Re: Partitioning laptop for Linux and Windows
Originally Posted by
ubni
Before I start with the correct partitioning of the hard drive I would like to know how the two OS will be placed onto the partition and how much space I should ideally assign to them.
Linux does not use the Windows concept of drive letters, but like Windows, it will install the OS and apps within the same filesystem. If you want to SHARE data between Windows and Ubuntu, then create a separate DATA partition, and format it NTFS -- since both can read & write to NTFS file systems.
As far as I understand under Windows I install the OS and the drivers, make a first default OS image, then install the software I like including all settings and preferences, make another OS image and start working with the laptop. This method has proven to be very productive and safe for me for years so far.
Good approach -- this is exactly what I've done for years.
1) Can I understand this under Ubuntu similarly? From what I think, and please do correct me if this is not the case, the Ubuntu OS will surly be installed on a separate partition like shown in the bottom row of the above graphic, no?
Yes, for best results and performance, install Ubuntu into its own partitions.
2) What about my work data that I keep on D: respectively on E:. Can I access that data from the Ubuntu OS as well or does Ubuntu keep all the OS files and the work data in one partition, similarly to having all your work files on C: My Documents under Windows, and then when something messes up not only the OS but the whole work data is gone as well?
To the degree you can, keep your work data on the separate DATA partition -- not in Ubuntu, not in Windows. Ubuntu can read/write Windows partitions, but you really don't want to be making changes to the Win7 OS files from inside Ubuntu. That is asking for trouble. Windows can read Ubuntu, but you should not be trying to change Ubuntu files from inside Windows.
3) You can see that I would clearly like to separate the OS from the work data. Is this possible with Ubuntu as well and how can I prepare the partitions correctly to achieve such a setup? Is such a setup actually advisable when running Ubuntu?
You can create a separate /home partition for storing personal data, and while it functions similar to My Documents in Windows, it's not the same implementation.
4) What about the drivers for my laptop model? Where do I get the drivers for my laptop under Ubuntu? Is my laptop at all compatible to run Ubuntu or will I have to accept deductions, like not being able to properly use the graphics or sound card with it for example?
Unlike with Windows, you don't install drivers from a CD or download them; instead, when Ubuntu is installed, it scans the hardware and downloads the drivers needed. A good approach is to boot from the Ubuntu desktop CD, selecting Try Ubuntu, and see how well it works -- from the standpoint of detecting hardware and installing drivers. Every PC is different, so there's no guarantee that anything will work before you try it.
5) Last not least, similarly to imaging the OS under Windows once I have reached a satisfactory state of the OS, can this be done under Ubuntu as well? I like to have images of the working setup under Ubuntu so that I do not have to worry about making mistakes and can quickly revert to the initial setup and state of the OS when something goes wrong.
Again ... we think alike here, and I regularly image off the Ubuntu install using Clonezilla to an external drive. Takes 10 minutes to do the imageing and verification, and less to restore.
6) What do I install first, Ubuntu or Windows and why?
Win7 -- because Ubuntu will detect Win7 when you install it second.
7)Keeping in mind the bottom row and that I like to be able to access my work files from the Windows OS as well as from the Ubuntu OS how much space do I approximately need to assign to the pure Ubuntu OS on the hard drive?
Spaces:
30GB - Win7 OS
10GB - Ubuntu (without /home)
10GB - Ubuntu /home
Remainer -- NTFS data partition
(others may have different suggestiuons)
When I install software under Ubuntu, will that install onto the Ubuntu OS partition? Meaning do I need to leave more space on the Ubuntu OS partition when I later like to install software onto it?
You set up the partitions manually during the installation. Ubuntu then automatically writes the files into the proper partitions during the install. Spaces provided above should me more that sufficient -- provided most of the large data files are put into the DATA partition.
Ubuntu 20.04, Mint 19.10; MS Win10 Pro.
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