Where to install ubuntu in my system?

[2603Munna]

Hello i am running a system with windows 7 64 bit in it........, my hard disk is of 500GB.....................i had four partitions of 100GB each and all of them are primary..............,now I want to install ubuntu in my system.

I am worried that if i have to install them in on of the primary partitions already made.....,my data will be lost...............,so now I am interested in using the reamining part of my hard disk of 100GB.Bt as the system allows us to do only 4 maximum primay partitons.....,where should I install ubuntu in my system..........

As the OS(ubuntu) demands a primary partition for installing it..........,how would i be able to install it?

 

[Jonathan_King]

See this tutorial: Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu in Perfect Harmony - windows 7 - Lifehacker

Your data should not be lost if you install to a primary partition.

 

[OldBloke]

See this tutorial: Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu in Perfect Harmony - windows 7 - Lifehacker

That tutorial does not solve his problem with already having four primary partitions. It starts assuming you have fewer partitions than that.

Your data should not be lost if you install to a primary partition.

If you install Ubuntu into one of your existing primary partitions, it must be converted from NTFS to EXT3 or EXT4 (needed for a Linux system) and you will lose all your data in that partition.

You should first move all valuable data from one of the existing primary partitions to the other partitions, or to another hard disk or DVDs. Then you can use that one for Ubuntu.

Then boot the ubuntu DVD and just run it from it's bootable CD at first, without installing it. That way you can run the gparted partition manager to sort out your partitions. The easiest thing is to expand one of your partitions so it uses up all the remaining unallocated space. That way you still have the maximum number allowed of primary partitions, but no wasted space.

Also in gparted, you can convert the partition you emptied, from NTFS to EXT3, ready for Ubuntu

If you really want more than 4 partitions, you must convert one of the primary partitions into an extended partition instead, which can contain several logical drives, but that is more complicated. Also logical drives in an extended partition cannot be booted, they are only for data not for operating systems (except maybe by using some difficult tricks).
It's better to keep it simple to avoid problems later.

 

[Barman58]

It is of course possible using the WUBI installer to install Ubuntu 10.04 from within windows.

If you create a logical partition from your free space and format it with NTFS and give it a drive letter you can simply run the WUBI installer and point this to the new partition.

This will add a Ubuntu entry to the windows boot loader, and allow you to remove Ubuntu simply by use of the Add & Remove Programs in Windows.

 

[si8mon]

It is of course possible using the WUBI installer to install Ubuntu 10.04 from within windows.

If you create a logical partition from your free space and format it with NTFS and give it a drive letter you can simply run the WUBI installer and point this to the new partition.

This will add a Ubuntu entry to the windows boot loader, and allow you to remove Ubuntu simply by use of the Add & Remove Programs in Windows.

Use Wubi it's much more easy to install Ubuntu with it and uninstall Ubuntu with it.

Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows

 

[Dinesh]

+1 for wubi installer.

 

[wee]

Clean one partition then leave a open space by deleting it, then use the Ubuntu installer it will automatically put a extended partition in with the primary ext4 and swap that you will need within it. You can do a custom install where you build the extended with the ext4 and swap just as you like it but personally I would start with a standard install. Now when you install make sure that grub goes to the MBR=sda if you only have one HD. In the install the last gui has a advanced button click on it and make sure you are only installing grub in the MBR of the HD. If you have more then one HD make sure that grub goes to the MBR of where your installing to and that it is 1st in line to boot.

 

[Barman58]

On the question of Grub or the Windows bootloader I would recommend that you use the boot option that matches your planned primary operating system.
My reasoning for this is if you are likely to be in on OS for 80% of the time it can become an annoyance to switch to the other OS to edit the boot options.

 

[housry23]

+1 for Wubi. It is simple and installs directly in Windows so if you decide to you can uninstall it just like a regular program on Windows. You have the option when you boot your computer which to boot to and everything. It is just like installing it to a partition except you can uninstall it without messing up your MBR or having any problems later on. If you like it you can then download and burn the disc and install it permanently. This is the simplest and easiest way to do it. I highly recommend doing it this way. No way to lose data and no partitioning. You can specify which partition to install it to(it works best on the Windows partition) and you can set the size of the installation anywhere from 8gb to 30gb. Good luck.

 

[Barman58]

Even before the advent of WUBI I used to run my Linux installs using the Windows Bootloader

All you need to do here is when installing Linux ensure that you use the advanced options and load grub to the Actual Linux Partition, rather than the active partition, and use EasyBCD to add the grub loader to the Windows Bootloader.

As my primary Operating System will always be Windows this enabled me to keep control of the bootloader.

I often run multiple windows operating systems on one PC so this method this makes things a lot more controlled

 

[wee]

On the question of Grub or the Windows bootloader I would recommend that you use the boot option that matches your planned primary operating system.
My reasoning for this is if you are likely to be in on OS for 80% of the time it can become an annoyance to switch to the other OS to edit the boot options.

There is a program called startup manager in Ubuntu that will let you choose the default boot, also easybcd 2 beta claims to be able to run grub2 and ext4, I am not so sure this works. Things have changed in the last two Ubuntu releases so it may not be as simple as putting the grub files in the Ubuntu partition, actually this is about the hardest way to go about it. Grub legacy and gru2 will read any MS boot and most others, so will lilo, whereas to have your MS boot multiple distros you need this 3rd party software, what does this tell us about MS development.

 

[m0nk3n]

how would i go forward installing ubuntu with win 8? i have win 7 on a ssd but its unplugged. when i want to use win 7 do i just press f8 and select it or can i use the easybcd so that i can get win 8, win 7 and ubuntu on the same loader?

 

[whs]

I think installing any Linux distro on the iron spells trouble - especially if you have 6 Linux distros installed like me. I use VMware Player to run all my distros (and W8.1 and W10). Much easier and more relaxed plus you can run them sisde by side with your base system. For details on how to see here. I used Mint as the example but it applies to any Linux distro. Just the tools section may be different.

 

[AddRAM]

You can also run it off a disc or a flash drive.

If you installed 7 and 8 while each drive was unplugged ( the smartest way) then yes you just use your 1 time boot menu key to bring up the boot menu, then you just choose the drive you want to boot to.

Not F8, that is to get into safe mode.

The bios screen will show you which key is for the boot menu, you have to watch it carefully. Ususally it`s F9, F10, F11 but it could be anything. But ususally never F2, F10 or Del, they are almost always the key to get into the bios itself.

 

[m0nk3n]

after bios post i press f8 and it brings a list with drives (if i have them all plugged in) and i choose which to boot with. i got asus motherboard. del brings me into bios.

 

[gregrocker]

how would i go forward installing ubuntu with win 8? i have win 7 on a ssd but its unplugged. when i want to use win 7 do i just press f8 and select it or can i use the easybcd so that i can get win 8, win 7 and ubuntu on the same loader?

I've answered this for you repeatedly in your other threads:

Add Linux to Windows 8 using EasyBCD installed in Windows 8. Keep that as a Dual Boot.

Then when you want Windows 7, trigger it using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key at boot.

If you don't like this arrangement, add Windows 7 from EasyBCD in Windows 8 to add it to a Triple Boot menu based on the Windows 8 drive.

Why is it that I can type this out for you five, six, seven times and you don't absorb it but just keep asking the question? If you are unsure about it then ask specfic questions about how to get it done.

 

[AddRAM]

Yes, my Sabertooth uses F8 for the boot menu too, amazing

F8 after post is also supposed to bring up the option for safe mode, I guess it`s all in the timing. Never have to use safe mode, keeps fingers crossed.