Dual boot - have W7 (64 bit), adding lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED

[kle]

I am sure there is a Howto somewhere, but those that I have found have not fitted my situation. I am using a new (HP G72-120) laptop with 4 GB Ram (hence 64 bit seems to be called for). I only have Windows on the system restore disk that came with the computer. It installs four partitions. I deleted the two last ones (HP-related).

Result of attempted dual boot so far: windows not found by Grub. I reinstalled Kubuntu on entire disk but there was a problem with sound, so I want to keep Windows. I am now trying a third install with windows first and dual install from Live CD.

Question: What to do if, as I expect, Grub does not find Windows next time either? There is a lot of advice to be found out there, but I do not know enough to be able to evaluate what advice is sound.

(PS: is the MBR in windows 7 placed at the end of the partition, rather than at the front?)

[kapil]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

i have windows 7 (32-bit) and kubuntu 64-bit installed side by side.
i have 120GB hdd..
first i installed Win7 on 20GB (i use it just to sync my nokia device.."nothing" else)
then installed kubu on rest of hdd.
most important.. check if downloaded iso was complete..check MD5
after ur installation..did u upgrade kubu.. and later did you check for hardware drivers..
it might resolve the problem..

[verndog]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

kle,
I also have a new HP 64-bit computer. One thing to bear in mind is that Windows 7 takews 2 primary partitions up fron with the recovery partition and then the Windows partition. HP then has there restore partition and your left with one usable primary partition left. I install all my Linux stuff inside a logical partition. It just seems well more logical to me.

Regarding whats sound and whats not. I find there are several ways to accomplish the same thing.
Also I used a hack and removed Windows recovery/boot partition and now have Windows7 run under only one partition. Coming from years of the old way of doing things I suppose. It makes backing up much easier.

First thing is to install gparted and you can then get a picture of how your hard drive is setup.
I will give you a shapshot of an old partiton setup I used. I have since altered it a bit, but the underlying setup is the same. I always have an NTFS backup partition to store downloaded files and make backups to. Then I also use an external hard drive for save keeping.

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

One thing to bear in mind is that Windows 7 takews 2 primary partitions up fron with the recovery partition and then the Windows partition.

Are you telling me I deleted the wrong partitions? Good giref, I could die for shame. So you're saying I am going to have to do the whole windows plus Kubuntu install again, this time not using the build in partition tool but gparted? Oufff! I'll give it another try.

Kapil: You installed windows 7 on just 20 GB. I agree - no more is needed, but I take it you had a full Windows 7 CD, not the just the system recovery disk?

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

Later:
No, I don't think I deleted the wrong partitions, because I found them. But I could not access them. Ie the Grub told me I had windows installed, but I got the famous error message (attached). Inserting the system rescue disk and clicking the equally famous "repair" did not produce any change.

To capitulate: I have twice tried to install Lucid in a dual boot arrangement, both times using the partitioner in the install module. I have once installed Lucid on the entire hard disk, but got issues that will be dealt with in a separate post. I have tried to shrink using windows' own shrink function (totally inadequate, for one thing because it does not shrink enough.)

I read:
"The reason why Windows won’t let you shrink the volume is because there are immovable system files at the very end of the volume, ..... actually the MFT, or Master File Table for the volume", and
"You can also use the gparted live cd to resize your partitions. The problem with this is that it will definitely cause your system to not boot anymore unless you follow some very specific steps, because Vista can’t handle it."
Source: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...quacy-problems

Now the very specific steps were in fact just what I did: try to use the "repair" function. No go.

So now I have Windows 7 installed again.

I would rather not go through another failed install (this is the fourth time). Can anybody guide me? I am attaching the list of partitions from Windows file management.

Would be very grateful for help!

[verndog]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

Your C drive can be shrunk. Your only using 6% of it. I use either Acronis Dick Director or Gparted to resize. I defrag before I resize. I've done it hndreds of times without loss of data. Remember though - backup or clone your C drive first.

[kapil]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled windows 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) -

@kle: 4th time.. you are persistent.. nice

Kapil: You installed windows 7 on just 20 GB. I agree - no more is needed, but I take it you had a full Windows 7 CD, not the just the system recovery disk?

not recovery disk. i downloaded the cracked version from isohunt.

Ok. My system had come with windows xp. even i tried installing linux with recovery partition intact. but couldn't install linux. HP/Compaq laptops give this problem. other OS cannot be installed with recovery partition present. (atleast in my case)

Here is what i did.. and might help u aswell.
1. Install windows using recovery partition.
2. burn the recovery DVDs.
3. Get backup of SwSetup folder.
4. delete recovery partition from drive management utility in windows.
5. resize the partitions and u r ready to install kubuntu.
6. install kubuntu.. upgrade.

let me tell u.. the latest upgrade gives u superb translucent theme.. really really nice.. loved it.
all the best.

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled wind 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED

Thank you Verndog and Kapil for your support and encouragement!

It worked. I am writing this from another computer, while Kubuntu is quietly loading itself into the space I gained after having reduced Windows 7 from 400(+) GB to 40 GB, and, not least, after having restarted Windows without any error messages.

Shrinking a Windows 7 partition
1) In windows, I scheduled chkdsk to run at next boot (start-> right-click 'computer' -> manage -> disk management -> (select partition, probably C, right-click -> properties -> tools -> "error checking" -> (check both boxes) -> click 'start' -> "schedule disk check" - "ok".
At next boot, chckdsk runs before windows starts.
->
2) Gparted version: Downloaded most recent version of live CD. NB: Previous version (for instance on so-called 'systemrescueCD' had a fatal bug which wrecked systems (referred to as 'size error' - risk boot failure).

3) Starting Gparted: Booted from Gparted live CD, and had to chose keyboard, language, video card and resolution. Used trial and error method. There are few tutorials around about this part.

4) Using Gparted: very simple (and plenty of simple tutorials available).
HOWEVER: uncheck "allign to sylinder" (or rather, choose: allign to "none"! Otherwise, risk boot failure.

To close the graphic environment in which Gparted is run: from Gparted file menu.

On restart, Windows will tell you it is running chkdsk: Do not interrupt! (i.e. do not press any key!)

After that, Windows started like a charm. I had been warned to run chkdsk a coupke of times before installing ubuntu (source: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Ho...dowsPartitions)

[ceedub2]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled wind 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED

So this worked for you? Sorry to but in but my 6 mo Compaq laptop has the same partition setup. Restore disks made.

So your saying you deleted all the partitions except for C:\?

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled wind 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED

So your saying you deleted all the partitions except for C:\?

No, I kept two partitions, the first (200 MB), which seems to be standard on W7 (cf. Verndogs post above) and the main Windows partition, C:. I only deleted the two last.
Mind you, I had first made sure to make the system recovery DVDs from the recovery disk partition.

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - preinstalled wind 7 (64 bit), adding kubuntu lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED

I thought installing Kubuntu, once I had the disk space, would be a piece of cake, as I have so often installed Kubuntu in double boot systems, but alas. When I wrote "it worked", all I had actually seen work was the shrinking of the W7 partition. And it did work! But when I rebooted after the Kubuntu install, I was very surprised to see that I could no longer boot W7. The same error message as the one I attached to a previous post.

How odd ! I can't see why a Kubuntu installation would interfere with W7. (Any ideas?) Could it be the 64 bit system and/or Grub 2 that is causing trouble?
So I had to rescue the W7 again. (And yes, I did check MD5)

To rescue W7:
Downloaded the windows vista recovery disk
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...disc-download/

Booted from the recovery disk. First tried the option "system repair". Tried to reboot W7, boot failed.
There were other options. One of them (forget what it was called) gave me a command prompt.
Typed: bootrec.exe
Typed: bootrec.exe /FixMbr
Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

Esc to restart computer. it now booted straight into W7.
No grub!

So now I have W7, but no access to Kubuntu, which is here all right.
I do not know how to reinstall or fix Grub, and I'm not sure yet that I want to take the trouble to find out, because somebody told me that the (k)ubuntu 32 bit system can handle large RAMs thanks to something called "Physical Address Extention". (See: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EnablingPAE)

So tomorrow, I shall remove Kubuntu 64 bit, and try to install Kubuntu 32 bit. If that works, the trouble maker is the 64 bit system. if that doesn't work... well, maybe I shall have to learn to Grub.

To be continued....

[verndog]

Re: Dual boot - have W7 (64 bit), adding lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED only partially

In the future type 'E' from grub menu for you windows menu, then mark down how its chainloaded.

Also, run Boot_Info_Script from my link below. That will give you precise info regarding how you booting, and everything involved.

[kapil]

Re: Dual boot - have W7 (64 bit), adding lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED only partially

@kle: well.. Thtats interesting. I thought the problem was resolved and u r already enjoying kubuntu. I would like to know how the problem will be resolved. All the best.

[kle]

Re: Dual boot - have W7 (64 bit), adding lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED only partially

I reinstalled Kubuntu, this time using the 32 bit, Same result:
Grub seems ok, and ubuntu starts nicely. But windows will not run, and I get the error screen I know so well now (cf. attachment above).

In the future type 'E' from grub menu for you windows menu, then mark down how its chainloaded.

Result:
Grub version 1.98-1ubuntu5
insmod ntfs
set root='hd0,2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set ca025cd0025cc35d
chainloader +1

So what does that mean?
I ran the info_boot_script, which gave me the file I am attaching.

How to interpret this information?

[verndog]

Re: Dual boot - have W7 (64 bit), adding lucid (64 bit) - SOLVED only partially

Change this set root='hd0,2)' to set root='(hd0,2)'

Also if that doesn't work change from 2 to 1. Are you sure your Windows boot partition is on partition 2 and not 1?