How to replace Dual-boot W7 Debian by W7 Ubuntu ?

[JacquesFLE]

Hi,

This is my first post on http://ubuntuforums.org, I am French and I am not an expert : so some mistakes could happen from my part...

My EEE PC is on dual-boot (Grub) W7 (99 Go from 244) / Debian ((almost) the space remaining). I did not look at my Debian since a year.

I would like to replace the Debian by Ubuntu (I will probably choose Edubuntu).

What is the safest way to do this ? Is it possible to "delete" Debian before to install Ubuntu ? How ?

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Jacques

ASUSTeK Computer INC. 1005HA (PBGA 437)
MS Windows 7 Starter 32-bit SP1
2,00 Go Canal-Simple DDR2 @ 266 MHz (4-4-4-12)
244 Go Seagate ST9250315AS (SATA)
Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz Technologie Diamondville 45nm
Realtek High Definition Audio

[oldfred]

Welcome to the forums.

You can delete Debian with gparted but really do not have to if you just want to reuse the same partitions. Also if booting with grub from Debian, deleting it will break booting. You have to reinstall Ubuntu immediately or install a Windows boot loader to boot again.

Always best to backup before any major system change.
The vendor recovery DVDs are just an image of your drive as purchased. If you have housecleaned a lot of cruft normally included, run many updates with many reboots, and added software you may want a full back up.
Backup windows before install - post by Mark Phelps
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1626990
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

Make your own Windows repairCD (not vendor recovery):
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/Create-a-system-repair-disc
http://forums.techarena.in/guides-tutorials/1114725.htm

Windows 7 repair USB, Also Vista if service pack installed
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-repair-windows-7-from-usb-flash-drive-repair-without-installation-dvd-disc/
http://www.webupd8.org/2010/10/create-bootable-windows-7-usb-drive.html


From the Ubuntu installer choose something else or manual install and choose the current Debian / (root) partition as / and what format (usually ext4). If you have a separate /home choose it but DO NOT chose to reformat it. It will automatically find the existing swap.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
http://howtoubuntu.org/how-to-install-ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition/OperatingSystemsAndPartitions

GParted partitioning software - Full tutorial
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html
Screenshots of using gparted
http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted

Also instructions for CD or USB
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download
Write image or burn image not copy ISO as one large file to CD.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/burn-a-cd-on-windows
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick

If you want to resize Windows 7, do that from inside Windows and reboot so it can run its chkdsk and repair the resize. But do not create partitions from Windows, use gparted or the installer.

[JacquesFLE]

Thanks a lot oldfred,

I will read slowly and I will do it safely.

Regards

Jacques

[mastablasta]

talk about overwhelming informaiton...

But htis is the important part.



From the Ubuntu installer choose something else or manual install and choose the current Debian / (root) partition as / and what format (usually ext4). If you have a separate /home choose it but DO NOT chose to reformat it. It will automatically find the existing swap.


the debian get's overwritten during install process if you chose manual paritioning and then to format the debian partition.

[oldfred]

Ok, it is a lot of info. And for some may be too much or even way too much.

And the important part is hightlighted in mastablasta post.

Some users just want the basic commands and are happy, others want detail and like links for more info and screenshots so they have a better idea of what is going to happen.

And I cannot emphasize enough how important backups or repairCD/USB are. And links to those procedures hopefully help those who need ways to backup and otherwise might skip that step as they do not know.

[JacquesFLE]

Hi mastablasta and oldfred,

Thanks for your advices,

jacques