Triple Boot:: help

[fparri]

Hello,

As of now my box is set up in order to dual boot with GRUB (ubuntu and windows 7). I would like to add Windows 8 and also keep Windows 7, so I reduced Win7's partition and got some free space on my HD.

What's the easiest way to add windows 8 and get a triple boot setting? Will Windows 8 discover the other partitions and let me install them, Ubuntu included?

If not, what can I do to get it working? :))))

Thanks a lot in advance

[sudodus]

First of all, to edit partitions and and install new distros can go wrong, so before doing anything more, please backup up your hard disk drive or at least your personal data.

(I haven't done what you want to do with Windows 8, only installed the Developer's Preview version onto a clean drive.) Previous Windows versions could install alongside with older Windows versions. But they forgot about Ubuntu, so afterwards it is necessary to boot Ubuntu from an install CD/USB drive and reinstall grub. The last part is described in this link

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing)

So I suggest that you backup your data to an external disk or to the cloud, while you are waiting for better replies :-)

[fparri]

Thanks a lot for the link.

I guess the easiest option to reinstall Grub seems to be using Boot Repair, right? :)

[sudodus]

Thanks a lot for the link.

I guess the easiest option to reinstall Grub seems to be using Boot Repair, right? :)
If you know and like it, use it :-)

[oldfred]

If you have a primary partition left best to install to a primary partition. Windows uses only one active partition or the one with the boot flag, so second installs always boot from the first install. And second installs take over the first install. The second install will have no boot files.

While Vista, still applies:
To get each MS to have its own boot loader make a second primary NTFS partition and set its boot flag on, then install the 2nd product in it. Multibooters, Pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html
A user who installed two windows & it worked to boot from grub directly
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1271600

This also applies if dual booting just 7 and 8:
WARNING for Windows 8 Dual-Booters
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1953674
It defaults shutdown to a hybrid hibernation/off state for fast boot
http://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-enable-disable-fast-start-up-in-windows-8
But then files may be corrupted similar to Windows 7 Hibernation:
http://ubuntu-with-wubi.blogspot.ca/2012/09/windows-8-fast-start-and-hybrid-sleep.html
http://superuser.com/questions/144720/missing-files-when-windows-7-returns-from-hibernate-w-dual-boot