Ubuntu
ubiquity package

multi boot OS installation

Asked by bhaskar

Hi,
       I am using ubuntu 11.04 and windows 7 in my dell inspiron 1525 laptop. Now i want to install another linux OS with existing dual boot system. Before installing i want to format the windows 7 and repartition the disc but existing ubuntu as it is in the present location. Can you tell me the details regarding where is the bios files stored and how to install two linux operating systems in single computer without disrupting the existing ubuntu OS. And i need to re-install windows 7 for some emergency purposes.
      So, for this totally i need two linux Operating systems and one windows 7 operating system.
      I am supplying the information regarding my partition table according to the output given by the fdisk -l command.

bhaskar@bhaskar-Inspiron-1525:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for bhaskar:

Disk /dev/sda: 250.1 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 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: 0x88000000

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 15 120456 6 FAT16 -------i think this partition has system files(exact i don't know)
/dev/sda2 * 16 1321 10485760 7 HPFS/NTFS------this was NTFS formatted partition for storing data.
/dev/sda3 1321 17597 130740224 7 HPFS/NTFS------this was the NTFS formatted with windows 7 installed.
/dev/sda4 17597 30401 102848193+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA) ------ don't know about these block adresses.
/dev/sda5 26915 30401 28009296 b W95 FAT32------this was formatted with FAT32 for storing data
/dev/sda6 26550 26914 2931831 82 Linux swap / Solaris-------this was swap partition for existing ubuntu
/dev/sda7 17597 26549 71906304 83 Linux -------this was the existing ubuntu 11.04 installed

Partition table entries are not in disk order
bhaskar@bhaskar-Inspiron-1525:~$

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bhaskar (hinduvsp) said : 		#1

This is the exact looking of my partition table from the command terminal and same as above post but not explained in detail of each of the partition.

http://paste.ubuntu.com/667079/

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bhaskar (hinduvsp) said : 		#2

Can you tell me the exact definition of primary partition and logical partition because some partitions are looking primary and some looking are logical in nature.

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marcus aurelius (adbiz) said : 		#3

1. unlike windoze, linux systems have the ability to recognize other operating systems on your machine and it will automatically update your bootloader, so you don't need to worry about adding multiple opsys to your machine. i had windoze vista and ubuntu installed on my desktop. i later added fedora and everything was taken care of automatically (e.g. adding fedora to the bootloader, partitioning the hard drive, etc.) i just needed to indicated that i wanted fedora installed alongside the current operating systems.

2. personally, if would advise against removing windoze if you think you'll need it again later. it takes an exceedingly outrageous amount of time to re-install windoze 7 and apply all the security updates and patches. i re-installed it a couple of weeks ago and it took 2 full days to do, and i had to be at the machine to manually reboot, answer prompts, and manually download updates and patches that were needed because of breaches created by the previous updates and patches.

so, unless you don't have the required space on your harddrive, least windoze 7 installed.

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bhaskar (hinduvsp) said : 		#4

Thanks for your reply. I am expecting some in-depth knowledge on installation of multiple operating systems. you told me in the above post that ubuntu will take care of other linux operating systems installed, but i need to install other linux operating systems on different partitions of the existing hard drive. And the control of boot loader is to be in my hand to change the boot menu according to my interests.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Windows 7 can resize it's own partition to make space. I'd use that

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#6

Which other Linux OS do you plan to install ? Ubuntu since 9.10 uses Grub2 and most others Linuces use Grub Legacy.
And are you sure to want to install Linuces in many partition ? Did you think about virtual machines, which are a little less powerful, but largely more easy to manage.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#7

Grub2 bootloader "second stage" identify partitions by UUID, so you can resize them with any problem.
Grub2 bootloader MBR use partition number, so inserting a new partition before one which holds /boot folder can break configuration. In this case, you simply have to reinstall Grub2: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Copy%20LiveCD%20Files

There is no BIOS files, as BIOS is in EEPROM. Grub2 is in two parts: MBR is on 64 first sectors of disk. Menu and drivers are in /boot/grub folder.
If you need to re-install Windows 7, do it before installing Ubuntu. It will be more easy. After installation of Windows 7, you will have to reinstall Grub 2. See previous link.

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