since the maximum number of primary partitions is 4, I think I will have to create an extended partition and then create 2 logical partitions in the extended partition.

My question is this, can I install Windows 7 in a logical partition where none of the 3 primary partitions is accessible to Windows 7?

Thanks in advance for any help.

From a 9/09 post by our top Dual Boot expert here:

SIW2 said:

A logical drive can function perfectly well as a Boot partition.

However, as it can not be marked Active, it cannot be the System partition.

If, for any reason , you wish to convert it to a Primary partition - rt click it in Paragon Partition Manager an you can convert it in a matter of seconds without data loss.

( You will only be offered the option to convert if doing so adheres to the max no. of partitions allowed under mbr partitioning rules, of course)

The fact you'll be dual booting with Ubuntu presents additional complications if GRUB bootloader is involved.

Normally Win7 will not install or dual boot until GRUB is first deep cleaned (by zeroing using Partition Manager or DISKPART "Clean All" command) from the HD then added back after Ubuntu reinstall.

The best guide so far is this: Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu in Perfect Harmony - windows 7 - Lifehacker

Thanks for the pointer to the article. It's pretty informative. But it doesn't actually say if it's possible to install Windows 7 in a PC with Linux already installed and already taking up 3 primary partitions. I've installed Linux after Windows several times before without any problem. But this is the first time I'm trying to install Windows after Linux. I guess I can always reinstall every OS starting from Windows. But I'm hoping there is a way to install Windows without having to reinstall Linux too.

I would have to guess that the Win 7 boot files will not function on a non-ntfs partition. Since they have to be in a primary partition so it can be active, I would say your scenario will not work if Win 7 is placed on a logical partition.

You can load Win 7 on a logical partition, but you must have a primary, active partition to put the boot files.

Anyway, just a guess......

All of the reports we get here on this issue are that Win7 won't install correctly if installed last, but needs to be installed to zeroed HD to remove GRUB, then follow tutorial to add Linux back.

Of course you can try it. So others can learn from your experiment, please keep us updated here. Maybe someone will post who knows differently.

I notice that the great new EasyBCD 2.0 beta has a Linux tab on it's Add/Remove function where OS's are configured for multi-boot. I'm not sure how it would fit in for your usage but it's there if it will help.