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Resolved Question

Triple Booting with Ubuntu

Nov 25, 2011 12:30PM PST

I am currently dual booting XP Pro and Win7 Ultimate, all updated and running fine. I want to add Ubuntu 11.10 to the system, I'm fairly new to Linux but not a newbie. Now, I have done this before BUT, I installed Ubuntu inside either XP or 7 (don't quite remember which). When booting up I would get a bootup screen with about 4 to 6 options for Ubuntu, 2 options for some type of repair and an option to boot Windows, if I accept the last option I get another boot screen asking for XP or Win 7, I would like this to be the same after I reinstall Ubuntu to it's own partition and this time I want to partition an area of my boot drive for Ubuntu. I currently run a 85g partition for XP, my main OS, a 45g partition for Win 7 and will add a new 40g partition for Ubuntu and the rest is storage space, I have plenty of space for this. I am currently moving all the stuff in the storage part, currently around 340g.
I hope I explained well what I am trying to do,
The real question is what do I need to be prepared for and what steps do I do if the boot screen doesn't give me what I need. I would like this to go smoothly and I already have Ubuntu 11.04 on my other pc and am getting used to the Unity interface, not as bad as what I have been reading IMO. I would love any suggestions someone might have.
The reason I am doing all this is because my Biostar 6100-M9 MB gave out on me and I replaced it with an Asus A8N-VM, 939 socket board so I lost my installs but nothing important, I never keep important stuff (thank god for live cd's and gparted) on my boot partitions, that is what my storage is for.

Discussion is locked

janesman2005 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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About partitions being "storage"
Nov 27, 2011 3:39AM PST

I can only guess you have not read member replies about losing it all when they used a partition to sequester their files from the OS.

For now I find that if I leave space unpartitioned, the ubuntu installer usually can install and the ubuntu boot manager steps in to provide the multiboot selections.
Bob

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About sequester
Nov 27, 2011 7:45AM PST

I have no idea what you mean by "about losing it all when they used a partition to sequester their files from the OS." Are you talking about program files or things like avi, mp3, .doc and stuff like that. All installed programs get installed in the main windows drive, ("C" in my case). I meant all my personal files, mp3's, avi's, and others go to the storage area so I won't lose them if the OS becomes corrupted and unusable. I have over 18gb of mp3 files and probably 100gb of avi's. I have done this before and works great. When I lost my MB and had to replace it I still had all my personal files after reinstalling the OS'es. I also usually try to keep all of those on another physical drive that is also partitioned.
What my real question is about is the boot screen allowing me to get into all OS's.

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You'll get the idea some day.
Nov 27, 2011 8:06AM PST

Another drive, another partition does not matter if it's connected at the time when we tinker (install?) with installing another OS or boot manager.

Ubuntu's boot manager screen is documented at ubuntu.com if you want to see what it looks like. There are also (too) many pages about the boot manager.

As this is not a support forum, let's keep it simple. If I wanted to get all the above OS's booting and a menu system I'd leave some space empty or unpartitioned then boot the Ubuntu CD and see what it offered to do for the install.

Worth noting is the folk that want absolute control or want to know what it will look like in advance have a lot more research to do.
Bob

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I think I see what you mean,
Nov 27, 2011 10:45AM PST

I have already "unallocated" 338.80gb for the Ubuntu install, I plan for Ubuntu to use about 40gb of it. I just finished installing Ubuntu 32 bit on my other computer after reinstalling win XP for a general cleanup, I just used "MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition Setup" to ease the space on that drive because I made a mistake and used the whole drive for Win XP, so I had to shrink it to put Ubuntu on it. Worked just like I designed it. Now to figure out the install on this machine.

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Ubuntu installed
Dec 16, 2011 11:18AM PST

I got it all done, Ubuntu installed, sits on it's own 40g partition, minitool worked like a charm. The only problem I have with it at this point is I cannot use the Netgear WNA3100 USB wireless adapter I use for win xp and 7, so I can't get on the internet with it, so right now it is kinda useless for me.

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Support Forum
Dec 16, 2011 11:23AM PST

This is too a support forum, "CNET's Forum on Linux is the best source for finding help or getting
troubleshooting advice from a community of experts. Discussions cover
Linux installation, Ubuntu, Linux distributions, open source,
dual-booting Windows and Linux, Fedora Core, SuSE, CentOS, Debian, Red
Hat, Ubuntu, and other Linux-related questions." taken right off the first linux forum page. DUH

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Why I wrote that.
Dec 17, 2011 12:54AM PST

Since there are no paid staff you can't get support unless someone decides to enter your discussion. And at no time can you demand support like you can with paid services.

The difference is subtle and if you think a discussion forum with no paid staff is a support forum then it is.
Bob

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Ubuntu Support
Dec 17, 2011 10:05AM PST

Janesman2005

If I understand correctly you have a workable Ubuntu on another computer ??

Use it and install xchat (irc client) select freenode channel and then #ubuntu

Be patient because that channel is busy

You should get all the help you desire to set up your wireless in Ubuntu

You can also use xchat from a windows o/s