Questions tagged [multi-boot]

Installation or use of multiple operating systems on a single computer.

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How can I add Linux to the new Windows 8 boot manager?

Which OSes can be put into the new bootloader that Windows 8 provides? It seems to be quite pretty and consistent with the rest of the new Windows 8 design, so it would be cool to put Linux (Ubuntu) ...
kluka's user avatar
  • 2,204
59 votes
15 answers
39k views

Hibernating and booting into another OS: will my filesystems be corrupted?

IMPORTANT If you came here looking for an answer to this question, please read all the answers below. There are some testimonials from people who have lost data doing this. If you plan to do this ...
Ryan C. Thompson's user avatar
8 votes
6 answers
14k views

How to install Ubuntu, Windows XP and Windows 7 from scratch as triple-boot system

I'm currently running Windows XP, but have ordered Windows 7. I want to keep Windows XP on a separate partition, and install Ubuntu as well. In which order should I install the OSs, and is there ...
simon's user avatar
  • 1,634
27 votes
3 answers
23k views

Are partitions to the inner/outer edge significantly faster

Some linux dual/multi-boot tutorials / general partitioning tutorials say that the inner side of a hard disk is faster than the outer side so partitions towards the outside tend to be slower while ...
user80551's user avatar
  • 451
6 votes
5 answers
10k views

How to fix GRUB after Windows breaks it, and how to edit the GRUB menu

I had Windows XP and Ubuntu both installed. I could easily boot into either until Windows "fixed" the bootloader so that it now only boots into Windows. I guess there is no way to prevent Windows ...
Rob Kam's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
25k views

Repair grub mbr and /boot using ubuntu 9.04 live CD

I have broken my boot sequence on my XP/Vista/Ubuntu box. I wish to restore the system back to the way that Ubuntu 9.04 (last installed OS) had it setup. I want to do only the mbr and /boot on the ...
Rodney Schuler's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
42k views

How to dual boot when Windows XP was installed after Windows 7?

It seems pretty straightforward to dual boot those versions of Windows when the newest is installed after Windows XP. But the inverse isn't happening on my machine. I tried even editing the BOOT.INI ...
Jader Dias's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
12k views

Can the Windows 7 system reserved partition be deleted without problems?

Ok, I recently got this netbook that came with Windows 7 and wanted to install Linux on it as well for a dual-boot. It came with four primary partitions on a 250 GB HDD, those being: 15 GB recovery ...
t0mppa's user avatar
  • 205
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

How to make a multiboot USB key?

I want to cut my 8 GB USB key into several partitions to use WinToFlash for a Windows XP (maybe nLited before). I also want to put the Framakey ubuntu-fr remix pack into it such that it has the ...
zillion's user avatar
  • 468
1 vote
2 answers
10k views

What is the function of c:\BOOT

There is a folder c:\boot on hard disk. It contains files like: BOOTSTAT.DAT and BCD What is that? I got that when I install windows. Basically I am looking for files and directory where windows ...
user4951's user avatar
  • 4,685
10 votes
2 answers
6k views

What do I have to take care of when hibernating both Ubuntu and Windows (dual-boot environment)

I've got both Windows 7 and Ubuntu (finally) installed on my laptop. For the sake of comfort, I usually hibernate Windows instead of shutting it down. And I think when using Ubuntu regularly, there ...
Franz's user avatar
  • 615
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Returning from Dual-boot to just Windows

I installed Ubuntu sometime back along side Vista, but later found that I rarely (if ever) use Ubuntu. How easy is it to return my computer to its initial state of having only one OS, and freeing up ...
Sampson's user avatar
  • 7,368
7 votes
6 answers
11k views

How to create multiboot flash drive

I've found a guide here: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multiple-iso-from-usb-multiboot-usb/ And found this menu.lst in my flash drive, which seems to be the one that I'm seeing when I boot using ...
soul's user avatar
  • 3,649
5 votes
4 answers
5k views

Suggestions for sharing and using data between Ubuntu and Windows 7 dual boot

Note: TL;DR, scroll to bottom for summary. I recently set up my computer for a dual boot between Ubuntu 9.10 and Windows 7. My current drive setup is as follows. | A1 | A2 | | B1 | B2 |...
wizjany's user avatar
  • 571
5 votes
1 answer
6k views

Password reset programs only find passwords from one OS on a dual-boot system

I have an Acer laptop with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. I need to reset the passwords on Windows Vista, but the password reset programs I have tried only find the Windows 7 passwords and not the ...
user199294's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can I use my Windows 7 license in a dual-boot configuration? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: When installing Windows 7 or Vista, does the language, version, architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) or source (OEM, retail, or MSDN) matter? I've purchased a retail license of ...
Arnold Zokas's user avatar
44 votes
9 answers
62k views

Is it possible to dual boot two OS's at the same time?

Is it possible to dual boot two OS's at the same time? For example: I'm currently dual booting Ubuntu 11.04 and Windows 7. Ubuntu is running on a single 500gb HDD, Windows 7 is running on 1TB RAID 1 ...
James Hill's user avatar
  • 1,079
13 votes
3 answers
5k views

Does Windows 8 allow multiboot when installing from a mounted ISO?

I just downloaded Windows 8 and am itching to install it. The installation says it will clean everything out. I assume (hope) that it only means I cannot transfer settings from my current OS and that ...
richardwiden's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
15k views

Windows boot menu doesn't appear when booting

I have installed two versions of Windows, Windows 7 and Windows 8. At the beginning it showed both entries and I could select which one to use (either Windows 7 or 8), but since 3 weeks this menu ...
M Waqas's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
3 answers
12k views

How can I run my ubuntu partition in Windows? vmware?

My machine is dual-boot windows 7 and ubuntu 10 on different partitions of the hard drive. Normally, I boot into Ubuntu if I want to use Ubuntu. However, when I need to run in Windows I'd like to be ...
Ross Rogers's user avatar
  • 4,517
5 votes
4 answers
28k views

I can't boot to Ubuntu after installing Windows 7

I installed Ubuntu 10.04 and it is working properly, but today I installed Windows 7 to another partition, and now I did not get any boot menu and automatically Windows is working fine still. Is ...
xpect0's user avatar
  • 51
3 votes
2 answers
7k views

"Reinstalling" the Windows 7 boot manager

I've run into an interesting predicament. I've got two HDD's, one running Windows XP (Primary) and another running Windows 7 (Secondary). I recently installed Gentoo over the XP installation and used ...
Zack's user avatar
  • 512
2 votes
2 answers
4k views

Chaining bootloaders for unusual setup

I'm trying to implement some unusual idea on my PC. I've got a total of 6 partitions: First one is for Windows 7 (my basic OS) 2nd one for Ubuntu 3rd and 5th are Windows storage partitions 4th is a /...
gronostaj's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
2k views

What causes windows 7 activation requests?

The statement: "You must activate windows within 3 days to continue using all windows features." often pops up in my notifification area on Windows 7. My windows are legal and I have activated them ...
robo's user avatar
  • 1
16 votes
1 answer
153k views

Create EFI partition before installing Windows 10

I'm currently using a dual boot setup on my laptop, with Windows 10 and Fedora and I'm planning to replace my HDD with an SSD for obvious reasons. I'll make a clean installation of both OS, but I've ...
Lolu's user avatar
  • 161
10 votes
2 answers
58k views

How do I move the Windows 7 Boot Files (bootmgr, ...) to a different drive?

I wanted a dual-boot setup. So first I installed Windows 7 on the 1st partition of one hard drive (we'll call it HDD1), and then I went to install Ubuntu 9.10 on the second partition of HDD1. ...
red.october's user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
6k views

Which should I install first, Windows XP or Windows 7?

I already have an existing Windows 7 installation and want to dual boot to XP. I already create a partition for the XP installation. If I proceed with the Windows XP installation, will anything bad ...
salamander2007's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
25k views

BitLocker issue. Recovery Key is required on each startup after installing secondary OS

I'm using a laptop with TPM module with BitLocker-encrypted internal HDD, running Windows 7. Recently I've installed a Windows 8 on the external, eSATA drive. Windows 8 detected the Windows 7 and ...
user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
106k views

How to dual-boot two separate hard drives with OS already installed?

I have two hard drives (win7 and win10), upon boot-up there were no "Choose an OS.." it automatically continues to win10. Both are working when the other one is unattached. Tried googling it but ...
Japs Asuncion's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

Using Vista boot loader instead of GRUB

I had Vista installed on a partition and I installed Ubuntu on the remaining free space. Now when I boot the computer the OS selection screen is GRUB. Ive used EasyBCD to configure my Vista boot ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

repair windows boot loader after cloning to SSD

I bought my PC with Windows 10 on it, later installing Ubuntu for dual-booting. Recently, I wanted to replace the HDD inside with an SSD of the same size, so I copied all the partitions to the SSD (...
Joseph Chataignon's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
456 views

What's the Best Practice reinstalling windows 7 on a dual boot with ubuntu 11.04

I've posted a question here that I have a 32bits windows 7 on a dual boot machine with ubuntu 10.04 upgraded to 11.04. From the responses I had from the questions, I decided to reinstall the windows 7 ...
black sensei's user avatar
52 votes
7 answers
230k views

Windows 10 Installation - A media driver your computer needs is missing

The most weird thing is happening to me: I have a hp notebook which has no internal DVD drive, so I installed via an external USB LG Blueray burner. First I installed Windows 10 customer preview into ...
Elmue's user avatar
  • 1,031
38 votes
8 answers
40k views

How to make a multiboot CD that will start a user-chosen ISO file

I have many CD ISOs downloaded from the Internet. They are each about 100 MB in size and consist of repair/diagnostic programs and other tools. Some of them are Linux-based; others are based on DOS ...
rsk82's user avatar
  • 1,452
19 votes
3 answers
18k views

How do boot sectors and multiple drives works?

I don't fully understand the concept of a boot sector, I was hoping someone could clear this up for me. If you have two hard drives, with an OS installed on each, does each drive have its own boot ...
GiH's user avatar
  • 4,017
19 votes
2 answers
23k views

How should I set up my dual-boot so that I can hibernate the secondary OS?

So, my previous setup was a triple-boot of Windows 7, wubi-integrated ubuntu, and then fedora on the last partition using LVM. I have tired of not being able to access my Windows files from ubuntu (...
WindowsEscapist's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
115k views

Windows 10 twice on the same machine

Is it possible to use two installations of Windows 10 on the same machine at the same time? One that you already have installed and holds critical apps that mustn't break One fresh installation for ...
Maral's user avatar
  • 193
8 votes
3 answers
15k views

Can a Virus Enter via Ubuntu and affect Windows in dual boot?

I have a Windows XP Pro dual booting with Ubuntu Jaunty Jackelope on a single hard drive. On Windows XP I have a Eset NOD 32 while on Ubuntu I have no antivirus installed. While working on the ...
Kevin Boyd's user avatar
  • 1,321
5 votes
4 answers
70k views

Why do I get a GRUB error after deleting the Linux partition?

I had a dual-boot setup with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. I used Easus Partition Manager and shrank my Windows 7 partition. In the empty space, I installed Linux Mint. I decided I didn't want it ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
14k views

Booting Windows off M.2 NVMe doesn’t work even though it is recognized by the BIOS on a dual boot machine

Currently I have a dual boot setup where the two options are booting Windows 10 from my M.2 NVMe or from my other SATA SSD. When I remove the SATA SSD, I cannot directly boot from the NVMe. The drive ...
Richard Epure's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why does Linux's UEFI entry disappear at each boot?

On an Acer PC, after installing any Linux system with any bootloader, I can boot it once, but after a reboot the UEFI Linux entry is gone. The Linux system's file in the EFI boot partition seems to ...
Hey's user avatar
  • 1,261
3 votes
2 answers
671 views

How can I have a multi-bootable USB KEY that has installers for many different OS's?

I own 4 different computers which I often shuffle the primary OS's around on. I specifically use Windows 7 Enterprise (work laptop) Windows 7 Ultimate (my primary desktop) Windows XP (my old laptop) ...
3 votes
5 answers
7k views

Is it possible to enable hibernation when dual booting Windows?

I'd love to be able to hibernate one Windows instance, boot into another, then switch back to the first instance and have it resume my hibernated state. Is there some sort of hack or software product ...
Jon Galloway's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
8k views

How to make grub2 chain-boot Win8 after upgrading Fedora18 to Fedora19?

The story I have Lenovo IdeaPad U310 with 24gb SSD, 500gb HDD and UEFI system. I flashed it with EFI from U410 for more info http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Linux-Discussion/Installing-Fedora-17-on-U310-...
B0D_Mr4ZU's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
9k views

Windows & Ubuntu dual boot.No menu to choose OS?

I just installed Ubuntu alongside Windows 7. Now I cant boot Windows 7 because it automaticaly boots Ubuntu without displaying boot menu. How can I get menu with options to choose which Os to boot? ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
4k views

Dual Boot Windows 7 + Linux on 2 separate SSD + Data HDD

I'm about to build myself a new machine (to replace my old Celeron, yes you can laugh :P) and I want to be able to dual boot on Windows 7 (mostly for games) and Linux (development/programing). I'm a ...
David's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Installing Windows 10 (same product key) on a separate drive in case primary drive fails (multi-boot)

Current Setup: My machine has four hard drives: A 237GB SSD C: drive (almost full, nearly 4 years old) with Windows 10. I've got the original Windows 8 installation CD. Storage Space (Z: drive), ...
nmit026's user avatar
  • 119
0 votes
2 answers
1k views

Linux Won't Boot From Option in Windows Boot Manager

I have a pre-existing option to boot from (Windows 7), and a also made a Linux option which was made from Easy BCD. I'm able to load Linux when I click on Windows 7 (When my external HDD with it is ...
Bradley Mitchell's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
602 views

installed Xubuntu 10.10 and now I can't start WIndows XP

I just installed Xubuntu 10.10 using wubi.exe on the install disk. It didn't say anything about repartitioning hard disks or anything, but now Xubuntu runs, and WinXP doesn't. When I try to run ...
Nate Koppenhaver's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
4k views

How hard is it to upgrade my Boot Camp Windows 7 to Windows 8?

I use Boot Camp and rEFIt to dual boot between Mac OS X 10.8 and Windows 7. How hard is it to upgrade my Windows to Windows 8? Is it even an option, or will I have to essentially wipe Windows and ...
mcandre's user avatar
  • 3,036

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