Tell me more ×
Ask Ubuntu is a question and answer site for Ubuntu users and developers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

i have installing windows 1st , then ubuntu, at long time ago, now im wondering do we can make windows that had being installed at last , that connected to the ubuntu ,/ dual boot , that may allowing me to acess windows inside of ubuntu, i try to goggling, the result is ask me to reinstalling, the problem is i had lost the dvd installer for windows. any idea how to make the old windows connected with new ubuntu without reinstalling , ?

share|improve this question
1  
So, if I understand you correctly, you have Windows already installed with Ubuntu? And there is no dualboot yet? – Lekensteyn Dec 18 '10 at 11:07
-1 It's too unclear what your question actually is. Could you maybe try to explain it in a more understandable way? – Frxstrem Dec 18 '10 at 17:53
Frxstrem Lekensteyn i mean that i have windows on my pc, then i installing ubuntu, i want to make windows can be booting in ubuntu . i know using virtual box will help but as i search in google. there is asking to installing windows inside of ubuntu/ dual booting , its need the Dvd disk to installing its. i lost its, anyways that i'm asking is how to make just its like short cut, without cd but we can running as "booting" on ubuntu . – santosamaru Dec 22 '10 at 19:58

3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

From what I can tell the question is actually about virtualizing an existing Windows installation. If you have an extant Windows partition, you can create a wrapper VMDK (Virtual disk) for it and run it as a virtual machine. This is easiest if the Windows partition exists on its own drive, as you will need a Master Boot Record entry to be able to boot the VM; but if it doesn't, you can still get around it by creating a virtual MBR.

This tutorial will walk you through how to do this.

share|improve this answer
that is what i try to say bro, can i ask you something , do its will ask to installing with cd /dvd that related with windows disk ? / do you know how to make its installed without cd, i means shortcut so idon't need to back up my old data on windows, i just move the windows inside ubuntu then its can be booted , any idea ? thanks . – santosamaru Dec 22 '10 at 20:09
Well, depending on which version of Windows you have you may run into trouble. Vista and Windows 7 are both very anal about what hardware they can be run on; major hardware changes can cause them to gripe at you. If you virtualize with the tutorial above, you will create a virtual MBR that will allow the VM to boot without any problems, but you might have to re-enter your Vista license key or repair the installation with an install disk. Just creating the VMDK won't require any backup, since it doesn't modify the Windows partition but rather acts as a wrapper for existing data. – Nick Pascucci Dec 22 '10 at 21:10
up vote 3 down vote

You can not simply move windows as if it were a sensible operating system. Your only hope is to reinstall windows inside the virtual machine as you want it to be.

Sorry.

share|improve this answer
1  
Well, actually... you can mount an existing Windows partition in a virtual machine without reinstalling it... but that's got its own problems. – Nathan Osman Dec 18 '10 at 19:44
sure , i know how to mounting to my other partitions but i don't know how to make its booting with its, i means , make its easy to setup its as shortcut that can be booting , – santosamaru Dec 22 '10 at 20:05
up vote 0 down vote

I think the real issue here seems to be the missing Windows DVD. I'm going to assume you still have the CD Key sticker affixed to your machine somewhere. If so, you only need to obtain (in any which fashion you like) a copy of the same type of Windows. Your CD key will work on any other disk, provided that it is the same type. So you would need a Windows Vista Home Premium disk to use the Home Premium licence etc. You can't just get a Windows 7 Ultimate disk and use a Home Basic key.

This in itself is my motivation for moving to Ubuntu. On the whole I find most programs (sans iTunes) works great in the latest version of wine (www.winehq.org)

Basically wine allows you to install and run Windows only software and even some games within linux. With the exception for a few weird UI elements or one or two advance features not working. You'll struggle to tell it wasn't designed to work in Ubuntu.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.