Dual Boot Windows 7 Linux: Partitioning with Linux disk tools problem


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Starter 32 bit
       #1

    Dual Boot Windows 7 Linux: Partitioning with Linux disk tools problem


    Goal: Dual boot Windows 7 and Linux and have an NTFS partition for both OS.

    Problem: When creating Logical Partitions with any Linux partition tool(Gparted, cfdisk) the Linux swap and ext 4 partitions shows up on Windows 7 as primary partitions outside of the Extended partition while the NTFS partition shows up inside the Extended partition as logical drive. Disk management shows 5 primary partitions and 1 logical drive inside an extended partition.(As seen in Disk1.jpg attachment) I'm using MBR.(not UEFI)

    I can create the partitions in Windows 7 disk management and choose not to format the two logical partitions used for Linux. I can then use the mkswap and mkfs.ext4 command to format the partitions.(See Disk2.jpg attachment)

    Questions:
    Why is Windows 7 disk management not showing my partitions correctly when I use a Linux tool to partition the disk? Will this cause any problems with Windows 7? I'm afraid of making Windows 7 unbootable.(although it booted just fine I do plan on using EasyBCD to add an entry to load the grub bootloader for Linux)

    If I partition my disk with Windows 7 disk management(as seen in Disk2.jpg) will that cause any problems for Linux?

    What is the recommended way to handle this? What are the downsides to each way?

    Note: I'm a bit of a linux noob.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Windows 7 Linux: Partitioning with Linux disk tools problem-disk1.jpg   Dual Boot Windows 7 Linux: Partitioning with Linux disk tools problem-disk2.jpg  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #2

    Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
    I never had luck installing Linux in dual boot win-7 when have the 100mb system reserved partition
    Seems Linux can not take control of the boot loader unless it's on the C drive with windows

    Another problem is you have a 15gb partition in front of the 100mb partition too :/

    Personally if you really want to do a dual boot you'll need to integrate the 100mb partition onto C drive
    System Reserved Partition - Delete
    Easier to do with a clean install just don't create any install partitions to install win-7 on and also do not have any partitions at all until after 7 is installed.

    Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Starter 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your reply. :)

    The 15 GB partition at the front is the Samsung Recovery partition for my N150 netbook.

    Reading that guide it says I need to delete the System Reserved partition while also stating it's not recommended if I want to hold on to OEM recovery solutions which I do.

    Where do you encounter problems if trying to dualboot with 100 MB partition? Is it something to do with EasyBCD? I want to give it a go anyways and see what happens as long as I don't break the current Samsung recovery/Win 7 configuration. I want to use the Win 7 bootloader and chainload into grub2 for Linux.

    What is your opinion of Disk management showing 5 primary partitions despite any linux partitioning tool showing the correct configuration of 3 primary partitions and an extended partition(with 3 logical partitions). Will that cause problems for Windows?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #4

    Hi,
    Well the problem I had was it just didn't work
    The only option Linux gave was install along side of 7
    Not at all the same thing
    And I thought that was just too freaking cozy of a relationship with windows seeing viruses..... might not effect Linux but do indeed effect windows and there isn't even a separating partition for the two :/

    So ultimately what I did was use a dual ssd ez swap instead and installed Linux on it's own ssd
    Now I just shutdown and swap out ssd's
    7 on it's own and Linux on it's own
    This is the best thing I have ever bought
    Amazon.com: Vantec 2.5-Inch Dual Bay Trayless SATA III - 6G Mobile Rack (MRK-225S6-BK): Computers & Accessories
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Starter 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Just wanted to give an update.

    Even though Disk management shows the disks incorrectly(disk1.jpg) if you go into cmd.exe and run the diskpart utility and enter the command:

    Code:
    list partition
    It will show the disks correctly.

    I managed to dual boot Linux and windows 7 successfully while keeping the partitions as shown in disk1.jpg. I just installed grub onto the Linux partition instead of the MBR. I then used EasyBCD to add an entry for the Linux partition. So basically I chainload into grub. System recovery partition from Samsung works too.

    I did not use an automated installer. I installed from commandline. I'm running Arch Linux. I hope this helps someone!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #6

    Hi,
    Thanks for the update :)
    Yea grub well from what I've read grub is very difficult to get rid of = I don't know that for sure but I have not dual booted on the same drive again since installing along side as I describe earlier
    I very much prefer on separate drives for each os they play with each other so much nicer
    Cheers.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 14:50.
Find Us