INSTALLING UBUNTU ALONGSIDE WINDOWS 7

Installation steps for a dual boot setup

    So first insert the installation media into the computer and boot from it. Further steps are as mentioned below. Please note that the only different between the steps that follow from those mentioned in the "installing Ubuntu on a Machine with No OS" are those which are related to partitioning. We won't repeat them here in detail but only refer to the previous one (with a brief inline description of the step).

Step 1: Choose your language. This step is the same as Step 1 of procedure for Ubuntu installation without an OS.

Step 2: On the next screen, ubiquity will recommend system requirements and tell you whether your system meets them all or not. It basically shows you the following requirements:

• 4.4 GB disk space - This is perhaps the only stringent requirement by Ubuntu. You should make sure that your hard disk has at least that much space. Of course the bigger, the better.
• Is connected to power source - This is not a very hardcore requirement. All Ubuntu wants to say here is: "please ensure power supply is not turned off when installing".
• Is connected to internet - Although this too is not necessity, Ubuntu could use your internet connection to download updates and extra media codecs (both are options provided on the screen) over the internet. This will ensure that your OS is brand new and updated when installation finally finishes.

          Just make sure that Ubuntu is ready to be installed and press the "Forward" button again to go to next step.

Step 3: In this step, Ubuntu will ask you how you want to install Ubuntu. It shows you three options:

• Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7: This is the most suitable option for us. When you select this option, Ubuntu looks into each partition, sees how much drive space is available and selects one which suits the best. Upon selecting it and pressing 'Forward', you will be allowed to set the amount of space you want to allocate for Ubuntu on the selected drive; usually it's the one with most amount of space available.

          The screen which offer you to allot the space to Ubuntu by re-sizing the selected partition, will also provide a link to the advanced partitioning tool. It's the same screen that appears when you select the 'Something else' option.

• Replace Windows 7 with Ubuntu: We don't want this. This will remove the contents of the Windows 7 partition. This may contain all your music, pictures, documents and videos kept in the default folders and Windows programs, along with the OS itself. Do this only if you really want to remove Windows.
• Something else: This option will take you to the advanced partitioning tool. Using this tool, you can delete, resize and create new partitions. It's recommended (only) for advanced users who want more control over how much space is to be allocated to each Linux volume, file systems to be used and so on.

          To use this option, you must be knowledgeable enough to understand the limitations of hard disk structures and file systems. Here are a few questions to help you determine whether you should be using this option or not:

• Do you know that most computers use a partitioning style called MBR?
• Did you know that there the sum of number of primary and extended partitions can't exceed 4?
• Did you know that a new install requires a new partition and that primary partitions are more preferred for the /boot partition?
• Did you know that resizing a NTFS partition can take a lot of time?
• Do you understand the differences between the primary, extended and logical partitions?

          If answers of all the questions above is 'yes', you might be a suitable candidate for using the advanced partitioning tool. If, however, any answer is a 'no', we suggest you allow Ubuntu to take a wiser decision by selecting "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7". Unless you are in a mood to experiment with partitioning and understand the fact that a failed experiment might result in total loss of data with an unbootable fate, you should select the first option and let Ubuntu take decisions on its own. Even if all the answers for the questions above are 'yes' but you still get stuck at some error or message shown by Ubuntu during partitioning, you should select the first option (Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 7) to let Ubuntu decide the best option.
       If you are about to make the partitions yourself, do make sure that you allot about 1.5 to 3.0 times the installed RAM as swap area. Although lesser can also be used, allocating the swap area based on this calculation promises better performance.
      Upon selection of the right choice and creating partitions, click on 'Install now' and installation  will start straight away.
     The rest of the steps are the same as for my previous post "How to install Ubuntu?". Mention them here for an easy reference.

Step 4: Choose your timezone and click 'Forward'.

Step 5: Select your keyboard layout.

Step 6: Enter your name, a username, password, machine name and choose auto login option.

Step 7: Wait while Ubuntu downloads the package list or skip the step and reboot the system after installation completes.
    Upon following these steps, you will be able to boot into the Windows or Ubuntu by selecting one from the boot menu.