Dual boot Kubuntu with Windows7 on existing dual boot Kubuntu/WinXP

[hansdevr]

Hi,

I painstakingly followed all instructions to create a dual boot system Kubuntu / WinXP (Kubuntu already installed), and that worked perfectly.
For all clarity: I have the latest Kubuntu, 64 bit version. Win XP is the pro version, 32 bit.

I can select the OS I want from the GRUB.

Now I would want to replace the existing WinXP with a Windows 7, 64 bit version.
Can I just boot the Win7 CD and install in the old WinXP partition? Or will it destroy my Kubuntu? I have no idea how to do this, as I am a total Linux noob....

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Hans

[james147]

You can try to install windows7, it shouldn't delete the partitions automatically (if you have an option to select manual partitioning use that) but when I last tried this it sometimes just refused to install (from what I could figure this happened if there was a non Microsoft file-system on the disk before the partition you want to install it to, if the non MS file system was after then I think it was fine). When I tried it (a couple years ago) I had to delete my existing os and install windows 7 first to get around this.

I would make sure you back up everything you need first just in case though.

[hansdevr]

Thanks james147, I will give it it a try.... And yes, my Linux partition is before the Win partition (my Win partition is the G: disk, in stead of C: ).

[oshunluvr]

Thanks james147, I will give it it a try.... And yes, my Linux partition is before the Win partition (my Win partition is the G: disk, in stead of C: ).

How did you manage that? I was under the illusion that Windows wouldn't boot beyond a sector sector on a hard drive. Maybe that's changed. Undoubtedly, Winblows will wipe grub so be prepared for that.

Sounds to me - as James sort of suggested - it might be time for a partition re-alignment. It's a lot easier if you create a bootable Gparted CD or USB and do it with all your hard drive partitions available for modification. You don't give any details about your hardware or drive setup so it's hard to make reccomendations, but assuming you're wiping XP you could do it this way:

1. Delete the XP partition.
2. Create a new partition for Linux at the end of the disk and copy your current linux install to it. This can be easily done using the "dd" command if the new partition is the same size as the old one.
3. (if you have one) delete your swap partition and re-create one just up-stream of your new Linux partition.
4. Create an NTFS partition from the beginning of the disk in the size that you want for W7.
5. Delete all the unused partitions and attempt the Windows 7 install carefully attending to it's partition requirements.
6. Once W7 is installed and booting: Re-install grub from a LiveCD/USB and let it detect W7 and your Linux install. Done.

[james147]

How did you manage that? I was under the illusion that Windows wouldn't boot beyond a sector sector on a hard drive. Maybe that's changed. Undoubtedly, Winblows will wipe grub so be prepared for that.

I created two partitions using the windows installer, one at the start that went up to where I wanted the windows one to start, and one for windows to install on. Then deleted the first one, installed windows then later installed linux on the space at the start of the disk.

I spent quite a bit of time trying different methods to get windows to install after Linux on the disk... mostly because I didn't want an OS dictating how I should do things The down side to this method is you cannot easily reinstall windows again if it breaks, without destroying the Linux partition... which is one thing that eventually stopped me using windows altogether.

[hansdevr]

How did you manage that? I was under the illusion that Windows wouldn't boot beyond a sector sector on a hard drive. Maybe that's changed. Undoubtedly, Winblows will wipe grub so be prepared for that.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_l...lled_first.htm

Here is the desciption I used to get it done...

Question to you: why should I delete the XP partition? Isn't the Win 7/64 installer disk "smart" enhough to recognize the old XP partition as the preferred installation partition? Won't it just skip the Linux partition, because it doesn't see it as a viable place to install Windows into, if it sees it anyway?

As for Windows wiping the grub - A backup is easily created by a rename...

Thanks for the info though - if nothing works (and I have enough experiences with that, alas) I can always try it..

[oshunluvr]

As far as the windows questions, my windows experience is insufficient to answer them. My suggestion was more geared to keeping things simple. Your link discusses XP dual booting, not Windows 7 and they are not the same. If I were you, I'd do some research.

Re. Windows wiping GRUB; Windows isn't going to reach into your Linux partition and un-install GRUB. There's no file you can rename (or need to). Windows will wipe the Master Boot Record and GRUB will cease to function, period. That is what you need to be prepared for.

[james147]

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_l...lled_first.htm

Here is the desciption I used to get it done...

Question to you: why should I delete the XP partition? Isn't the Win 7/64 installer disk "smart" enhough to recognize the old XP partition as the preferred installation partition? Won't it just skip the Linux partition, because it doesn't see it as a viable place to install Windows into, if it sees it anyway?

As for Windows wiping the grub - A backup is easily created by a rename...

Thanks for the info though - if nothing works (and I have enough experiences with that, alas) I can always try it..

Windows will see all the partitions, it just wont recognise the Linux file system that is on one of the partitions. As for which partition it picks, I swear it uses some random logic to decide that, at least I never trust it...

I don't see why it would look for xp and install over that if it finds it, what happens if you want to dual boot cp and win7?

Also, step 2 on that link is outdated and redundant Firstly it is for grub1, not 2 which kubuntu now uses and secondly, windows should not touch that file at all nor does grub if I remember correctly.

[SteveRiley]

Flying from memory...

1. Boot the computer with your Windows 7 installation DVD.

2. When you reach the point where the installer asks where to place the operating system, select your existing Windows XP partition. Format it.

3. Now tell the installer to place Windows 7 on that partition.

4. Allow the installer to finish.

5. When you reboot, your computer will go directly to Windows, because the installer erases GRUB's boot loader stub in the MBR. Follow the steps below to fix this.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...tallingWindows

[SteveRiley]

Actually, do this first, please. At step 2, when you see the installer's list of partitions, take a photo of the screen and post it here. Let me see it before you do anything else.

[hansdevr]

OK, thanks Steve.. This weekend, when I have some spare time, I will do that. Will post that pic ASAP.