Dual-boot with Windows 7 on a GPT disk with UEFI

[Guest]

Hello,

I have a Lenovo Z580a notebook, with a Windows 7 x64. It was installed in UEFI mode, so it has created GPT partition table. The question is, how can I install Kubuntu 12.10 x64 to be able to boot both Kubuntu and Windows 7?

[james147]

Kubuntu supports gpt and as far as I know UEFI, you may or may not need to disable secure boot if your computer has it but other then that it should work like normal.

There are quite a few topics on UEFI and secure boot floating around the fourms.

[luckyone]

Use the forum search and enter lenovo along with UEFI. Evidently their implementation leaves something to be desired.

I suspect that there will be some bugs with the UEFI implementations that will have to be squashed.
But to my understanding there is no reason for a problem (beyond having to turn off Secure Boot if you have a Windows 8 certified PC). It's just that there are some very poor implementations of UEFI.

[Spadge]

I dual boot windows 7 and kubuntu with UEFI. And windows 8 as well, but I'm getting rid of that soon.

There is some strangeness, like kparted not fully supporting GPT, but the installation works fine on GPT.

I don't know about doing it on a Lenovo. I work in IT support and live in fear of those things. I also don't know about putting multiple OSes on a single disk - I use a different disk for each OS.

[Qqmike]

Spadge (re dual booting & related), just a side note to this thread ...

This is classic stuff in Linux, by Saikee, just for fun -->

A grub menu booting 100+ systems of Dos, Windows, Linux, BSD and Solaris
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...SD-and-Solaris

His new work:
How to install and boot 145 operating systems in a PC
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...ystems-in-a-PC

And other links on his welcome page:
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...elcome-message

[Spadge]

Spadge (re dual booting & related), just a side note to this thread ...

This is classic stuff in Linux, by Saikee, just for fun -->

A grub menu booting 100+ systems of Dos, Windows, Linux, BSD and Solaris
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...SD-and-Solaris

His new work:
How to install and boot 145 operating systems in a PC
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...ystems-in-a-PC

And other links on his welcome page:
http://forums.justlinux.com/showthre...elcome-message

That's crazy talk!

Here's some tips on GPT grub entries: http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...-Windows-8-EFI

[SteveRiley]

I don't know about doing it on a Lenovo. I work in IT support and live in fear of those things.

In my experience, Lenovo laptops are the only ones that don't suck. Why do they make you skeered?

[Snowhog]

See: Ubuntu certified hardware - Lenovo

[Spadge]

In my experience, Lenovo laptops are the only ones that don't suck. Why do they make you skeered?

Because we are only allowed to have XP on them, and some pretty iffy encryption software. Etc. Corporate requirements. Yuck.

[SteveRiley]

Because we are only allowed to have XP on them, and some pretty iffy encryption software. Etc. Corporate requirements. Yuck.

That's got nothing to do with the hardware...sounds like a personal problem!

Using third party encryption software to bolster Windows XP is like using tissue paper to prevent a colander from leaking. At least get everyone upgraded to Windows 7 and use BitLocker. In fact, Lenovo has a pretty solid TPM implementation.

[Spadge]

That's got nothing to do with the hardware...sounds like a personal problem!

Using third party encryption software to bolster Windows XP is like using tissue paper to prevent a colander from leaking. At least get everyone upgraded to Windows 7 and use BitLocker. In fact, Lenovo has a pretty solid TPM implementation.

Corporate requirement says "no windows 7"

Personally, I'd be perfectly happy to see macbooks and osx.

[SteveRiley]

Who the hell do you work for? The statement "No Windows 7 allowed" is equivalent to "No improved security allowed." Seriously. XP is a dangerous operating system in corporate environments where some subset of computers are mobile. It simply can't be secured enough to withstand contemporary attacks. Windows 7, with its stronger security defaults and ability to be completely managed by Group Policy in Active Directory, can be sufficiently strengthened to withstand attack. Your firm's chief security officer needs some education, I think.

[oshunluvr]

The Federal Government is an example of an enforced "XP Only" environment. At least for the standard users. The Air Traffic system has many RedHat boxes in use but only in high-tech applications. I suspect they'll be changing when XP stops being supported, but not until then. The military is another matter of course. They get whatever they can write a specification for.

I love to relate a story about a mandatory "Internet Security" briefing we all had to attend in the early 2000's. The briefing begain with Internet Explorer (which is the only allowed browser). I interupted the speaker by raising my hand and asked "If we're concerned about internet safety and security, why are we required to use the least secure browser and the least secure operating system available?" The poor fellow sighed and said sheepishly, "I'm just doing my job, OK?" I got the sense he had heard the question before. Oh, and I was excused from the rest of the briefing...

[Spadge]

I don't work for federal government.

Just the local sort. Same craziness, less money.