Dual boot Windows 7 (new install) with Ubuntu 12.04 (already installed)

belaribel · Apr 14, 2013

I have an HP laptop with Ubuntu 12.04 installed, and I am trying to figure out if there's a way to set up dual-boot with a NEW install of Windows 7, without having to wipe all of my data off the hard drive in a round of formatting. Google has been less than helpful, all I was able to find was dual-booting the two with Windows pre-installed, not Linux.

Any suggestions? I'm a newbie to Linux, but I'm no stranger to Windows. Just not sure how to blend the two properly from THIS starting point.

SchizTech · Apr 14, 2013

Well, you'll first have to partition the disk to make room for Windows 7 (this would have to be done either way). The problem arises because Windows' boot loader will take over and not show the option to boot Ubuntu, while if you do it the other way around the Ubuntu boot loader (Grub2) is more accommodating.

However, this software should help: it lets you easily amend the Windows bootloader.

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

stillblue · Apr 15, 2013

Or
Step 1: Install Boot Repair on your live Ubuntu stick.
Step 2: While running from your Live Ubuntu stick shrink the Ubuntu partition on your hard drive with Gparted and make an NTFS partition in the space you just created for Windows.
Step 3: Install Windows in the new partition.
Step 4: Restart with your live Ubuntu stick and run Boot Repair. It will reinstall Grub2 and give you access to Windows and Ubuntu.
Step 5: Have fun, you're finished.

SchizTech, Does EasyBCD work with Grub2?

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Dual boot Windows 7 (new install) with Ubuntu 12.04 (already installed)

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