dual boot windows linux

Hi all currently boot windows 7 ultimate and 8.1 as a duel boot through BCD 2.2 (with win 7 the main boot) hoping to upgrade 8.1 to ten later on this year we see, but also want to add Linux can I just add the grub in bcd and then connect my all ready installed Linuxmint 16 cinnamon hard drive (that's already installed to) to my configuration, or would I be better reformatting that hard drive and using a iso to install to it ... also my Linux is fairly old is there a new one ? u would recomend

whs said:

The latest Mint is 17.1 Rebecca - Editions for Linux Mint 17.1 "Rebecca" - Linux Mint

I would recommend to put Mint into a virtual partition. Messing around with the Grub for the Windows systems is no fun. Here is how.

yes thanks will look for mint 17.1 Rebecca, but doing what u say is that what u have to do every time u log on ? want it to be more permanent cheers

AddRAM said:

Zorin OS 9 is nicer :)

Zorin OS - Home

I would disconnect your 7/8.1 drive...

connect the other drive, do a fresh Linux install, reconnect the 7 drive and use the boot menu to boot into the OS you want.

Just for future reference, when you add 10 to your 7 drive it takes over the boot and you will have problems.

It`s all discussed at Ten Forums.

Windows 10 Forums

did this but when I put win 7 back in wouldn't work had to recover ? and reflect wont work now

AddRAM said:

Impossible, you must have done something wrong.

If each OS was installed while the other drive was unplugged, it`s impossible for one to interfere with the other :)

I have done it many times, successfully.

this is what I always thought but cant be ??? how ells would this of happened, all I did was unplug 7, plug in and reinstall Linux drive, unplug that Linux drive replug in win 7 restart