E-Z setup w/Windows 7 - Linux Mint dual-boot

holt · 15 Nov 2015

I went to install Linux Mint 17.2 64-bit in a spare HD over a fully installed backup clone copy of my Windows 7 Pro 32-bit OS, intending to let it erase Win7 in the process.
To my surprise, the installation menu gave me a radio button option to install Linux Mint -and keep- Win7 and make it a dual-boot setup.
So I clicked on it, and although it was a rather large and time-consuming download of Linux Mint (almost an hour), when it was done it had actually saved my fully operational Win7 and complimented it with Linux Mint in a separate partition.
On boot up, it gives you a dual-boot menu whether to choose Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, or the new Linux Mint 17.2 64-bit I opted for.
So far, only two items in Win7 have quit working as a result; EASE US Todo Backup Free 4.0, and SeaMonkey Portable.
Everything else still seems to work just fine so far, altho I haven't checked every program yet.
If I have a separate HD with Win7 connected as a data drive, I can drag and drop files from Win7 to Linux Mint with no problem.

As I posted elsewhere, I'm still looking for a good anti-v for Linux.
Contrary to 'popular myth', you -do- need anti-v for Linux.

I also need to find a way to do a full HD clone to a backup HD for major crash recovery purposes, a method which has saved me much grief more times in the past than I can count.

holt · 18 Nov 2015

I went to dual-boot into Win 7, and chkdsk wanted to run first, so why not?
Chkdsk immediately began flagging and deleting files like there was no tomorrow.
I immediately killed power, but too late; Win 7 boots up, but Norton and Adobe, for instance, are trashed, and my custom Desktop picture had reverted to a Windows one.
I already have flawlessly installed Win 7 backups on three other HDs, so it's no loss.
But I don't see how I can continue with Win 7 on the dual-boot HD with Linux.
Anyways, when I figure out how to do backups, I'll need the Win 7 partition for that.

Fortunately, the Linux OS in the other partition seems undamaged, as chkdsk only trashed the partition with Win 7.

ThrashZone · 18 Nov 2015

Hi,
Dragging and dropping from os to os is sort of crazy
For one Windows has no clue Linux exists so that would be fairly impossible to do although if Linux is on it's own partition windows will see that and want to scan for errors most likely

Dropping files from Linux to windows well that is the easiest way to corrupt 7 as you found out.
An antivirus isn't going to help you on that task either because windows would be off but aware when started something happened

holt · 19 Nov 2015

I very much appreciate your input; the learning curve is rather steep for me. :)

I suspect the original dual-boot setup may be defective, b/c there was a long hang in the middle of the install, the screen dimmed, and large clock digits displayed and froze, together with the message 'out of range'.
When I clicked on Esc then it continued the install seemingly without a problem, and both Linux Mint & Windows 7 seemed flawless installs.
But then chkdsk went wild on a Win7 start-up the first time it ran a few boots later.
This was an experimental setup on a spare HD, and the Linux Mint still seems unaffected, and only the dual-boot version of Win7 seems corrupted.
I am thinking of deleting all files in the Win7 partition and using that partition to save backups of the Linux OS files.

I still have my separate original flawless Win 7 OS on 3 other HDs.

holt · 19 Nov 2015

My inexpert impression of Linux Mint is that it seems to require much more active use of the DOS Command Line than Windows 7.
Long Command Line strings are a bit scary & daunting sometimes, but so long as I can find a web page showing the commands to accomplish desired goals, such as when I installed Clam free anti-v, I'm fine.
Some actions are fairly automated, such as the selection and installation of Wine.
But even in Windows, I often resort to a web page guide or forum post to show me what to do.

ThrashZone · 19 Nov 2015

Hi,
Yes the perfect dual boot is on separate hdd's or ssd's without the others ever being connected at the same time
That goes for win-10 also imho

Heck you show you use a desktop so this might be a good addition
It's not the prettiest item but it's perfect for old school dual boots :)
Amazon.com: Vantec 2.5-Inch Dual Bay Trayless SATA III - 6G Mobile Rack (MRK-225S6-BK): Computers & Accessories

Yes again use separate hdd's... for data recovery too

If you need to transfer files from one to the other use a free cloud service Onedrive/ dropbox/....
Although windows to Linux is not a big deal it's the other way around that can be funky so scan the flash or drive first before transferring anything from Linux to windows

holt · 19 Nov 2015

Thank you, that's an interesting suggestion.
One of my biggest mysteries is where to install programs in Linux that are not self-installing, as there is no Programs folder.
According to this vid;
[IMG]resource://youtubeanywhereplayer/icon16.png[/IMG]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qQTXp4rBEE
there are higher level folders in which you should most definitely -not- put things, and she is trying to be newbie-friendly, but... being a newbie by definition means not knowing pretty much anything. :)

Do you happen to know; Can a program intended to be run with Linux Debian, be run with Linux Mint?

ThrashZone · 19 Nov 2015

Hi,
Not sure
You'd have to search for the program with the software manager
Video didn't embed so I'll have to look at it in a minute.