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Louigi Verona
March 7th, 2010, 07:14 PM
I have AV Linux and Ubuntu 9.04 as dual boot. I would like to replace AV Linux with Windows XP. But when I start installation, there are several partitions presented and I cannot tell which one is which (they have similar sizes).

1. Is there any way to "mark" the correct partition so that I know where to install Windows?
2. I've read that it is better to first install Windows, then Ubuntu. Why? I do not want to delete everything to create a Win/Ubuntu dualboot. How many chances the installation will go well?

khelben1979
March 7th, 2010, 08:54 PM
1. You can note down the exact size of the partitions on paper and then check it out once inside the Windows XP installer.

2. So Windows won't mess up the Linux bootloader.

Louigi Verona
March 7th, 2010, 09:06 PM
1. I did write the size down, but because the partitions have very similar size and also because Windows setup programm seems to output lightly different sizes than what linux reports, comparing sizes does not help.

2. What can be done to make sure Windows does not screw up the boot loader?

khelben1979
March 7th, 2010, 09:52 PM
2. What can be done to make sure Windows does not screw up the boot loader?

Avoid installing it on the same harddrive is the only thing I can think of right now.

jflaker
March 7th, 2010, 09:56 PM
I have AV Linux and Ubuntu 9.04 as dual boot. I would like to replace AV Linux with Windows XP. But when I start installation, there are several partitions presented and I cannot tell which one is which (they have similar sizes).

1. Is there any way to "mark" the correct partition so that I know where to install Windows?
2. I've read that it is better to first install Windows, then Ubuntu. Why? I do not want to delete everything to create a Win/Ubuntu dualboot. How many chances the installation will go well?

Why not use Virtual Box for both AV Linux and Windows XP? Fair warning, the OSE version is limited in certain features not being available, including USB support....download and follow the instructions from Sun's site for getting the repositories and installing the app correctly.

That way you can run Ubuntu + one or more of the other OS's simultaneously.

Louigi Verona
March 8th, 2010, 09:02 AM
I have had a dual boot before, but it was first Windows, then Linux.

I cannot choose a Virtual Box because I need Windows to run a run time critical musical application and in VB it is unacceptably slow.

louieb
March 8th, 2010, 01:50 PM
You will need exact information about your setup.

Get and run the Boot Info Script: SourceForge.net: (http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/)

If you want help - run the script and put the results.txt file in your next post.

Louigi Verona
March 9th, 2010, 11:09 AM
Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub 0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #6 for /boot/grub/stage2 and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: Grub
Boot sector info: Grub 0.97 is installed in the boot sector of sda1 and
looks at sector 2965575 of the same hard drive for the
stage2 file. A stage2 file is at this location on
/dev/sda. Stage2 looks on partition #1 for
/boot/grub/menu.lst.
Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux squeeze/sid
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 9.04
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf90ff90f

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 189,647,324 189,647,262 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 403,504,605 625,137,344 221,632,740 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 624,800,043 625,137,344 337,302 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 403,504,731 624,799,979 221,295,249 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 189,647,325 403,070,849 213,423,525 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 403,070,850 403,504,604 433,755 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ext3
/dev/sda3 a3d5a8fe-c1e5-4899-a930-77837f573c33 ext3
/dev/sda4 7d32aad1-3b7b-4e1d-9082-a23759165399 swap
/dev/sda5 fe031795-dbc1-402f-816f-7572d56e95c2 swap
/dev/sda6 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ext3

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda6 / ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,commit=600)


=========================== sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 5

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=UUID=60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,0)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(single-user mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae root=UUID=60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae (single-user mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae root=UUID=60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-11-generic
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-11-generic (single-user mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic


title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-17-generic
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-17-generic (single-user mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic


title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-3-rt
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt

title Ubuntu 9.04 (9.04), kernel-2.6.28-3-rt (single-user mode)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt root=#
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt


=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda1
UUID=60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda3 home
UUID=a3d5a8fe-c1e5-4899-a930-77837f573c33 /home ext3 relatime 0 0
# /dev/sda4
UUID=7d32aad1-3b7b-4e1d-9082-a23759165399 none swap sw 0 0
# cdrom
/dev/sr0 /media/cdrom udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0


=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


1.5GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
1.5GB: boot/grub/stage2
1.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae
1.5GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30.1-avlinux-lowlatency-pae
1.5GB: initrd.img
1.5GB: vmlinuz

=========================== sda6/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-18-generic
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-18-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-17-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-11-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-3-rt
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt
quiet

title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-3-rt (recovery mode)
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt root=UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt

title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional RU
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=fe031795-dbc1-402f-816f-7572d56e95c2 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


278.3GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
277.1GB: boot/grub/stage2
277.0GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-11-generic
277.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-17-generic
278.3GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-18-generic
312.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-3-rt
277.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-11-generic
277.1GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-17-generic
247.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-18-generic
277.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-3-rt
278.3GB: initrd.img
312.2GB: initrd.img.old
247.8GB: vmlinuz
277.0GB: vmlinuz.old

louieb
March 9th, 2010, 12:20 PM
AV Linux is in sda1 - Ubuntu is in sda6, Ubuntu uses sda5 for swap.



Disk /dev/sda: 320.0 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf90ff90f

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 189,647,324 189,647,262 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 189,647,325 403,070,849 213,423,525 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 403,070,850 403,504,604 433,755 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 403,504,605 625,137,344 221,632,740 5 Extended
/dev/sda6 403,504,731 624,799,979 221,295,249 83 Linux
/dev/sda5 624,800,043 625,137,344 337,302 82 Linux swap / Solaris


Hope this helped.

BTW: Something odd about sda2 and sda3 - No UUID - what have you used to partition with?



blkid -c /dev/null: __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 60733443-09bd-4df4-96de-e6c7945723a4 ext3
/dev/sda3 a3d5a8fe-c1e5-4899-a930-77837f573c33 ext3
/dev/sda4 7d32aad1-3b7b-4e1d-9082-a23759165399 swap
/dev/sda5 fe031795-dbc1-402f-816f-7572d56e95c2 swap
/dev/sda6 6373ef58-0ca6-44ce-b0e1-7dfaf9497052 ext3