14.04 LTS on USB Stick; How to install on disk while retaining Win 7

[websquad]

I tried to side-by-side install 14.04 (64-bit) from a CD and it took what seemed like forever, and in the process it wiped out Win 7 (also 64-bit). Fortunately, I had a fairly recent Win 7 image backup. I'm now restored, applied about 200 update patches (Yikes!), and Win 7 is now stable. So I decided to create a bootable USB stick with 14.04. It loaded nicely and works well with 2 of my 3 monitors. So, next step is to load this to a hard disk partition. I now have one 232.7GB partition for Win 7 drive C (I'm using only 46.6GB, plus a 100MB "System Reserved" partition, which I don't understand).

QUESTION: What are the steps to safely install 14.04 from the USB stick, retain Win 7, and have the system give me a choice as to which to boot up with?

Thanks!

[ibjsb4]

Sounds like you got hit with the bug.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+bug/1265192

My method of installation is to use a partition manager and create a free space on the drive. The ubuntu installer will then give you the option to install to the free space thus making it uncessary to trust the installer with the partitioning job :)

[markjoukoff]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSaVzyPY8k
This video did it for my and I was a bit of a noob. Really easy to follow. Can not praise it enough.

[oldfred]

Since Ubuntu has bug on reinstall and not seeing Windows the only safe way to install is using the Something Else option. But you then have to create, format & mount partitions that you need. Minimum is / (root) & swap.

Best to shrink Windows with Windows own partition tools and then immediately reboot so it can run chkdsk and make fixes for its new smaller size. Do not create partitions with Windows as it may convert to dynamic partitions which do not work with Windows.

Lots of detail, screenshots and essential info.14.04 Something Else example
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ubuntu-14-04-install-guide.html

Install to external drive. Also any second drive. Or any install with Something Else
Also shows combo box with location of grub2 boot loader
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/Installing
Does not hightlight changing boot loader to sdb, but shows other install screenshots:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/312782/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-separate-hard-drive-in-a-dual-boot
http://askubuntu.com/questions/274371/install-on-second-hard-drive-with-startup-boot-option
Install 14.04 Something Else explanation and screenshots (note boot load to VM, most may install to MBR of drive sda, or sdb)
http://www.tecmint.com/ubuntu-14-04-installation-guide/

If Windows is in BIOS boot mode ignore suggestions on gpt partitions as that is only UEFI installs if dual booting with Windows. Windows in UEFI mode has to use gpt partitions.
For the Total space you want for Ubuntu:
Ubuntu's standard install is just / (root) & swap, but it is better to add another partition for /home if allocating over 30GB.:
Only if gpt - all partitions in gpt are primary:
gpt: 300 MB efi FAT32 w/boot flag (for UEFI boot or future use for UEFI, you only can have one per drive, so if already existing do not attempt another)
gpt: 1 MB No Format w/bios_grub flag (for BIOS boot not required for UEFI)
for gpt(GUID) or MBR(msdos) partitioning
Ubuntu partitions - smaller root only where hard drive space is limited.
If total space less than about 30GB just use / not separate /home or standard install.
1. 10-25 GB Mountpoint / primary or logical beginning ext4
2. all but 2 GB Mountpoint /home logical beginning ext4
3. 2 GB Mountpoint swap logical

Depending on how much memory you have you may not absolutely need swap but having some is still recommended. I do not hibernate (boots fast enough for me) but if hibernating then you need swap equal to RAM in GiB not GB. And if dual booting with windows a shared NTFS partition is also recommended. But you usually cannot create that as part of the install, just leave some space. Or partition in advance (recommended).
One advantage of partitioning in advance is that the installer will use the swap space to speed up the install. Thanks Herman for the tip.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DiskSpace

[websquad]

Thanks, guys, for the input. I had no idea I'd be a statistic, and part of a growing crowd that has been bitten by the bug.

You given me a lot of reading & viewing to do. Bye for now!