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Resolved Adding partitions to Win 8.1 & install Ubuntu

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by drhans2, 2014/12/04.

  1. 2014/12/04
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    This computer is a brand new entry level model from Lenovo.. Type 10126, Md is H515s, Processor is AMD E1, HHD is 500 GB, Ram is 4 GB, OS is Windows 8.1 with Bing.

    I just completed a session on the Malware & Virus Removal Forum with Broni.. and removed all the malware that was on the computer.

    Now I would like to install Ubuntu on the computer and make it a Dual booting Desktop. This computer came with 5 partitions on it.

    See attached jpeg for hard drive as it is now.

    If possible I would like to add 2 partitions and install Ubuntu on one and have the other partition as a swap area. Just not sure if adding 2 more partitions is even possible or if it's the right approach.

    Thanks in advance for any help...
     

    Attached Files:

    drhans2,
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  2. 2014/12/04
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi drhans2. If you don't intend on using both recovery or the OEM partitions that are listed in disk management then you can remove the partitions and create a new partition for your Ubuntu install.

    IMO you only need the EFI and the Windows 8 partition. The others can be removed with no issue but if you remove the recovery partitions then you won't be able to restore your machine back to the factory settings just so you know.

    Here are instructions for installing Ubuntu alongside Windows 8.1, Install Ubuntu 14.04 alongside Windows 8.1 in 10 easy steps.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2


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  4. 2014/12/04
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Evan for the reply,

    This is my neighbor's new computer and I'm just assisting with their dilemma, I would prefer to keep all the existing partitions (as is) in case they need to use the Lenovo Recovery option under their support period.

    I was thinking along the line of adding 2 extended partitions, but not sure by looking at the disk management screen if I could just shrink the C: drive and create two extended partitions from it. (1st one would be 25 GB partition for Ubuntu, 2nd one would be a 5 GB swap partition.)

    If not then maybe my best option would be installing a 2nd HD and using it for Ubuntu. (I still need to see if this entry level computer would support a 2nd HD).

    I do like the link to installing Ubuntu alongside Windows you provided.. The (update note) at beginning really highlights the operation..

    I have the Ubuntu ISO burnt to a DVD so hopefully I'll be able to improvise when the article talks about using the bootable USB..
     
    drhans2,
    #3
  5. 2014/12/04
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Create a set of Recovery Disks just to be on the safe side.
     
    lj50,
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  6. 2014/12/04
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Well depending on the decision you decide to go with, I think installing a second hard drive would be the easiest solution but the system will be simpler to manage if you have less partitions active in disk management.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #5
  7. 2014/12/05
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    If this is a desktop computer I would do this:

    1. Add a second hard drive.
    2. Temporarily yank the Windows drive.
    3. Install Linux on the new drive. The Linux bootloader called GRUB will get installed into the drive's MBR.
    4. Boot to Linux and adjust personal settings.
    5. Shut down and put the original drive back where it was.
    6. Boot to bios and set the Windows drive as the first boot drive.
    7. Use the bios boot menu to select the other drive when want to boot to Linux.

    That way, you retain the ability to restore Windows from backups and also retain the warranty.

    If have the Windows drive installed when you install Linux, GRUB may replace the Windows drive MBR, which means you'll forever be dependent upon GRUB to boot Windows, and you won't then be able to use the built in recovery.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2014/12/05
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Much thanks to all for the reply's & help..

    Adding a 2nd HD seems by far to be the best option.. however...

    I checked the specks of the computer (Md # H515S) and found it's not possible to add a 2nd HD.. MB has only 2 SATA connectors, HD & DVD drive and no extra power ports & no internal Power Supply.. It's really is a entry level model..

    I don't know the reasons for all the extra partitions on the Lenovo desktop but assume they are there for Lenovo's Restore process.

    Only two options left I think..

    See if I can reduce the C: partition and then add either 1 or 2 extended partitions without causing problems if or when the need arises to use the "Lenovo Restore to New" option.

    Or maybe install Ubuntu as a program inside of Windows 8.1 if that option is still available or advisable.

    If I try reducing the C:\ partition & adding 2 extra partitions is there any hazards or gota's I should take into consideration?

    What if I only added 1 partition and let Ubuntu installed to that partition alone?

    I guess.... As a last resort... They could boot from a Ubuntu CD and run in memory, but that has its own set of problems..

    Thanks for any help and or ideas..
     
    drhans2,
    #7
  9. 2014/12/06
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    You will have an unusable system if try to install Ubuntu by shrinking or deleting existing partitions. The drive is currently partitioned with an EFI partition. This partition contains the bootloader for the operating system When doing any standard Linux install, the GRUB bootloader will get installed and it will fail to install properly due to that EFI partition not being formatted for GRUB installs. The system will become unusable.

    Read this:
    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/what-uefi
    and this:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

    Easiest thing to do is get a large usb thumb drive and create a bootable Ubuntu using this free tool. It will automatically download Ubuntu and create the bootable usb thumb drive:
    http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
    If select Ubuntu, you can set a fixed amount of space on the thumb drive to be used to preserve settings across reboots. If you run Ubuntu live, you can make changes & personal preferences and they will get saved, so each time you boot you don't have to re-do your settings.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2014/12/07
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for reply..

    Not good news, but at least there's a last resort option...

    I looked at the links you referenced but did not see a recommend size for the USB thumb drive.

    What size thumb drive should I get...16 MB, 32 MB or bigger?

    The drive will only be used for Ubuntu.
     
    drhans2,
    #9
  11. 2014/12/07
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Evan Omo,
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  12. 2014/12/07
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Guess the saying "Bigger is Better" holds true here..

    2 GB if ya just want to install the Ubuntu ISO file from a bootable USB thumb drive..

    But to actually install & run Ubuntu OS on a bootable USB thumb drive then 8 GB is the minimum.. so to be safe I'll buy a 32 GB USB thumb drive and see how it works on this desktop computer...

    Updates to Ubuntu should be interesting..

    Thanks to all for the help..
     
    drhans2,
    #11
  13. 2014/12/10
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    32GB will be fine, probably unnecessarily big. After all, the only things that you should store on it in the "fixed space" are user preferences, bookmarks, recent file lists, mru lists, etc. Downloads can be saved to a mounted Windows partition. On that note, create a folder in the Windows partition called something like "Ubuntu Files" and use that dir for storage of files (downloads, documents, multimedia, etc) saved from within Ubuntu.

    Ubuntu software updates? Disable that daemon, it's not needed. When it's time to update to the next Ubuntu release, just format the thumb drive and start over with the new Ubuntu release.
     
    TonyT,
    #12
  14. 2014/12/10
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the added Ubuntu information..

    I returned the "now free of Malware computer" to my neighbor and told them about the last ditch effort to install Ubuntu on their Lenovo desktop.. They are still getting use to Windows 8.1 and mulling over whether or not to use the Thumb drive option..

    I however want to try the option just to see if Ubuntu installed on and running on a Thumb Drive is as fast & practical to use as Ubuntu is installed on a separate partition my dual booted Windows 7 laptop.

    Just to make sure I understand the goal here.. This will install Ubuntu on a Thumb Drive VS just having the Ubuntu ISO file on either a DVD or Thumb Drive & booting the DVD or Thumb Drive and using the "Try Ubuntu" option.

    This option should emulate installing Ubuntu on a HD partition of its own and saving all options along with any added programs and will boot to that OS the next time it is used.

    Referencing your instructions on making folders on the Windows partition... You mentioned making the folders on the Windows partition, I'm assuming you meant the new folders to be on C:\Ubuntu files\documents..etc. as opposed to new folders in C:\Windows\users\user?

    What if one was to use the same folders that Windows uses, would you then be able to avoid having (some) duplicate files and use the files in both OS as needed or would one be asking for trouble? Example.. given that.. Open Office or other x-over programs are on both OS.

    Thanks to all for help.. I should probably mark this thread as "Resolved" as I'm not getting a good vibe that my neighbor wants to try the Ubuntu Thumb Drive option.. But I will update this thread after I try this option out for myself..

    Thanks to all for the help..
     
    drhans2,
    #13
  15. 2014/12/11
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    1. Ubuntu does not get installed onto the thumb drive.

    2. It will be a bootable thumb drive that can be used to install Ubuntu, just like a bootable DVD.

    3. Just like the DVD, when booting the thumb drive you select to "Try Ubuntu" before you install.

    4. When running Ubuntu in "Try Ubuntu" mode, any changes you make such as personal settings, etc., can be saved to a fixed space on the thumb drive. Thus when you reboot, your changes will take effect.

    5. Create a folder when in Windows called Ubuntu, or some other name that works for you. You can put it in the root of the Windows drive. Your C: drive will have these folders:
    Code:
    Recycle Bin
Boot
PerfLogs
Program Files
Program Files (x86)
ProgramData
System Volume Information
Users
Windows
Ubuntu
    6. When using Ubuntu, use that Ubuntu folder on the Windows drive to save the files you created while using Ubuntu. For example, if you download a movie, save it to that Ubuntu folder. Or if create a document in LibreOffice, save it to that Ubuntu folder. Or if download a PDF save it to that Ubuntu folder. That way, the files you save can be accessible when you boot to Windows. If save such files to the fixed space on the thumb drive you won't be able to access them from Windows. You only used that fixed space to store your Ubuntu settings.
     
    TonyT,
    #14
  16. 2014/12/12
    drhans2

    drhans2 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    OK.... I think I finely got it... Seems were back-stepping and using a workaround all because the Lenovo HD has a EFI partition and that discourages one from using the Dual Boot option on newer computers without a BIOS setup.

    This is not progress.. seems more like protectionism from the bigger guys side, or maybe it's just an oversight for now.

    In time someone will figure out a way to bring back the Dual Boot option on EFI systems.. Where there's a will... There's a way..

    In the mean time.. To be perfectly safe.. (not using the Lenovo computer mentioned earlier)....

    Instead of the trying the Bootable USB Ubuntu option ... I will follow the instructions in posts 5 & 6 and separately install Ubuntu on a HD of it's own along with Windows 8.1 on the primary drive on the desktop I'm building to replace my older Pentium D Windows XP system.

    New Specks Are: ASUS Z97 Sabertooth Mark 2 Motherboard, Intel i7 Processor, 240 GB PNY XLR8 SSD, Adata 16 GB DDR3 1600 Memory, Windows 8.1 inside a Antec 302 case.

    Much thanks to all..
     
    Last edited: 2014/12/12
    drhans2,
    #15
  17. 2014/12/13
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    It already has been figured out and is linked in one of my replies above. Here it is again:
    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI
     
    TonyT,
    #16

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