1

Possible Duplicate:
How can I install Ubuntu without removing Windows?

I am planning on installing Ubuntu 12 on top of Windows 7 as a dual-bootable system. I have completely emptied the E:// drive, equaling to almost 80 GB of free space. I want to install Ubuntu on this drive (thus leaving only the C:// and F:// drives for Windows). With reference to this article, can anyone tell me which stage would let me choose the E:// drive as the space where I want to install Ubuntu?

10
  • 3
    Once you leave the 80 GB unpartitioned (i.e. not only format but also delete the partition) the Ubunut installer will choose this partition to install. See also: askubuntu.com/questions/107538/… and askubuntu.com/questions/1366/…
    – Takkat
    Sep 8, 2012 at 10:32
  • How to unpartition the E://drive? Sep 8, 2012 at 10:35
  • Only after unpartitioning will E show up as an option? Which option (2nd one, or the Something else) do I have to select for getting that? Sep 8, 2012 at 10:48
  • "Something else" will let you delete partitions, repartition drives, break your Windows and more. In case you are not experienced with Ubuntu and Linux filesystems it may be a better idea to do this from Windows in the first run and let the installer perform its auto-magic.
    – Takkat
    Sep 8, 2012 at 10:52
  • 1
    Please see the accpeted answer in the question medigeek mentioned above. If you have unpartitioned your E:// partition you specify what space to use in step 5, if you haven't removed the partition yet, you can choose Something Else in step 4. Installing beside means the same thing as setting up dual-boot. Sep 8, 2012 at 17:21

2 Answers 2

1

See this answer: https://askubuntu.com/a/92066/5538

Choose Install ubuntu alongside windows.

Image in step #5 shows that you can select the drive.

It won't be labeled as "E:", but if you know the type and size of your disk/partition, you can surely identify it.

There might be an option to choose "Entire partition" or "Entire disk", as seen here: https://askubuntu.com/a/92066/5538

ubuntu install ubuntu alongside windows -- entire partition or entire disk

8
  • 1
    @Cupidvogel Ubuntu alongside windows and dual boot are practically the same term/thing. :) Sep 8, 2012 at 11:27
  • 1
    Something else is more advanced. It allows you to define and make your installation more custom (to define and repartition more drives, e.g. swap partition). Ubuntu alongside windows allows you to choose the drive and install ubuntu. It's easy and quick and can be done without knowing much about linux-related partitions. That's the difference. Sep 8, 2012 at 11:33
  • 1
    Thanks. There is a Windows Installer link in the article you pointed to. Will that do the entire dual boot process without the need for an iso image on CD/USB? Sep 8, 2012 at 11:39
  • 1
    No. Windows installer is commonly referred to as the "wubi installer". It does not dual boot, it installs ubuntu as a "virtual" installation, i.e. it creates its files inside the ntfs partition, without repartitioning the drive and without creating linux partitions. That is good if you want to try out ubuntu, but wubi has some disadvantages and is generally not recommended. Dual boot installs ubuntu in different partitions -- it's much faster and more stable. Sep 8, 2012 at 11:47
  • 1
    Try it. Burn ubuntu on a cd or create a live usb. Try the process and see if the first option works as explained. And correct, after you install Ubuntu, Windows does not support linux partitions and Windows will not show the "E:" partition/drive in "My computer". But Ubuntu can recognize ntfs drives, so you can keep a common ntfs partition (You mentioned "F:" partition) that can be used for exchanging files between Ubuntu and Windows. Sep 8, 2012 at 12:13
1

Note: When dealing with partitions, always make sure that you have a full backup of your system just to be on the safe side.

Because you will be choosing/creating partitions manually, the option you want to select is Something else. It starts at the Installation Type screen, and goes through choosing and/or editing the partition. Make sure that you choose the right partition.

Choose this First

According to the link that you included in your question, it would be the second Installation Type screen, where it lists all the available partitions.

Choose this Second

Keep in mind that the partition will not be labled as E:/ but as sd(x), where (x) is the partition number, and it will show empty next to it.

Note: Since you already have free unallocated space on the hard drive, you do not have to go through this partition resizing process.

Images compliments of linuxbsdos.com

7
  • After selecting Something else, where will I get the option to specify the entirety of the E:// drive for the installation? Sep 8, 2012 at 10:28
  • But the 2nd option is for replacing the entirety of Windows 7 by Ubuntu! Sep 8, 2012 at 10:36
  • Make sure that you choose Something Else
    – Mitch
    Sep 8, 2012 at 10:40
  • Yeah, that I'll do. What next? Sep 8, 2012 at 10:41
  • Wait a minute, in you answer you asked me to choose the 2nd option, in your last comment you are asking me to choose the 3rd one! Sep 8, 2012 at 10:42

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .