Dual Boot - Advice for a beginner

[williamb]

Firstly if this sounds a dumb question its because I am new to all this , and just starting out
on the learning curve , I have been given a laptop that has been set up to dual boot Two
operating systems

1. Windows Vista
2.  Windows 7

The Two partitions are

Windows Vista = 279 GB
Windows 7 = 186 GB

I would like to remove Windows 7 and install PCLinuxOS

I have downloaded the live PCLinuxOS CD and now would like to know the best route to remove Windows 7 and install PCLinuxOS leaving me the choice of dual booting Windows Vista and PCLinuxOS

I have found out how to re set the BIOS to boot from a CD , but I'm not too sure what to do next , so any help or comments for this new comer would be most welcome

Note - the reason I want to remove Windows 7 is that its not a Genuine version 

Thanks - William

[Ramchu]

First of all if you have any information that you want to save - back it up - to a CD , USB Stick, external HD or where ever you want to save it.

If you have the Windows Vista install disk, you may want to reinstall and let Vista install using the entire disk. Then defrag it at least twice.

Now download the EASEUS partition manager ( here is the link to the download ) = http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm
and use it to shrink the installed Vista partition. ( The EASEUS software is very easy to use and is Free to download and use )

Next, put in the PCLinux Live CD- let it boot up - click on the install icon and follow the install prompts, let it format and install in the free space that was created by shrinking Vista - at the end of the install it will install and set up the Grub boot loader - which will then allow you to boot PCLinux or Vista.

Hope this helps ! - and I am sure that some of the other forum members will come along shortly and suggest other options - as I am not the sharpest pencil in the box !

[williamb]

Hi and thank you for your advice , its appreciated , being new to this I had a thought in my mind that I could in some way just install PCLinuxOS directly on the current
existing Windows 7 partition . Just shows ive got a lot to learn 


Thanks - William

[menotu]

Hi williamb  - welcome to the forum.  You've got lots of "interesting" times ahead, and if this is your first dip into the Linux water you couldn't of chosen a better distro than PCLinuxOS.

Ramchu: Was there a specific reason for suggesting resizing the Vista partition over using the Windows 7 one?

[Was_Just19]

Hi and thank you for your advice , its appreciated , being new to this I had a thought in my mind that I could in some way just install PCLinuxOS directly on the current
existing Windows 7 partition . Just shows ive got a lot to learn 


Thanks - William

Yes you can just install PCLOS onto the Win7 partition.
It will reformat the partition to suit Linux during the install.

I have only one piece of advice ..........  be very very sure, while using the PCLOS liveCD that you know which partition contains which version of Windows.
You should be able to determine that from the size of the partition.

Do of course back up everything of any value .......  disasters sometimes happen when we are not familiar with the procedure.

Good luck!

regards./

[williamb]

Hi williamb  - welcome to the forum.  You've got lots of "interesting" times ahead, and if this is your first dip into the Linux water you couldn't of chosen a better distro than PCLinuxOS.

Ramchu: Was there a specific reason for suggesting resizing the Vista partition over using the Windows 7 one?

Hi , thanks for the welcome - Yes you are correct there are I suspect lots of interesting times ahead , and I am sure with the help of you guy's here its going to be a smooth ride  

Thanks - William

[williamb]

Hi and thank you for your advice , its appreciated , being new to this I had a thought in my mind that I could in some way just install PCLinuxOS directly on the current
existing Windows 7 partition . Just shows ive got a lot to learn 


Thanks - William

Yes you can just install PCLOS onto the Win7 partition.
It will reformat the partition to suit Linux during the install.

I have only one piece of advice ..........  be very very sure, while using the PCLOS liveCD that you know which partition contains which version of Windows.
You should be able to determine that from the size of the partition.

Do of course back up everything of any value .......  disasters sometimes happen when we are not familiar with the procedure.

Good luck!

regards./

Hi thanks for the advice , I feel at home all ready  , Ive got a funny feeling you guy's will get fed up of my beginners questions .


Thanks - William

[Was_Just19]

Hi thanks for the advice , I feel at home all ready  , Ive got a funny feeling you guy's will get fed up of my beginners questions .


Thanks - William

Oh don't worry about that .......  IF it should happen there are lots of others about willing to pitch in.   

Enjoy!

[shrinivas]

Before you do anything:
I believe that you have installed Win7 after Vista, in the second partition,so as to dual-boot.
First, pop in the vista installation DVD/Recovery DVD and restore vista MBR so that any boot records of Win 7 are deleted.
Then you can safely format Win 7 partition, otherwise you won't be able to boot into Windows.

[Was_Just19]

Before you do anything:
I believe that you have installed Win7 after Vista, in the second partition,so as to dual-boot.
First, pop in the vista installation DVD/Recovery DVD and restore vista MBR so that any boot records of Win 7 are deleted.
Then you can safely format Win 7 partition, otherwise you won't be able to boot into Windows.

I have not used Win 7 hence this question.....   the MBR will be overwritten by PCLOS anyway so why does it require to be written by Win 7 just to be overwritten by PCLOS?

[williamb]

Thanks Guy's , just wondering which way to go ....

Before you do anything:
I believe that you have installed Win7 after Vista, in the second partition,so as to dual-boot.
First, pop in the vista installation DVD/Recovery DVD and restore vista MBR so that any boot records of Win 7 are deleted.
Then you can safely format Win 7 partition, otherwise you won't be able to boot into Windows.

or

I have not used Win 7 hence this question.....   the MBR will be overwritten by PCLOS anyway so why does it require to be written by Win 7 just to be overwritten by PCLOS?


sorry to be a pain in the back side 

Thanks William

[Was_Just19]

Thanks Guy's , just wondering which way to go ....

Before you do anything:
I believe that you have installed Win7 after Vista, in the second partition,so as to dual-boot.
First, pop in the vista installation DVD/Recovery DVD and restore vista MBR so that any boot records of Win 7 are deleted.
Then you can safely format Win 7 partition, otherwise you won't be able to boot into Windows.

or

I have not used Win 7 hence this question.....   the MBR will be overwritten by PCLOS anyway so why does it require to be written by Win 7 just to be overwritten by PCLOS?


sorry to be a pain in the back side 

Thanks William

Take the safest route .....  if you have the Vista CD/DVD then use it as described. 

Better safe than sorry   

[williamb]

Thanks Guy's , just wondering which way to go ....

Before you do anything:
I believe that you have installed Win7 after Vista, in the second partition,so as to dual-boot.
First, pop in the vista installation DVD/Recovery DVD and restore vista MBR so that any boot records of Win 7 are deleted.
Then you can safely format Win 7 partition, otherwise you won't be able to boot into Windows.

or

I have not used Win 7 hence this question.....   the MBR will be overwritten by PCLOS anyway so why does it require to be written by Win 7 just to be overwritten by PCLOS?


sorry to be a pain in the back side 

Thanks William

Take the safest route .....  if you have the Vista CD/DVD then use it as described. 

Better safe than sorry   

Just an up date , I'm now proud to announce that with the help Ive received here it seem's every thing went according to plan and now I can dual boot , my heart missed a few beats as things went along , and in my mind I said to my self several times , Oh no , Oh no . Now the real fun starts and no doubt when forum members log on and see my name , their reaction will be - its him again 

so for now thanks for starting me out on the PCLinuxOS road to happiness and no doubt as Arnold Schwarzenegger once said , I'll be back


Regards - William


 
 

[Was_Just19]

Good on ye, mate.

That was quick .....  kept the palpitations to a minimum   

Have fun!   

[Ramchu]

Ramchu: Was there a specific reason for suggesting resizing the Vista partition over using the Windows 7 one?

Not really that is just the first way to dual boot that came to mind...........As I stated not the sharpest pencil in the box ! !