Add another operating system

Asked by Gordon Local

I had a friend of mine install Linux Ubuntu on my computer, which he said would wipe everything of my hard drive. The problem is that there is some things i cannot do on Ubuntu which i could do on windows 7. Therefore my question is could i put another operating system on my hard drive, i have Windows 7 installation disc, but i still want to keep Ubuntu. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any answers could you please keep simple as i am over 70 and the brain is not as quick as it used to be.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu ubiquity Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

Sure you ca dual boot without issue. If you boot to the install CD of Ubuntu, you can resize the Ext4 partition and make free space. You can then install Windows to this new space. You will need to boot back to the Ubuntu CD and reinstate Grub to the MBR.

What is it that you are having issues with in Ubuntu?

Revision history for this message
Gordon Local (gordon-local) said :
#2

Thank you for your answer to my question, i have tried it yet but i am a little puzzled by reinstate Grub to the MBR. However, i do not have any issues with Ubuntu in fact i am getting on quite well with it. The problems i have are, i do a lot of poster printing with graphics and i also run a program called Pro Poster which you can re size your posters to whatever size you want unfortunately this does not run on Linux plus there is more word art with Microsoft, apart from that I'm quite happy with Linux.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#3

You can resize images in Ubuntu easily, Gimp will do it in a GUI environment or you can use imagemagick in command line. As long as the images are readable by the OS you can manipulate it.

If you install Windows to the drive it will put the Windows boot loader on the MBR of the drive, this will overwrite grub and setup a single boot as the Windows installer isn't very smart. You will need to boot to the Ubuntu CD and put Grub back on the MBR and then add Windows to Grub so that both OSes can then boot. If you'd installed Windows first to a blank drive, then installed Ubuntu it is all managed for you but as the OSes are standing you will need to do a little legwork.

Revision history for this message
Gordon Local (gordon-local) said :
#4

Thanks to Andrew for the feedback, i tried to creating extra space but i still could not load windows 7. Although i still want to use Ubuntu maybe the way forward would be to wipe the hard drive completely, do a clean install with Windows 7 then put Ubuntu back on which would be a lot easier. Problem is i do not know how to clean the hard drive of Ubuntu, unfortunately it has got to the stage if things are not simplified i tend to struggle.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Gordon Local for more information if necessary.

To post a message you must log in.