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**oshunluvr** · Aug 07, 2011, 08:59 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

First, to install or run the liveCD you have to boot to it, not just open it.

If you're using version of Kubuntu/Ubuntu newer than 9.10, grub is the same and will (should) handle the dual booting automatically.

The ALT-CD version is only required for special installs like to a RAID, dual booting can be done with either CD.

The main thing you need to manage when dual booting is your hard drive partitioning. You cannot allow the installer to use your whole disk or it will delete your previous install. Since you have a current install that works, what to do next depends on your current partitioning scheme.

Open a terminal and type sudo fdisk -l and paste the output into your next post and I'll tell you what to do next.

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 07, 2011, 10:03 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

OK here is the read-out

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000b280d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9347 75078656 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 9348 9730 3069953 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9348 9730 3069952 82 Linux swap / Solaris

I have also just downloaded and burned a fresh copy of gparted iso 0.9.0-6 in case I need it, my old copy was 18-20 months old and I will need help in using that if needed, I treat it like Super GRUB; I do not play with things I am not well versed on usage of

I'm gonna just boot to the CD/ISO and let the OS do the work, I imagine it will be like Ubuntu and it should see partitions and swap file.

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 07, 2011, 05:23 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

OK, now that I gave myself a heart attack I could use some help.

I booted into the Kubuntu CD; selected install, selected manual, went and clicked on "New Partition" >nothing happens; went to try and change the size of /dev/sda1 ext4 from 76880 MB down to 35500 MB and I was having to hold the cursor down and watch it clock back the number from 76880MB one byte at a time; yes fast but not real fast. So I tried just using the back-space key and entering 35500 but as soon as I hit the 3 the 76880 reappears.

I am not sure what to do with the gparted disc I burned and would need instructions on how to use it if that is the better way to go before installing Kubuntu.

Thanks in advance for your help

**vinnywright** · Aug 07, 2011, 06:08 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

your bigest prob right now is that you are stuck tring to resize a partition that has your hole OS on it ....... / and /home
and is likely prity full .

your best bet is to get a different drive and install it in the box then use it for your new install .

you will only be abell to shrink that partition to a certen percent of the FREE space on it

and yes I would use the Gparted cd to do that if thats how your going to go .........or backup all your data and wipe it and start over .

VINNY

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 07, 2011, 09:32 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

I'm like 2 years rusty with gparted and would like help. I think that would be the easiest way to resize the partitions.

I do not have a spare drive laying around and this is a 2001 Compaq that is hanging by a thread.

Any and all help is great 8)

PS; via Disk Use Analyzer My 80 GB HDD has 10.2GB used and 60.3GB available so I think I am safe to resize.

**vinnywright** · Aug 07, 2011, 09:48 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

Originally posted by wanderingarcticfox

I'm like 2 years rusty with gparted and would like help. I think that would be the easiest way to resize the partitions.

I do not have a spare drive laying around and this is a 2001 Compaq that is hanging by a thread.

Any and all help is great 8)

hear have a look at this

http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted

prity strait ford........ just keep in mind you nead free space on the partition, to use for the shrinking room +

VINNY

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 07, 2011, 10:20 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

Originally posted by vinnywright

hear have a look at this

http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted

prity strait ford........ just keep in mind you nead free space on the partition, to use for the shrinking room +

VINNY

Thx Vinny, I got my head out of my *#% and went to search in the stickies and was at source forge printing when I checked back and got your note. But hey , all is great, and I really like this Forum. I do not think it as crowded a Ubuntu. Do not get me wrong I love my Ubuntu but I really want to do this on this old system because I think I might prefer Kubuntu as my Host on my new machine.

I will post again tomorrow and of course check this thread for tips and suggestions before doing the install of Kubuntu.

Thanks again, gotta find that 3 ring hole punch thingy to get this GParted manual in my book don't ya know

**oshunluvr** · Aug 08, 2011, 09:25 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

You've got plenty of room, you just need to resize and partition. I would never trust an installer to do it - gparted is the best path.

Here's what I would do:

Boot to Gparted live and:
Shrink sda1 to it's minimum size.
Expand the extended (sda2) to fill all the free space.
Create two new partitions: 1 for kubuntu (10 g) and one for home (all remaining)
Format these partitions
New reboot to the Kubuntu live CD, install to sda6 and sda7 (as /home) and reboot to Kubuntu (for later on you may consider using a different username for Kubuntu than you did for Ubuntu).

Now you have Ubuntu with no space and Kubuntu with a fair amount of space and space for /home.

The next step is to move your /home/YOURUSER from Ubuntu to the new /home partition so Ubuntu has some room to grow. You need to edit (on the Ubuntu partition) /etc/fstab to point to /dev/sda7.

If you used a different USERNAME for Kubuntu, just move the partition under /home (on the Ubuntu partition). If you opted to use the same USERNAME you will need to copying everything into your existing directory. The slight danger of doing this is you'll be accessing the same settings from both systems which could lead to difficulty. In theory - if both systems are kept up-to-date and are on the same version (11.04 or whatever) it should be fine - but I thought you should make this decision on your own.

If you decide to use separate USERNAMES, you'll want to share a group and move all your data files (music. documents, etc.) to a shared location. We'll discuss that if need be later.

Also: My general advice to those with small HDs is to share as much space as possible. swap, /tmp. and /home can all be easily shared to reserve space for your installs. 8-10gb is about as small as you can go with a fully outfitted system (office, gimp, etc.) but a basic install will only need 4-6gb.

Also - in my world - to keep all the systems I use and maintain well organized, I make swap /dev/sda1 and then put all linux / and /home partition in the extended partitions. If I set up separate /boot (for RAID) or shared /tmp - I put these into primary partitions.

Thus, all partitions sda1 are swap, and /boot if it exists is sda2. All "main" installs are sda5, /home is sda6 and any additional installs are sda7 and higher. I do this because I am more likely to delete or create new partition installs at the "end" of the extended so the partition numbers don't change.

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 08, 2011, 10:36 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

OK, I think I get the general direction here, I am guessing when you say boot to GParted Live you mean the CD I have it burned to. Unfortunately I have been reading the manual from SourceForge and have a question; the note says that to resize or move, etc the partition must be unmounted. Do I do this to 1st resize sda1 then remount them to create the sda 6 &7? Then unmount again to move /home/user to the new /home partition?

I will be using the GUI for most of this because I am command line inept. I am just trying to get this all figured out before I start. I have printed your last set of instructions/ game plan. I know this is a small drive but this computer is soon to be EOL

Thanks for helping, I just get nervous when planning on something major at this time. I will be studying the manual and reading the print-out. Maybe my brain will kick in.

**oshunluvr** · Aug 08, 2011, 04:20 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

Yeah sorry - I should have used a bit more detail:

Gparted Live will boot up without mounting any of your partitions automatically (that's one of the advantages to using the Gparted LiveCD), so you should be OK to resize, move and create. You need not have any partitions mounted at all for this step. Mounting anything will not be necessary from the Gparted environment because you need not do any data manipulation for this part of the process. Partitions need only be mounted to access their filesystems.

I would do the moving of /home/YOURUSER from the Ubuntu install after you have Kubuntu installed and verified it is running and dual booting is working correctly.

In other words:
Resize, repartition, format from Gparted LiveCD
Install Kubuntu.
Boot the new Kubuntu install, update it fully, tinker a bit.
Boot to the old Ubuntu install, update it fully, tinker a bit.

Once you're sure both are booting fine, then attempt the /home move.

Also, I was thinking since you currently have only swap in your extended partition there's no need to resize or move sda5/6 at all - delete and re-create will be much faster. You will get an error on your next boot to Ubuntu regarding swap (the default is to use UUID's to mount partitions and the UUID of your swap will change if you do this) but the error won't prevent you from booting to Ubuntu and fixing fstab.

Optional Steps:
Boot to Gparted Live.
Shrink sda1 to 10gb-ish.
Delete sda6 and sda5.
Create a new swap partition as primary (sda2).
Create a new Extended partition (sda3).
Create new Logical partitions for Kubuntu and /home (sda5 and sda6).
Test new install and dual booting.
Move Ubuntu /home to new /home partition.

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 10, 2011, 09:00 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

UUID's ?; I am not familiar with this .

**oshunluvr** · Aug 10, 2011, 09:24 AM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

This post is a little old but the info is still correct...

http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-f...-update-fstab/

**wanderingarcticfox** · Aug 10, 2011, 05:40 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

Thanks, I now have bookmarked that page. Below is my strategy for solving the issue of this topic but I still need a few more people to take a look and let me know if I'm right or wrong and where to each of those.

I will boot to the Gparted Live CD
1] I will shrink /dev/sda1 to 10 GB [this is a physical partition I think since it is the entire drive now]

2] I will delete sda2 and sda5

3] I will create a new sda2 as swap as /dev/sda2 size 512mb [50%] of my system total RAM

4] I will create a new Extended as /dev/sda3 I am not sure what size to make this

?? [Physical or logical partition?]

5] I will create a logical volume for Kubuntu /dev/sda4 10 GB [Physical Partition

]

6] I will create a new home logical volume /dev/sda5 40GB [Logical partition ?]

7] I will create a new physical partition dev/sda6 with the remaining hard drive space.

I am not positive if the extended should be the same as or can it be larger than the 'swap' ? I will be studying the UUID and fixing fstab prior to making the changes and checking back here to get answers and or corrections to my plan. Thank You everyone. Below is the fdisk readout so you do not need to scroll.

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000b280d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 9347 75078656 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 9348 9730 3069953 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9348 9730 3069952 82 Linux swap / Solaris

**oshunluvr** · Aug 10, 2011, 08:50 PM

Re: Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

Quick partition guide:

Your hard drive can only have 4 partitions. These are usually referred to as "primary" or "main" partitions. "Physical" would normally be reserved for an actual physical device, not a partition.

Of these 4, one can be an "Extended" partition which can contain "Logical" partitions (for practical purposes, 11 of them).

The partitions are numbered by type and order thusly: 1-4 are reserved for primary partitions. Regardless of number of primary partitions, Logical partitions begin at 5. An Extended partition may use 1 of the 4 primary partitions, but are not addressed directly (not formatted or mounted and do not contain a filesystem).

So:
Using only primary partitions you are limited to 4 total.
If you make one of these primaries an Extended partition, you have 11 more Logical partitions available.
Linux filesystems (which include swap) do not care if they are on a primary or logical partition.
The size of any given partition is not relative to it's filesystem or any other partition.

Normally, one would create an Extended partition as the last primary partition because it keeps the numbering in a logical sequence.

If you make 3 extended and then use 4, your drive partition table would list like:

sda1
sda2
sda3
sda5
sda6
sda4

Nothing wrong with that, but has the potential to confuse.

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[SOLVED] Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

[SOLVED] Stumped on how to create Dual boot...

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