Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Problems dual-booting Ubuntu. Help!

Tags:
  • Windows 7
  • Dual Boot
  • Graphics Cards
  • CPUs
  • Ubuntu
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
Share
August 20, 2014 7:58:57 AM

So I tried to dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows 7, I put the disc in, gone trough the first steps until I come to the Advanced Partitioning tool. There is dev/sda with Windows 7 on it and then dev/sdb with nothing listed under it. I tought there was supposed to be "free space" listed under dev/sdb. NOTE I have not done anything to the drive then plugging it in. What do I do?

Sorry for the bad grammar and thanks already!

More about : problems dual booting ubuntu

a b à CPUs
August 20, 2014 8:12:21 AM

Since you haven't made any partitions for Ubuntu, just use "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows" option.
m
0
l
a b $ Windows 7
a b U Graphics card
a b à CPUs
August 20, 2014 8:15:32 AM

How big is dev/sdb? When Windows installs it frequently leaves a small partition at the end of the drive, really small, like 8 MB. Could that be what you're seeing? Call up Disk Management in Windows and see what's there.
m
0
l
Related resources
a b $ Windows 7
a b U Graphics card
a b à CPUs
August 20, 2014 8:34:02 AM

I would disconnect the Win 7 drive before installing another OS... Just use the BIOS to select the OS to boot.
m
0
l
August 20, 2014 8:41:54 AM

Slobodan-888 said:
Since you haven't made any partitions for Ubuntu, just use "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows" option.


I could do that but it would just mean I have a 1TB drive left over. If I format it would Windows use it or Ubuntu?
m
0
l
August 20, 2014 8:45:00 AM

mbreslin1954 said:
How big is dev/sdb? When Windows installs it frequently leaves a small partition at the end of the drive, really small, like 8 MB. Could that be what you're seeing? Call up Disk Management in Windows and see what's there.


I am not sure what you mean, but I gave Windows on sda which is a 1TB drive and sdb is also 1TB. And to clerify tere is nothing under sdb
m
0
l
a b $ Windows 7
a b U Graphics card
a b à CPUs
August 20, 2014 9:21:55 AM

Sorry, I didn't realize you had two different physical drives.
m
0
l
a b U Graphics card
a b à CPUs
August 21, 2014 2:35:58 AM

anonymous1 said:
I would disconnect the Win 7 drive before installing another OS... Just use the BIOS to select the OS to boot.


as mentioned here disconect the windows drive.
and conect the empty hard drive in sata 1 use sata 1 as first hard drive.
install ubuntu on the drive after plug in windows 7 drive.
grub menu should detect windows 7 on /dev/sdb
and you should be able to dual boot from grub menu.
i made it as simplified as possible so you do not run in any problems.
m
0
l
August 21, 2014 8:27:05 AM

JOHNN93 said:
anonymous1 said:
I would disconnect the Win 7 drive before installing another OS... Just use the BIOS to select the OS to boot.


as mentioned here disconect the windows drive.
and conect the empty hard drive in sata 1 use sata 1 as first hard drive.
install ubuntu on the drive after plug in windows 7 drive.
grub menu should detect windows 7 on /dev/sdb
and you should be able to dual boot from grub menu.
i made it as simplified as possible so you do not run in any problems.
Would this really worked since there is nothing in sdb (at least doesn't list it) Windows detects the drive and all that but i repeat I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO THE DRIVE AFTER PLUGGING IT IN. Wasn't trying to be mean just so everyone will defenietly notice it

m
0
l
August 21, 2014 8:49:45 AM

hi thumus,
i had installed bodhi linux(its UBUNTU based linux,they all are same basically)on my external 500GB seagate hard disk.
and i use it as dual boot along windows.(no GRUB)
the reason u dont see your second 1TB drive as empty space in ubuntu installation because i think there is drive letter associated to it.in order to see it as empty space you need to delete that partition.

my advice- do not install ubuntu on whole 1TB drive.
remember-drive under windows are "ntfs" and they are accesible in both windows and linux
whereas-drive under ubuntu(linux) are ext4 they are not accesible under windows.

just make partition in 1tb drive enough to install ubuntu.there are some other things like /boot swap etc.
prior to installation ,u must know how many partitions u need for ubuntu and their size
i hope this link will help you
http://engg-haven.blogspot.in/2014/08/install-ubuntu-bo...

m
0
l
August 21, 2014 9:08:55 AM

techie_dude said:
hi thumus,
i had installed bodhi linux(its UBUNTU based linux,they all are same basically)on my external 500GB seagate hard disk.
and i use it as dual boot along windows.(no GRUB)
the reason u dont see your second 1TB drive as empty space in ubuntu installation because i think there is drive letter associated to it.in order to see it as empty space you need to delete that partition.

my advice- do not install ubuntu on whole 1TB drive.
remember-drive under windows are "ntfs" and they are accesible in both windows and linux
whereas-drive under ubuntu(linux) are ext4 they are not accesible under windows.

just make partition in 1tb drive enough to install ubuntu.there are some other things like /boot swap etc.
prior to installation ,u must know how many partitions u need for ubuntu and their size
i hope this link will help you
http://engg-haven.blogspot.in/2014/08/install-ubuntu-bo...



So I should just basicly use the "Install Ubuntu along side with Windows" option. I would just have to unplug the second drive. I have some problems with Windows 7 already and will probably upgrade to Windows 8 as I might get it for 20 euros, Not really related to the first question but if I upgrade to Win8 it is basicly the same as clean install of Win7?
m
0
l
August 21, 2014 11:11:17 AM

thumus said:
techie_dude said:
hi thumus,
i had installed bodhi linux(its UBUNTU based linux,they all are same basically)on my external 500GB seagate hard disk.
and i use it as dual boot along windows.(no GRUB)
the reason u dont see your second 1TB drive as empty space in ubuntu installation because i think there is drive letter associated to it.in order to see it as empty space you need to delete that partition.

my advice- do not install ubuntu on whole 1TB drive.
remember-drive under windows are "ntfs" and they are accesible in both windows and linux
whereas-drive under ubuntu(linux) are ext4 they are not accesible under windows.

just make partition in 1tb drive enough to install ubuntu.there are some other things like /boot swap etc.
prior to installation ,u must know how many partitions u need for ubuntu and their size
i hope this link will help you
http://engg-haven.blogspot.in/2014/08/install-ubuntu-bo...



So I should just basicly use the "Install Ubuntu along side with Windows" option. I would just have to unplug the second drive. I have some problems with Windows 7 already and will probably upgrade to Windows 8 as I might get it for 20 euros, Not really related to the first question but if I upgrade to Win8 it is basicly the same as clean install of Win7?

no not the same.in upgrade your all the old settings remain same,you will not loose any installed programs,drivers etc but your system will have old registries,junk files etc so your problem with win 7 might still haunt you.(depends what problem u have)
its always good to install ubuntu on other partition(keeping 2 worlds apart)i gave u the link.
do this.
>connect your second drive.
>right click mycompter>manage>disk management
>right click on your drive and select shrink,enter the space you want to allocate for UBUNTU(dont give it large,u can later access your other drives)
>it will create a partition,leave it as unalllocated
>now boot up you ubuntu installation media
>there select "something else" not alongside windows
>you will see free space, make 3 partitions of it(root,boot and swap) refer to the link i,v posted earlier.and follow the instructions thereafter.[go to "F" of step 3]
>it wont install GRUB as default bootloader u will see you old winodows BOOTMGR with dual boot.
and it will be helpful when you will upgrade to windows 8.


m
0
l
August 24, 2014 2:25:32 AM

techie_dude said:
thumus said:
techie_dude said:
hi thumus,
i had installed bodhi linux(its UBUNTU based linux,they all are same basically)on my external 500GB seagate hard disk.
and i use it as dual boot along windows.(no GRUB)
the reason u dont see your second 1TB drive as empty space in ubuntu installation because i think there is drive letter associated to it.in order to see it as empty space you need to delete that partition.

my advice- do not install ubuntu on whole 1TB drive.
remember-drive under windows are "ntfs" and they are accesible in both windows and linux
whereas-drive under ubuntu(linux) are ext4 they are not accesible under windows.

just make partition in 1tb drive enough to install ubuntu.there are some other things like /boot swap etc.
prior to installation ,u must know how many partitions u need for ubuntu and their size
i hope this link will help you
http://engg-haven.blogspot.in/2014/08/install-ubuntu-bo...



So I should just basicly use the "Install Ubuntu along side with Windows" option. I would just have to unplug the second drive. I have some problems with Windows 7 already and will probably upgrade to Windows 8 as I might get it for 20 euros, Not really related to the first question but if I upgrade to Win8 it is basicly the same as clean install of Win7?

no not the same.in upgrade your all the old settings remain same,you will not loose any installed programs,drivers etc but your system will have old registries,junk files etc so your problem with win 7 might still haunt you.(depends what problem u have)
its always good to install ubuntu on other partition(keeping 2 worlds apart)i gave u the link.
do this.
>connect your second drive.
>right click mycompter>manage>disk management
>right click on your drive and select shrink,enter the space you want to allocate for UBUNTU(dont give it large,u can later access your other drives)
>it will create a partition,leave it as unalllocated
>now boot up you ubuntu installation media
>there select "something else" not alongside windows
>you will see free space, make 3 partitions of it(root,boot and swap) refer to the link i,v posted earlier.and follow the instructions thereafter.[go to "F" of step 3]
>it wont install GRUB as default bootloader u will see you old winodows BOOTMGR with dual boot.
and it will be helpful when you will upgrade to windows 8.



But there is a option to keep nothing while upgrading to Windows 8.1. And when I go to disk management it pops up with a thing that says "You need to format disk 1 (sdb)
so Windows can use it. " (a translate but it's something like that) And there is options for MBR and GPT, what do I do
m
0
l
August 24, 2014 12:30:08 PM

hi thumus,
you have said that you have nothing on sdb.
so dont worry format it.after formatting windows will recognize your sdb and will assign it as new volume.
after that do the shrinking as explained.


m
0
l
August 25, 2014 2:28:57 AM

Thank you very much
m
0
l
September 4, 2014 9:55:55 AM

mbreslin1954 said:
How big is dev/sdb? When Windows installs it frequently leaves a small partition at the end of the drive, really small, like 8 MB. Could that be what you're seeing? Call up Disk Management in Windows and see what's there.


A second partition would be /dev/sda2, since each drive is a letter, each partition a number.
m
0
l
!