5

Windows XP pro S3 is already installed on my laptop HP EliteBook 6930p. I am trying to partition and dual boot. This is all new to me as this is my first time installing Ubuntu. Partition is the most confusing part, it shows up 160GB with NTFS file format and a blank /sdv(or something). I can't resize the 160GB, had to select the blank option and click Add. When i do this the NTFS becomes free space?? I dont want Windows XP to be overwritten.

I have seen videos and read documentation online but they are all reference to older Ubuntu version. Nothing simple for this noob :)

Objective
-Dual boot with Windows Xp an Ubuntu 10.10
-partition the drive, with swap, ext4, fat32(transfer files between Ubuntu and Windows XP), and NTFS(keep Windows XP)

3
  • You don't need a fat32 partition anymore today. If you want your file to be accesible to Windows and Ubuntu you can just put them on the Windows partition since Ubuntu can read and write on NTFS partitions. Oct 12, 2010 at 17:07
  • What sort of files are you going to be moving between the systems? If they're less than 2GB in size, you could try using Dropbox (dropbox.com) to synchronize the files via the cloud. The 2GB allowance is free, and they have paid options for larger files. I say this since more partitions generally lead to more problems.
    – user2405
    Oct 12, 2010 at 17:53
  • Dropbox is great option but the size will not be enough.Planning on partitioning about 20GB for document, music and video.
    – Reach
    Oct 14, 2010 at 15:37

6 Answers 6

2

Well, in 10.10 installation is very easy. First download Ubuntu 10.10. Burn it on a CD or in a USB Stick with Unetbootin. Then simply boot the CD or the USB and select Install Ubuntu. In the installation there is an option for dual boot installation in a simple way. alt text

4
  • I used the CD, I didn't get the option you posted. Did you use the USB stick?
    – Reach
    Oct 12, 2010 at 17:22
  • Yes I used an USB Stick and the ubuntu-10.10-desktop-i386.iso image. Oct 12, 2010 at 17:30
  • This option appears after selecting "Install alongside another operating system" which is not selected by default.
    – user2405
    Oct 12, 2010 at 17:49
  • This is a brand new install. I get the language option, system verification, format HDD for installation or manual install(advanced) and then it takes me to the partition screen. I never came across the option mentioned above.
    – Reach
    Oct 14, 2010 at 15:43
2

After intensive troubleshooting I have come up with the following solution. I am running Ubuntu on vmware. The issue was initially with HDD encryption software called PointSec. This prevented the HDD from being partitioned. Encrypting and decrypting took 2 days to complete. Once done, Gparted found 6 bad sectors on the disk. Tried, chkdsk and spinrite tool to recover the bad sector. With the bad sector, Gparted wouldn't let me partition the HDD. I am came to the conclusion to install VMware player and run Ubuntu from it. I would like to thank everyone for your help.

1

Let me point you to the great wiki guide: Dual Boot Ubuntu and Windows

You will probably want 3 partitions, that all need to fit in your 160GB of space:

  1. Windows (NTFS)
  2. Ubuntu (Ext4)
  3. Ubuntu Swap (temporary storage)

You can use the Ubuntu partition manager, if you boot off of a live CD, to reduce the size of your current NTFS partition, as described in the link above (Control Panel -> Administrative tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management).

You should be able to install almost automagically once you get the NTFS partition resized.

1
  • The partitioning option is very broad in the wiki guide. Its not specific to Ubuntu 10.10.
    – Reach
    Oct 14, 2010 at 15:49
1

U can do all of the Hard Drive Re-sizing, Partitioning without loosing data using a Propitiatory Software for windows with which u can literally control Ur NTFS/FAT Partitions. Its called EASEUS Partition Master v5.5 Pro. How to get it ? U'll have to work out that... U can Buy it or there are other ways that I can't mention here for legal Reasons.

Once u have the software, make Ur Hard drive look like something like what I've shown Below.

And I have a suggestion, U don't have to use FAT32 for transferring files between Ubuntu and Windows. NTFS is better, Max File Size that FAT32 can Handle is 4GB, which is pretty less now and U might never be able to transfer a file larger than 4GB without splitting it.

[······300000 MB······] [··········1000000 MB··········] [····200000 MB·····]

   Windows XP              Data             FREE Space
      NTFS                 NTFS            (for Ubuntu)

Once U have 15-20GB u can go ahead with Ubuntu installation in this way.

Boot from Live CD and start the Installation. During Installation Select Specify Partitions Manually. To begin creating partitions, select the free space and click on the Add… button. Manual Partitioning

  • Click on the “Add” button. In the new window, type 2048 in the “New partition size in megabytes” field and select the “swap area” option from the “Use as:” list. Click the OK button.enter image description here
  • Now, click on the “Add” button. In the new window, select the “Primary” option, input a value between 8,000 and 20,000 in the “New partition size in megabytes” field and select / as the “Mount point.” Click the OK button.enter image description here
  • Click on the “Add” button again and from the new window and select the “Primary” option, type in whatever space you have left in your hard disk in the “New partition size in megabytes” field. And select /home as the “Mount point.” Click the OK button. You are done with the hard part.

Click “Install Now” to proceed with the installation process.

0

Have you considered trying wubi? It installs in your NTFS partition instead of repartitioning your drive.. allowing you to dual-boot to windows or ubuntu without changing your partition tables at all.

1
  • To be honest I did try this but when i selected Ubuntu on the boot screen. I got a messages saying that it was not properly installed and had to run chkdsk /r in windows to verify. Did it, and it didn't help
    – Reach
    Oct 12, 2010 at 17:16
0

Just boot from ubuntu 10.10 CD. Select the 'Try Ubuntu' option . Once you get the desktop ,open 'gparted' (System->Administration->Gparted Partition Editor). Here you can see your existing partitions as below

alt text

Right click on the partition and select 'Resize/Move' . To resize the partition enter the new size ( You can also drag the slider on the top) and click on 'Resize/Move' button at bottom. Clcik on the apply button to complete the resizing task. Quit the gaprted.

alt text

Then Click on the 'Install Ubuntu 10.10' icon on the desktop to start the installation , in the 'Allocate drive space' section select the 'Specify partitions manually(Advanced)' option.

alt text

On the next step you can see something like the screenshot below

alt text

click on the 'Add' Button and create necessary partitions (atleast two: swap and root(/) ).

alt text

alt text

Click on 'Install Now' and continue with installation..

You must log in to answer this question.

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