Dual Booting Windows 8 & Ubuntu

DennisColes

DennisColes

DennisColes

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I currently have Windows 8 64 bit installed on my Crucial M4 64GB SSD.

I also have a seperate 1TB hard drive which i use for general storage with about 200gb of free space. Is it possible to install Ubuntu on this seperate internal HDD and have a dual boot setup? Windows on the SSD and Ubuntu on the other internal HDD?

If so, how do I go about doing this? I've googled, but i've never done this before and it's all quite confusing. I have no idea what grub is and i've never used linux.

I would really appreciate someone linking me to a guide that uses an example similar to my setup.

I have a MSI Z68-G45 motherboard.
 
Okay.

Change of setup.

I have 3 hard drives. 1 64 gb SSD with Windows 8. One 1TB HDD with data and 1 256gb empty HDD.

I want to install Linux on the empty HDD.

I am unsure which device i should choose for "boot loader installation". I have linked the options in the image below.

6GP1sogs.jpg

Please explain which I should choose and why as I want to understand what's going on.
 
Install the bootloader to SDA your primary hard drive, unless you want to install to the home partition / (not recommended unless you know what you're doing)

it will overwrite the windows bootloader, just so you know.

Your 256gb drive SDC is formatted as NTFS and isn't empty by the way... this is the drive you want to install your linux partitions to...

you don't have UEFI I hope?
 
Blackjack Davy said:
Install the bootloader to SDA your primary hard drive, unless you want to install to the home partition / (not recommended unless you know what you're doing)

it will overwrite the windows bootloader, just so you know.

Your 256gb drive SDC is formatted as NTFS and isn't empty by the way... this is the drive you want to install your linux partitions to...

you don't have UEFI I hope?
Click to expand...


What are the consequences of overwriting the windows loader? What should the 256gb be formatted as?

According to "My Computer" it has 217gb of 217gb. I've formatted to make sure. Why is it showing that some of the space is used? What is UEFI?
 
Last edited:
all it does is replace ntldr in the mbr with grub, since MS dont allow you to boot other oses from there bootloader, the only consequence is if you uninstall linux youll need to reinstall windows loader.
 
I'd rather not start a new thread for the same question:

Ive installed windows 8, ive then installed ubuntu

Ive used easybcd to configure:
1) windows 8 default
2) Ubuntu

When the machine starts i can go to windows

But when I click on Ubuntu i just get a Grub4Dos black screen with a grub> prompt :confused:
 
panyan said:
I'd rather not start a new thread for the same question:

Ive installed windows 8, ive then installed ubuntu

Ive used easybcd to configure:
1) windows 8 default
2) Ubuntu

When the machine starts i can go to windows

But when I click on Ubuntu i just get a Grub4Dos black screen with a grub> prompt :confused:
Click to expand...

I've had this happen a few times too with Win 8 pro / Ubuntu 12.04. I think win8 sometimes messes up the boot partition in a way that stops Grub from working.

If you can, reboot using a ubuntu live cd and install and run boot repair and use the default options.
 
DeadLiftKing said:
I've had this happen a few times too with Win 8 pro / Ubuntu 12.04. I think win8 sometimes messes up the boot partition in a way that stops Grub from working.

If you can, reboot using a ubuntu live cd and install and run boot repair and use the default options.
Click to expand...

do you know the commands to to run boot repair?

im a noob at all this :p
 
panyan said:
do you know the commands to to run boot repair?

im a noob at all this :p
Click to expand...

You'll have to install it first:

sudo apt-get install boot-repair

Once installed just type at the command line:

boot-repair

And select the recommended repair option.

If it works successfully just reboot and you should have a fully functional grub with both linux and win8 available.
 
DeadLiftKing said:
You'll have to install it first:

sudo apt-get install boot-repair

Once installed just type at the command line:

boot-repair

And select the recommended repair option.

If it works successfully just reboot and you should have a fully functional grub with both linux and win8 available.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the help but it seems like my problem run even deeper

When I am presented with the grub prompt, I cant even boot the OS - it tells me that kernels arent present, dev/sda3 doesnt exist, etc etc

Ive tried about 10 times with different configurations from CDs, usb sticks, checked the iso's against their md5 and it doesnt seem to want to work

:(:(:(
 
panyan said:
I appreciate the help but it seems like my problem run even deeper

When I am presented with the grub prompt, I cant even boot the OS - it tells me that kernels arent present, dev/sda3 doesnt exist, etc etc

Ive tried about 10 times with different configurations from CDs, usb sticks, checked the iso's against their md5 and it doesnt seem to want to work

:(:(:(
Click to expand...

Can you get to a ubuntu desktop using a live cd (ie booting with a ubuntu install cd) - if so you should be able to install and run boot repair.

Otherwise you'll need to re-install ubuntu.

Also try installing ubuntu 12.04 rather than 12.10 as there is a known issue with grub on 12.10 and window partitions.

Above all don't give up!!! Linux for noobs can be quite frustrating but once you get it working it's well worth the effort.
 
DeadLiftKing said:
Can you get to a ubuntu desktop using a live cd (ie booting with a ubuntu install cd) - if so you should be able to install and run boot repair.
Click to expand...

I can run the liveUSB and liveCD - it all works gloriously

I have tried the boot repair and it doesnt solve the issue



DeadLiftKing said:
Also try installing ubuntu 12.04 rather than 12.10 as there is a known issue with grub on 12.10 and window partitions.
Click to expand...

I have tried 13.04 and 12.04
 
panyan said:
I can run the liveUSB and liveCD - it all works gloriously

I have tried the boot repair and it doesnt solve the issue





I have tried 13.04 and 12.04
Click to expand...

Not sure what the issue is - have you tried deleting or formatting the partition you installed ubuntu in and then do a re-install from scratch?

You shouldn't need to use easy bcd if you install windows 8 first and ubuntu 2nd.

Can you also install ubuntu on another pc just to ensure the install cd is fine?

What is the spec of your pc and does the MB use UEFI or BIOS?
 
DeadLiftKing said:
Not sure what the issue is - have you tried deleting or formatting the partition you installed ubuntu in and then do a re-install from scratch?

thats what i did on each of my attempts

Ive got 120gb ssd:
- 300mb windows reserved partition
- 80gb windows 8 install
- 10gb / mount point
- 30gb /home mount point


You shouldn't need to use easy bcd if you install windows 8 first and ubuntu 2nd.
this is the guide i used http://apcmag.com/how-to-dual-boot-windows-8-and-linux.htm

Can you also install ubuntu on another pc just to ensure the install cd is fine?

I have done and it works beautifully (but it is an older computer with a BIOS rather than a UEFI)

What is the spec of your pc and does the MB use UEFI or BIOS?
Gigabyte z68 ud4 UEFI
Click to expand...

:)
 
DeadLiftKing said:
Have a look at this:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

I would suggest just undoing whatever you did with easy bcd, erasing the ubuntu install and then following the instructions above.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this will be my plan of attack:

1) easybcd restore to backup
2) delete the linux partitions from windows
3) create 13.04 live USB
4) In BIOS, disable QuickBoot/FastBoot and Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT). If you have Windows8, also disable FastStartup.
5) Boot to liveUSB and check it for errors (seems to be a bit hit and miss)
6) Install with 10gb "/" and 30gb "/home"
7) see if it boots :)
 
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