Dual Boot Ubuntu

There should be no need to play around with your bios settings. Linux will install on a brand new hard drive as the sole operating system, or on an existing hard drive alongside Windows without any problem.

If you haven't already got a Linux distro, have a look at
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Download whichever version of Ubuntu you prefer (LTS- the long term support version is recommended).

When the .iso file containing the operating system had downloaded, burn it onto a dvd, or install it on a usb drive.

Insert the dvd into the drive and restart or switch off/switch on the computer. The dvd will then kick in and offer you the choice of trying Ubuntu without installing, or a full install.

If you're using a new, empty hard drive just follow the on screen instructions and Ubuntu will install as the sole operating system.

If you already have Windows on your hard drive Ubuntu will give you the choice of either erasing Windows or installing Ubuntu alongside Windows. It's your choice.

Installing Ubuntu alongside Windows creates a dual boot hard drive. At start up you just choose which OS to use - Windows or Ubuntu. If creating this dual-boot system Ubuntu puts a (Linux) boot loader into the Windows OS so that Linux is recognised.

If you save the Ubuntu file to a usb drive you then have to change the bios settings so that your computer uses USB as the first boot device. Then restart your computer so that it boots in from your usb .. and Ubuntu will begin installing.

Whichever you use - dvd or usb - during the installation process Ubuntu will ask you how many GB of hard drive space it should use? You do not need to physically partition the hard drive. Linux will do it for you.

If it's a desktop PC you are using with Windows on the first hard drive and are fitting a second hard drive to install Linux on, or have installed Linux on the second hard drive .. and find that Linux doesn't appear at start up, it's because there's no Linux boot loader in Windows.

I quit using Windows many years ago.

That's a sticky wicket. Windows can be finicky. It might be easier to install an open source OS before installing Windows if you still want to. I have limited experience installing an OS on an Acer D257. I accidently erased WIndows while trying to dual boot Mint. I like Mint 16 better anyway because it doesn't have all the lost time of Windows installing updates and system repair stalls because the battery ran out don't happen etc. Mint is cool and free online for download.

Linux Ubuntu is also free and very easy to install. If you install Mint first then install Ubuntu it is fairly simple to dual boot and have two operating systems.

It is possible to dual boot Windows 7 of course, yet Linux is free online so if you botch it another try doesn't cost anything, while if you lose Windows 7 or Windows 7 Starter and lose the product key it can cost quite a bit to replace it. In some future Universe Windows might make its O.S. available free for home versions and charge a low price annually for using it and receiving upgrades etc. That would make it easier to dual boot with other systems. Mint 16 has everything Windows offers essentially except for the Windows Movie maker. I had a lot of trouble getting the free app movie makers to work in Mint for some reason.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=157

Mint has a lot of free apps that accomplish everything Windows has.

when you install ubuntu, (or practically any linux) it will give you an option to shrink the windows partition - it then sets up a dual boot for you. Windows doesn't see linux partions at all - so the set up has to be down from the linux partion.

Only Windows 7 Ultimate, Mac OSX and Linux operating systems (OS) can change the language of the menus and icons.

Most probably you have Windows 7 Home Edition
If you just got this PC you can reinstall a new operating system in English that you buy. Installing this will completely erase and replace the present system, files and programs.

Another way is to do a dual boot - a computer loaded with two separate operating systems on two partitions (C: and D: which you create) on the same hard disc. This will give you the choice of using the original OS or another one in English for example Windows XP or a free Linux Ubuntu OS. Google Dual Boot for instructions for your model of Notebook. This will involve some study and experimentation and you may lose the OS you have now, so back up your data. Here is an example of dual boot instructions:
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

Please rate this Fixya answer.

it is very hard for me to help someone that wants to get rid of LINUX :( ...but I'm a proffessional and I'm letting my feelings aside ha!

Firs is your MBR was created with UBUNTU or Windows (in other words when you boot is it a windows menu or a LINUX menu) that lets you choose the boot options? if it's LINUX you have to use a LINUX base partition editor to edit the MBR (the way the system will boot), if it's a Windows MBR then you normally ave to delete the LINUX partiton... (if Windows can not delete it you can use a LINUX base disk partitioner) be extra prudent using disk partition editors, if you do not understand what you do you can LOSE data...

Good luck!

How to remove Ubuntu from a Vista dual-boot config

On my new PC I wanted (still want) to have toa go with Linux. I chose to experiment with Ubuntu. I downloaded thedesktop CD, burned it, freed up some disk space (inside Vista) andloaded up Ubuntu from the CD. After some experimenting I figured outhow to install Ubuntu in the empty disk space and it all worked fine(GRUB took over my booting (recognized Vista automatically!) and Ubuntuloaded up fine).

Then I tried to install my GPU drivers andeverything went wrong.. For some reason Ubuntu wouldn't boot anymore(failed to load X-Server or something). I was completely lost andwanted to remove Ubuntu.

This is where things start to get really messy!

Ifyou simply remove the Ubuntu partition, GRUB (Linux boot loader) willstill be on your PC (in control). It will trip out, as the Ubuntupartition will be removed.. Bad thing!

So you need to restore your Master Boot Record (MBR) for Vista (so that Vista will handle the booting, not GRUB).

Googleonly pointed me to sites that explained how to REMOVE VISTA, whichisn't what I wanted. Many sites talked about the 'fixmbr' command, butthis is really only available in Windows XP.

So how do you restore your MBR for Windows Vista?

1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type Bootrec.exe /FixMbr, and then press ENTER.

That'sit. Now when you reboot your PC, Vista will load automatically... Youcan now safely boot using your Ubuntu desktop CD, to use the built inGnome Partition Manager to remove your Ubuntu partition!

I have done it several times, and if you follow the steps on this site, very straight forward.

I really like Ubuntu, I think it works great and would recommend it.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm

http://www.tech-tips-now.com/2008/11/12/how-to-dual-boot-vista-and-ubuntu-810-part-7/

this is great guide to set up a dual boot option on your on pc

It has the latest mouse driver (logitech setpoint 4.0). Before installing Ubuntu the setup worked w/ SUSE/XP using GRUB dual boot. After installing Ubuntu XP does not see the usb mouse. Even Logitech setpoint does not have the mouse setup/configuration option. It appears that at boot it does not recognize the mouse or disables it. The BIOS has the usb keyboard and mouse enabled. Currently, I have two mices one for xp and either mouse will work under Ubuntu.