Member Avatar for veledrom

Hi,

I wish to install Fedora 14 to my laptop as optional OS along with Win7. I've partitioned the hard drive as follows:

1. Recovery partition
2. C: NTFS (Windows 7 is running currently)
3. D: NTFS (My personal files mp3, pictures, videos .... here)
4. E: NTFS (Fedora 14 should be installed here)
5. System reserved

Now, How do I install Fedora and make dual boot without destroying structure above?

Thanks in advance

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by ljdellar

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A short, practical checklist that fills gaps in the thread (references: , , , , , , ) and reduces the risk of losing the existing Windows 7 layout.

Start by confirming the disk format and partition types. In Windows 7 Disk Management (run diskmgmt.msc) the disk Properties -> Volumes tab shows "Partition style: Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT)". Disk Management also labels each volume as "Primary Partition" or "Logical Drive". As an alternative, use diskpart for a quick view:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
list partition

Prepare Windows before resizing. Create a full image backup of the disk (system image or a cloning tool). Run a filesystem check and temporarily disable hibernation to make more shrinkable space:

chkdsk C: /f    (may schedule and run at reboot)
powercfg -h off

Use Disk Management's "Shrink Volume" to create unallocated space rather than pre-formatting a Linux filesystem from Windows. After shrinking, re-enable the pagefile/hibernation and verify the Windows boot area ("System Reserved") was not altered.

GRUB and recovery: installing Fedora's bootloader to the MBR is the usual dual-boot approach, but if avoiding MBR changes is preferred the installer can place GRUB on the Fedora partition and then chainload. If Windows boot files are overwritten or the system fails to boot, the Windows 7 repair environment restores the Windows bootloader; from the Repair Command Prompt run:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

If uncertainty remains about partition limits or the installer’s choices, consider trying Fedora from a Live USB or inside a virtual machine (VirtualBox/VMware) first. Also note Fedora 14 is an older release; choosing a maintained, current distribution (or a beginner-friendly variant) reduces driver and security issues.

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for Moncky

If you have 4 primary partitions then you cant. Do you know which of these are primary and wich are logical partitions?

Member Avatar for veledrom

I have no idea!

Member Avatar for ljdellar

Delete Partition E:, then during install use the unused space.

Member Avatar for uv4u

hello friend , if u r not a fedora/ubunt freak then just create a free another partition about 10 gb it is enough for installing fedora , NW burn CD/DVD/USB using image of fedora , and install it in Ur system , and remember just create at-least 1 GB partition for swap aria , at the installation time for better working

Member Avatar for jbirdsall

Yes, as uv4u has stated, you need to remove the partition on E. You should not be creating partitions for your Linux system from Windows. Linux requires a different filing system than NTFS. Linux uses other file systems such as EXT4. Only when you install a Linux OS would you commonly have this option. I highly recommend that you use Ubuntu as opposed to Fedora 14 if you have little Linux experience. I've installed both systems and have seen that Fedora 14 is the more challenging system to install. I had issues with WiFi drivers on Fedora 14 that Ubuntu 10.04 did not have.

Edited by jbirdsall because: n/a
Member Avatar for uv4u

be careful dear before installation , u may crash Ur windows boot loader watch some video on Ubuntu site for installing Ubuntu, and change Ur mood and use Ubuntu because Ubuntu is much better then fedora for a new user , as jbirdsall stated.

Member Avatar for ljdellar

Ubuntu is fine but does not like some USB keyboards. I use Fedora precisely because I have a USB keyboard.

Member Avatar for a.oprea

But doesn't fedore need an additional swap space particion? which along side the main linux partition has to be primary. And we don't know if he can make any more primary partitions

Member Avatar for sahityacm

While you are installing delete the 4th partition and create new with as follows
1. / ext4 5 GB (if u want more u can extend more or reduce)
2. /home ext4 5 GB
3. /var ext4 3 GB
4. /boot ext4 128 MB
5. /tmp ext4 1 GB
6. /etc ext4 4 GB
7. SWAP 2GB (min) (Actually it should be double size of your RAM memory)

For better performance use the above structure.
then install your fedora 14.
Further if you want to modify your boot configuration, you can follow as below:

log in as root in terminal as
$su
password:
# (This symbol shows that u r as a root)
#vim /boot/grub/grub.config

Here you can change the priority and the time out value etc.
CAUTION: Do not change any this else. One spellingg mistake will corrupt ur system boot file and u will not be able to boot up ur OS.

Member Avatar for ljdellar

Fedora will do all of the partitioning for you. If you just provide a chunk of free unpartitioned space it will create the appropriate mount points and swap space.

Member Avatar for sahityacm

But its better for the concern to partition manually to avoid unwanted disk errors and partition format errors.

Member Avatar for ljdellar

No it isn't. It's better to create some free space on a hard drive and let Fedora's installer do the partitioning. This will avoid unwanted disk errors and partition format errors.

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