The latest final release from the world’s post popular open source Linux Kernel based OS, Ubuntu 11.10 got out almost two months ago and after that release I give you a quick shot over some new and important improvements of that version. Since then I got a lot request to start Linux section in my blog and so I kept searching for a good writer who would like to write one (As I wanted myself suited to Windows only). But those who are capable of giving something here weren’t really free at this moment so I decided to go by myself. So from that point of view today I am ensuring you that you will see a resourceful Linux section in ABC Trick real soon. As this blog is mostly focused to Windows users and I guess also most of visitors I got are also use Windows, so I am trying to improvise you to use Linux and today I am going to show you how to Dual Boot Ubuntu 11.10 with your current operating system safely. I will go through every details and necessary tips including screenshots here. So continue to read more.
Couple of days ago I shared you some thoughts of Dual Booting with you. Before getting to this tutorial, you should have a look over that article first. Also I have a similar types of tutorial showing how to run Ubuntu 11.10 on VirtualBox. You might also like to read that out first.
To make sure your data remains untouched while installing Ubuntu, it is recommended to create a whole new separate partition for Ubuntu. If you are using Windows OS, then you can easily make a new partition using Windows MMC Snap-In. I have a complete tutorial about how to do so here. Create a partition about 15-20 GB for Ubuntu using the tutorial.
First things first, you are going to need Ubuntu 11.10 ISO file which is almost 712 MB in size. You can download it from the link by the end of the tutorial. Then you are going to need a blank CD/DVD or a Pen-drive with minimum 1 GB free space which you are going to use for a bootable device. Then you will need a software to create a bootable device. And most importantly, you have to be mentally prepared to use Ubuntu and not to throw it away at the first look because it doesn’t act like Windows or Mac.
Now let me show you how to create a bootable Pen-Drive for Ubuntu 11.10. For this, you are going to need a software called UNetbootin which works on all three platform Windows, Mac and Linux. This is a portable tool and you can run it simply by double-clicking on the file. Now from the opened window, select Disk Image and browse for the downloaded ISO file. Then select USB Drive from the Type and select you desired drive from Drive right next to it. Then click on OK. UNetbootin will then automatically do everything else for you.
If you want to create a bootable CD/DVD instead, refer to this tutorial from Ubuntu to do so. After creating a bootable device, restart your system and boot using your created CD or Pen-Drive. When the installer boot menu starts, select the Install Ubuntu on a Hard Disk to continue.
From the next window, select desired language from the Left Panel and then click on Install Ubuntu. The installer will then start.
Once the installer starts, you will be asked how you want the Ubuntu to be installed. Usually you will see three options here. One is installing Ubuntu alongside your current system (Install Ubuntu on the drive where your current OS located – will not replace your current OS), overwrite your current OS with Ubuntu (Install Ubuntu on the drive where your current OS located – will replace your current OS) and the last option is Something Else. Select the Something Else and then click on Continue.
You will then be taken to Ubuntu’s Advanced Partitioning Tool. Now comes the tricky parts. Remember I told you to create a new partition for Ubuntu in the starting of the tutorial? Well, it will help you the most now. From here, select the partition you just created and the click on Change… From the popped-up box, select Ext4 journaling File System from the Use as: and check the Format the partition option and then select root menu ( / ) from the Mount Point.
You might also like to create a boot point. For this, allocate 200-800 MB space and and follow the other instuction from the previous step except from Mount point: which will be /boot. Click OK to proceed.
Then click on Install Now button to continue installation. This will instantly start to setup the whole OS for you. While the system is being installed, you will be asked to select some basic usage things like favorite keyboard method, timezone etc. You will also be asked to chose a Username, password and so on. Put those information to continue the process.
After the installation is finished, the system will be rebooted. After the BIOS started, you will be asked to choose which OS you want to run up. The first thing you will surly notice is the Boot Loader has been changed and replaced by GRUB 2 loader. Although it is far more advanced and useful but you may like to switch back to the previous boot loader. You can do it with EasyBCD in Windows.
To switch back to Windows’s standard bootloader from Ubuntu 11.10’s GRUB 2, download/install and then run EasyBCD. Then go to Add New Entry and then from the Linux/BSD tab, select GRUB 2 from Type and then put a name (e.g. Ubuntu) and then click on Add Entry.
One last thing is you need to make Windows bootloader default. To make som click on BCD Deployment from the EasyBCD menu and then select your Windows bootloader version under MBR Configuration Options and then click on Write MBR.
That’s pretty much of it. If you have any question, feel free to ask here.
Hey. I have a doubt at the step where you provide a boot point..How to do that? Could you give a step-wise process for that? Thanks
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