Windows 7 and Linux

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
F

Freesd

Reputable
Mar 30, 2014
72
0
4,640
Hello i would like to install linux but i also like windows 7 so how can i have both e.g: Windows 7 with linux so i can log off windows and go to linux
 
Solution
cball1311
Ok, so I am 100% sure that you have the entire HDD partitioned for NTFS (Windows). You need to shrink that partition to allow for the Linux OS. I usually give 150-200GB but it depends on what you are going to use Linux for. The most easiest software that I have found to work with Partitions is EaseUS Partition Manager Software. It's completely free for home use. Just shrink the NTFS partition and leave the free space as "unallocated". Linux will handle the partitioning of the free space since it uses a different file system (Ext4 filesystem).

Here is a guide to Linux installation partitioning. It will explain it better than me.

http://www.control-escape.com/linux/lx-partition.html
Sort by date Sort by votes
J

junkeymonkey

Polypheme
BANNED
Nov 11, 2013
17,389
4
66,960
I like to put them on separate drives in case the drive goes bad I only may loose one and still have a ready to os to fire up and keep something going ... if its all on one drive and something goes wrong then your stuck.. but that's just me [like don't put all your eggs in one basket]
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cball1311

cball1311

Honorable
Dec 15, 2012
1,622
1
12,160
You have to setup new partitions for Linux on your HDD. Once you do this and install Linux on the new partion (you should make 3 partitions in Linux: root, swap, and \home). So if you have your entire HDD partitioned, you will need to shrink your NTFS partition to allow space for the Linux install. You need to determine how much space you will need for Linux when shrinking the NTFS partition. Then, when you install Linux use the unallocated space (after shrinking) to install Linux. When Linux installs, it will use the GRUB Bootloader and you can select which OS you would like to launch on power up or restart. Besure that you want this as GRUB can be a pain to get rid of if you are unfamiliar with Linux.

Edit: +1 to junkeymonkey...thats the best option in my opinion also. My explanation is if you only have one HDD
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cball1311

cball1311

Honorable
Dec 15, 2012
1,622
1
12,160
Ok, so I am 100% sure that you have the entire HDD partitioned for NTFS (Windows). You need to shrink that partition to allow for the Linux OS. I usually give 150-200GB but it depends on what you are going to use Linux for. The most easiest software that I have found to work with Partitions is EaseUS Partition Manager Software. It's completely free for home use. Just shrink the NTFS partition and leave the free space as "unallocated". Linux will handle the partitioning of the free space since it uses a different file system (Ext4 filesystem).

Here is a guide to Linux installation partitioning. It will explain it better than me.

http://www.control-escape.com/linux/lx-partition.html
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
G

Guest

Guest
Instead of a physical install, please just download VMWare Player or Virtualbox (google them) and create a virtual machine (lots of tutorials and videos) and give Linux a shot that way. You wouldn't really see any slowdowns assuming your computer has at least a i5 from 2011 and about 4 GB of memory. Start off with a noob-friendly distro like Linux Mint or Ubuntu. After you get comfortable with them, move on to the more advanced stuff. It's best to learn this way. If something goes belly up, no actual issues will happen to Windows 7. You just roll back the virtual machine.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
J

junkeymonkey

Polypheme
BANNED
Nov 11, 2013
17,389
4
66,960
if you got a 200gb drive when you load the os it should ask you how you want to set it up and that info will be there lets say 120 for windows and 80 for Linux then the drive will be in 2 parts then you load windows on its part and Linux on the outher part but I don't split drives any more in a long time everything os wise gets its own drive ... also with Linux it don't require a big drive to run well on a nice budget 80 will do well for it last Linux os [mint] onlt took 16gb of space but now windows 7 if you let it it will take 32gb or more on auto partition. but if you manual do it it can be kept to around 19gb.

I hope I told you this right... good luck
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cball1311

cball1311

Honorable
Dec 15, 2012
1,622
1
12,160


You should be able to find some answers on Google or YouTube. It would take me too long to explain it here (time restraints, sorry) but its not that hard. You just need to shrink your NTFS partition as I said and you could let Linux handle the rest.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
dmroeder

dmroeder

Distinguished
Jan 15, 2005
1,366
23
20,765


This is my preferred way to do it as well. Easy way to try out multiple distributions and no risk of goofing up your Windows installation.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom