Coastalguy
July 3rd, 2011, 10:23 PM
I currently have Ubuntu Meerkat and 2 XP's installed on 2 drives. On bootup, it first goes to Grub, where there is a Windows selection that goes to the Windows boot loader where I can select the XP that I want to load.
I now want to replace one of the XP's, that I use as a backup, with Windows 7 to test it for any software or hardware problems, before making it a Windows working OS, as I currently have with my main XP. I also want to continue working on Ubuntu for testing and also a backup working OS.
I understand that you cannot just install Windows 7 in place of one of the XP's, and have it replace the boot line on boot.ini, as Win7 now uses it's own Boot Manager replacing boot.ini. I also understand that Ubuntu can mess up the Win7 installation.
It was suggested that I disconnect the drive with Ubuntu and then load Win7 with my working XP on my main drive so that it doesn't "see" the Ubuntu OS and consequently sets up the boot Manager for just my existing xp and win7.
I am then told to reconnect the drive with Ubuntu and boot it using the BIOS BBS key, interrupting the Windows boot, or otherwise boot Windows boot manager by not using the Bios key and letting the regular boot up continue. As the BIOS BBS key is a new thing to me, my explanation is based on what I have read, if correct....
First, can someone confirm that this would be the way to go, and second, since bootup now goes to Grub and then to Windows, how do I have bootup go directly to the new Windows Manager, getting grub out of the boot process?
This whole thing with Ubuntu and Win7, seems complex and confusing, so I am not sure how to accomplish all of this. Any suggestions?:(
I now want to replace one of the XP's, that I use as a backup, with Windows 7 to test it for any software or hardware problems, before making it a Windows working OS, as I currently have with my main XP. I also want to continue working on Ubuntu for testing and also a backup working OS.
I understand that you cannot just install Windows 7 in place of one of the XP's, and have it replace the boot line on boot.ini, as Win7 now uses it's own Boot Manager replacing boot.ini. I also understand that Ubuntu can mess up the Win7 installation.
It was suggested that I disconnect the drive with Ubuntu and then load Win7 with my working XP on my main drive so that it doesn't "see" the Ubuntu OS and consequently sets up the boot Manager for just my existing xp and win7.
I am then told to reconnect the drive with Ubuntu and boot it using the BIOS BBS key, interrupting the Windows boot, or otherwise boot Windows boot manager by not using the Bios key and letting the regular boot up continue. As the BIOS BBS key is a new thing to me, my explanation is based on what I have read, if correct....
First, can someone confirm that this would be the way to go, and second, since bootup now goes to Grub and then to Windows, how do I have bootup go directly to the new Windows Manager, getting grub out of the boot process?
This whole thing with Ubuntu and Win7, seems complex and confusing, so I am not sure how to accomplish all of this. Any suggestions?:(