[SOLVED]Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

[Gmafz7]

HELLO THERE!!
Recently I got a Win7 installation CD which a friend of mein acquired recently.
Since I installed Kubuntu I have been using a dual boot with WinXp, but now I want to install Win7 over WinXp.
But from what I know Windows grub erases the Kubuntu entry and thus unabling me to use it.
My common sense tells me that I can fix that using the installation CD of Kubuntu, but I'm not sure and was unable to findsomething to assure me that.
By the way I also want to take some space from my windows partition and pass it on to the Kubuntu home and root partitions.
I have a program called Acronis Disk Director on windows (which I used to create a partition without formatting just before installing kubuntu), but I'm not sure how to expand/resize/merge (whatever it's called) the new available space to the kubuntu partitions.
So summarizing I want to get two things done. Install win7 without ruining my kubuntu installation (I don't want to download all the software and updates again ) Take some space from the windows partition and distribute it betwween the home and root partitions.

I've searched on google but there were many different ways I saw and most of them didn't assured me to be safe. I'm on vacations now so don't mind posting a huge or complicated guide, I'll be glad to read and learn.

[Qqmike]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

I've finally learned that it makes life so much easier to keep a copy of Super Grub Disk on hand while doing the things you are going to do:

Super Grub Disk, new site: http://www.supergrubdisk.org/
(you want just the standard CDROM live CD download)

For doing the partitioning:
GParted (Live CD, USB, HD)
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
New Manual. New man page. See Documentation:
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/documentation.php

For restoring the GRUB bootloader (using a live Kubuntu CD or while booted into Kubuntu, either way):

Look for "re-installing GRUB" sections:

GRUB Legacy (for Kubuntu 9.04 and before; also in 9.10 if you use it there):
-- How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0

The new GRUB 2 that comes with 9.10:
GRUB 2 A Guide for Users
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3106368.0

[josefko]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

When you want to reinstall windows now, you must follow other advices, Qqmike is an expert for that.

But for the next time you should know that there is another way to install dualboot, not touching as you say your Windows grub (the correct terms are MBR and Windows boot loader).
After that installation, you could have your Windows loader with one more line with Kubuntu in boot.ini and after pressing Kubuntu option you could start Kubuntu grub only at that time. Grub itself would be on the partition with Kubuntu.

Short instruction: It is necessary to say during installation of Kubuntu (pressing Advanced button) where to install Grub (to partition with Kubuntu, not to MBR as default) and then to use windows freeware program bootpart for adding a Kubuntu line to boot.ini.

Advantages - No problems like this, no problems with reinstall Windows
Disadvantages - not so easy to remove Windows

Take some space from the windows partition and distribute it betwween the home and root partitions.

With Acronis Disk Director you can do it very easy. First step is to reduce Windows partition (you will get some free space) and second step is to increase Kubuntu partition to fill that free space. You can repeat those steps for other partitions.

[GilGib]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

I used to have a dual-boot system. I ended up removing windows and installed windows in VirtualBox.
I ony use windows to play 2 Games.

It , for me is easier to use than booting back and forth between both systems.

[Gmafz7]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

Thanks everyone for your responses.
Due to that my ISP has been down till today, I haven't had the chance to check this.
If the holidays activities let me, jeje, I'll read your advises.
I just begun to read about Super Grub Disk, but got a little lost reading info from here:
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/w/index...itle=Main_Page

Then I chose this two:
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/w/index...title=Examples
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/w/index...oSuperGrubDisk

But I'm not sure, I now understand that MBR and GRUB aren't the same;
but for example if I try the following:

• Liberate more space from my Windows partition and asign it to home and root using gparted(I still have to read how to use gparted)
• Install Win 7 over Win XP(clean install), and lose GRUB
• Fix the GRUB using SGB

I knowI haven't read all the info, but will these steplines work fine?

For mere casualty I read this and found it interesting, what do you think?
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3108874.0

[josefko]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

But I'm not sure, I now understand that MBR and GRUB aren't the same;

Just an explanation: MBR is a place at the beginning of the disk before the first partition starts. It contains an information, where to find any boot loader, Windows boot loader or Grub (Linux boot loader). They both are in their partitions. Installation of Windows or Kubuntu (if you didn't install it the way I recommended) replaces that information in MBR and when you install Windows as last one, you need to replace it with the information of Grub position, because Windows loader cannot run Kubuntu, but Grub can run Windows.
So both Grub and Windows loader use MBR and it must contain right information.

[Gmafz7]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

Ok qqmike, I've read some about SGD, but I'm not sure where to start, there is an Auto SGD, which is used on windows but I'm not sure if it will be enough.
On the other hand I don't know which version or file(s) of SGD to download on the "Download CD" section.
That should be about it, and I'll be read to go.

[Qqmike]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/index.php?pid=5
Then, at Mirror #0, scroll to the bottom of the next page:
http://developer.berlios.de/project/...group_id=10921
And choose:
Cdrom 0.9799:
super_grub_disk_0.9799.iso

Then when you run the live CD, it has full instructions about the options. (As I recall, for fixing a broken boot, something like GNU/Linux > Fix Boot).

[sithlord48]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

back up your data first.

Super grub is wonderful. but i can't help you w/ win 7 . never installed it out side of a VM.

[Gmafz7]

Re: Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

Well thnx to everyone,I finally made it, I'm sorry Qqmike, but I couldn't do it with SGD, i used the iso and everything, when it loads a line saying

Systemsys....Debian something
boot:
It happens fast so, well you know

After that I get this lines:
******************UNetbootin********************
Default
Super grub Disk
try to detect boot device and boot distro_menu.lst
...Copyright (GPL 2 License)

it didn't matter which option I chose, the screen just blinked and showed me the same menu

I don't know why it didn't worked(I used Unetbootin to use an usb as a CD)
Maybe it was because of the USB or because I'm using Grub2

Anyways I kept reading and used your Grub2 guide and worked using the Live CD Method 1

I must accept I was frightened at the beginning but it was worth the try.
Thanks to all of you for your ideas.

[Qqmike]

Re: [SOLVED]Looking for help on (re)installng windows 7 without erasing Kubuntu

Sorry to put you through the SGD ordeal. Actually, it is not an absolute must have, only to help rescue if necessary, but there are other ways to rescue -- namely, using my live CD method!
I believe you were having problems with SGD because you have GRUB 2, I'm not sure, or it didn't like the Unetbootin business. SGD has a GRUB2 version (listed in that link), but I don't know how far along it is toward working well.

Congratulations on your success with the live CD method, very nice work on your part!
Thanks for the feedback.