Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
In the last post, we discussed about installing Ubuntu on our system. As promised, in this post we will get to know how we can dual-boot Ubuntu with Windows. This way we can boot using either Ubuntu or Windows. Dual-booting can be the practical solution for those who are interested in Ubuntu but cannot afford to completely switch from Windows for lack of confidence or some specialized application which is only available for Windows.
Before you delve deeper into this tutorial, it would be nice if you read the first part of the Ubuntu series, which explains how you can install Ubuntu as a stand alone.
What's dual-boot? A dual-boot system has two operating systems installed on two partitions of a hard drive (or two separate hard drives). Ideally, it should have separate NTFS- or FAT32-formatted partitions, which should be used to store file, folders, music and videos. This way the documents and music, etc. can be accessed from both Windows and Ubuntu.
There can be three scenarios when you opt to dual boot Windows:
If you have a Windows installed on the entire disk, i.e. you have just one drive (C drive) that Windows shares with you, any snag in the operating system or reinstallation will make you lose your data as well. A system should always have a separate partition for operating system and other partitions for storing users' files and data.
Backup and defragment: If you are among one of the unlucky fellows with Windows on the entire disk, we need to create partitions on the disk for Ubuntu. First, back up all your vital data and delete some to create at least 15GB of blank space. If you can delete all files other than Windows, it will be the best. Now defragment your Windows. It may take hours to finish. Once done, insert Ubuntu disc and restart your computer. The computer should boot using the installation disc. If not, restart your computer and access the BIOS of your computer. This can be done by following the instructions that appear when your computer is beginning to start.
Now let the computer boot from Ubuntu disc. It will take a few minutes. Click on install icon on the desktop. Select language, time and keyboard layout to reach disk partitioning stage.
Make room for Ubuntu: Now select the partition and reduce its size to 10GB if you have backed up and deleted all data before starting ubuntu installation. Else, reduce the size by 15GB. Remember to use the same format as it was initially. You can see that in the partition list.
If you have reduced the Windows parition to 10-15GB so that it is dedicated to Windows and installed applications, you have plenty of unpartitioned space. In this, we will first create partitions that will be used for storing our data.
If you have just reduced the disk size by 15GB to create a new partition for Ubuntu, skip the steps that deal with creating storage partitions.
Follow the order: We will arrange the disk to have these partitions in the following order: Windows partition >> Storage partitions >> Ubuntu swap partition >> Ubuntu root partition.
The first partition is Windows partition. Now, create new partitions that will serve as your storage drive, according to your needs. Assuming that we have a 120GB hard disk with 15GB Windows partition, I would create two partitions with for storage, say 30GB partition for documents and 60GB for music and videos. Just click on the unpartitioned space and create the partitions with NTFS or FAT32 format. (NTFS is a Windows-only format but can be read by Ubuntu. FAT32 is common to both Linux and Windows.) Don't select any option for mount, but tick the format option.
Now that we have storage space ready, we will create a 1,000-2,000MB swap partition with "use as" set to "Swap area". Choose the remaining space and use the entire space (should be at least 10GB) to create root partition for Ubuntu. Set "use as" option to "Ext3 journaling file system" and "mount" as "/". You can experiment with these settings as Ubuntu will allow you to go ahead only if everything is alright. So, don't worry. Once done, just confirm and install.
If Windows is installed on one partition (say C drive) and you have other drives for storage, we just need to tamper with the last partition of the disk. Backup and move the data to other partitions before starting installation. Now when Ubuntu reaches disk partitioning stage, resize of the last partition so that you have 10-15GB (in the worst scenario 5GB) unpartitioned space left at the end of the disk. Create a swap area and root partition. Install.
Use GParted to create partitions: Pop in the installation CD. On the top-left side of the Live CD desktop, you will find System menu. Go to System >> Administration>> Partition manager. Delete all existing partitions. Now create the partition that will be used to install Windows. Set "create as" to "primary partition" and file system as "NTFS, FAT32 or unformatted". The size will depend on your Windows version. 20GB will be more than enough in all cases. Now create other partitions for storage so that you have 10-20GB unpartitioned space left at the end. Choose NTFS or FAT32 for these storage partitions and they can be primary or logical. Write the changes to the disk.
You can also partition the disk during Windows installation. Remember the following sequence. Windows partition >> Storage partitions >> Unpartitioned space for Ubuntu.
Install Windows: Now install Windows in the first partition. when you want to dual boot, Ubuntu should be the last operating system to be installed. If not, Windows won't let you access Ubuntu.
Install Ubuntu: Now install Ubuntu in the unpartitioned space. Pop in the CD. Click install. Once you reach the installation stage, create a swap area from the unpartitioned space. Use the rest as root partition. Over.
PS: This is the second in a series on switching to Ubuntu from Windows, for non-geeks. At the end of the Ubuntu series, you will be a proud owner of a fantastic Linux system.
Ubuntu series:
Part1: Easy guide to getting started with Ubuntu
Part2: Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
Part3: Make Ubuntu mount partitions and drives automatically at startup
Part4: Activating restricted music formats, Java and Flash on Ubuntu
Part5: Installing some basic applications on your Ubuntu system
Part6: How to install and completely remove Wine?
Part7: Easily tweak Ubuntu with Ubuntu Tweak
Part8: Tasque manages to-do list locally or integrates with Remember The Milk
Part9: AllTray: Dock every application in tray
Part10: Install a Web server on Ubuntu home computer
Additional resources:
Ubuntu documentation on dual-booting with Windows
Before you delve deeper into this tutorial, it would be nice if you read the first part of the Ubuntu series, which explains how you can install Ubuntu as a stand alone.
What's dual-boot? A dual-boot system has two operating systems installed on two partitions of a hard drive (or two separate hard drives). Ideally, it should have separate NTFS- or FAT32-formatted partitions, which should be used to store file, folders, music and videos. This way the documents and music, etc. can be accessed from both Windows and Ubuntu.
There can be three scenarios when you opt to dual boot Windows:
- Windows is installed on the entire hard disk.
- Windows is installed on one partition and other partitions are used for storage.
- You want to install both Windows and Ubuntu afresh.
Windows installed on entire disk
If you have a Windows installed on the entire disk, i.e. you have just one drive (C drive) that Windows shares with you, any snag in the operating system or reinstallation will make you lose your data as well. A system should always have a separate partition for operating system and other partitions for storing users' files and data.
Backup and defragment: If you are among one of the unlucky fellows with Windows on the entire disk, we need to create partitions on the disk for Ubuntu. First, back up all your vital data and delete some to create at least 15GB of blank space. If you can delete all files other than Windows, it will be the best. Now defragment your Windows. It may take hours to finish. Once done, insert Ubuntu disc and restart your computer. The computer should boot using the installation disc. If not, restart your computer and access the BIOS of your computer. This can be done by following the instructions that appear when your computer is beginning to start.
Now let the computer boot from Ubuntu disc. It will take a few minutes. Click on install icon on the desktop. Select language, time and keyboard layout to reach disk partitioning stage.
Make room for Ubuntu: Now select the partition and reduce its size to 10GB if you have backed up and deleted all data before starting ubuntu installation. Else, reduce the size by 15GB. Remember to use the same format as it was initially. You can see that in the partition list.
If you have reduced the Windows parition to 10-15GB so that it is dedicated to Windows and installed applications, you have plenty of unpartitioned space. In this, we will first create partitions that will be used for storing our data.
If you have just reduced the disk size by 15GB to create a new partition for Ubuntu, skip the steps that deal with creating storage partitions.
Follow the order: We will arrange the disk to have these partitions in the following order: Windows partition >> Storage partitions >> Ubuntu swap partition >> Ubuntu root partition.
The first partition is Windows partition. Now, create new partitions that will serve as your storage drive, according to your needs. Assuming that we have a 120GB hard disk with 15GB Windows partition, I would create two partitions with for storage, say 30GB partition for documents and 60GB for music and videos. Just click on the unpartitioned space and create the partitions with NTFS or FAT32 format. (NTFS is a Windows-only format but can be read by Ubuntu. FAT32 is common to both Linux and Windows.) Don't select any option for mount, but tick the format option.
Now that we have storage space ready, we will create a 1,000-2,000MB swap partition with "use as" set to "Swap area". Choose the remaining space and use the entire space (should be at least 10GB) to create root partition for Ubuntu. Set "use as" option to "Ext3 journaling file system" and "mount" as "/". You can experiment with these settings as Ubuntu will allow you to go ahead only if everything is alright. So, don't worry. Once done, just confirm and install.
Windows installed on separate partition
If Windows is installed on one partition (say C drive) and you have other drives for storage, we just need to tamper with the last partition of the disk. Backup and move the data to other partitions before starting installation. Now when Ubuntu reaches disk partitioning stage, resize of the last partition so that you have 10-15GB (in the worst scenario 5GB) unpartitioned space left at the end of the disk. Create a swap area and root partition. Install.
Install every thing afresh
Use GParted to create partitions: Pop in the installation CD. On the top-left side of the Live CD desktop, you will find System menu. Go to System >> Administration>> Partition manager. Delete all existing partitions. Now create the partition that will be used to install Windows. Set "create as" to "primary partition" and file system as "NTFS, FAT32 or unformatted". The size will depend on your Windows version. 20GB will be more than enough in all cases. Now create other partitions for storage so that you have 10-20GB unpartitioned space left at the end. Choose NTFS or FAT32 for these storage partitions and they can be primary or logical. Write the changes to the disk.
You can also partition the disk during Windows installation. Remember the following sequence. Windows partition >> Storage partitions >> Unpartitioned space for Ubuntu.
Install Windows: Now install Windows in the first partition. when you want to dual boot, Ubuntu should be the last operating system to be installed. If not, Windows won't let you access Ubuntu.
Install Ubuntu: Now install Ubuntu in the unpartitioned space. Pop in the CD. Click install. Once you reach the installation stage, create a swap area from the unpartitioned space. Use the rest as root partition. Over.
PS: This is the second in a series on switching to Ubuntu from Windows, for non-geeks. At the end of the Ubuntu series, you will be a proud owner of a fantastic Linux system.
Ubuntu series:
Part1: Easy guide to getting started with Ubuntu
Part2: Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
Part3: Make Ubuntu mount partitions and drives automatically at startup
Part4: Activating restricted music formats, Java and Flash on Ubuntu
Part5: Installing some basic applications on your Ubuntu system
Part6: How to install and completely remove Wine?
Part7: Easily tweak Ubuntu with Ubuntu Tweak
Part8: Tasque manages to-do list locally or integrates with Remember The Milk
Part9: AllTray: Dock every application in tray
Part10: Install a Web server on Ubuntu home computer
Additional resources:
Ubuntu documentation on dual-booting with Windows
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