How-To Geek

how do i install linux on my existing windows 7os

I simply don't get the 'it's too hard' responses that queries about dual-booting Windows and Linux always evoke on this forum. It's really quite easy nowadays! Many modern Linux distros eg LinuxMint12 are 'other OS friendly', because they include the os-prober utility (http://joeyh.name/code/os-prober/) so that all pre-existing OSs are detected and added to GRUB as possible choices.

Alternatively, it is easy enough to choose to install Grub to the root of the newly created Linux partition, mount the Windows partition, 'dd' the linux boot sector to a file called eg linux, then run bcdedit (which isn't hard to understand, run bcdedit /? a few times to learn the syntax) and add that file as a possible boot option to the Windows boot menu. (Then, when you boot Linux, you'll find you can boot back to Windows from the Grub menu, 'cos osprober has done its work!)

Needless to say, make sure you have a foolproof way of restoring your system to its pre-existing state before you attempt this sort of thing (it's irrelevant whether you're new to it or not, I'm an old hand but always backup first! It's easy to backup/restore the Windows boot aka bcd store before tinkering, using the export/import commands.)

I'll post more details of the specific commands to use if anyone is interested, based on LinuxMint12, and bcdedit on Vista/Seven.

Why go through the hassle of VMs, when it's so simple to do it natively? How often do you need to run two OSs at once? I have both dual-boot and dual-VM PCs; the latter is useful for advice/development purposes, but pointless for normal PC use.

chirag11

If this is your first experience of linux then; http://www.ubuntu.com/download.....-installer is your best bet.

It installs as an app so if you don't get on with it Ubuntu can be uninstalled like any other program and not affect your windows installation.

Mike

Sarris, zorin is a variant of linux/ubuntu
It is not related to Microsoft in anyway.

Zorin, ubuntu based, is the nearest you will get to a windows interface

Think about it!

Mike

If running a Multiple Hard Drive Machine, install each O/S on its own Hard Drive and use the Bios to multi-boot.

That way, one can run Windows in Raid Arrays and Linux on a separate non-array hard drive or SSD.

NO Boot Manager involvement so makes for a very simple setup.

I can see NO reason for Multi-Booting a Single Hard Drive Machine unless one uses the computer
strictly for experimentation.

Rick P.