How must I do this, without messing up the boot sector?

I want to backup the data files from Windows Vista on to Ubuntu.
That's easy, I mount the partition, tarfile it and save it on the Ubuntu drive.

Then, I want to "new-full-install" Windows 7 on the old Windows Vista partition, without messing up the grub boot loader or losing the Ubuntu installation.

Is there an easy way to do this?

Let me know, thanks.

Hector

Hi -

You *will* mess up the boot sector when you install Win7.

Don't worry about it - just run "grub-install" afterwards, and you'll be fine.

You should *not* lose Ubuntu, or anything on it.

There are tons of "howto's" and links around, and feel free to post back to LQ if you encounter any specific problems.

Good luck .. PSM

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As you probably already know. Windows 7 Bootloader will wipe out grub. You will have to reinstall grub using some kind of Live Media (CD or USB) of Ubuntu that you are using to reinstall grub.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

unallocated
You can use Gparted in your Ubuntu install to wipe the Vista Partition. Leave it unallocated.
Point the Windows installer to that unallocated partition. And let Windows 7 format and then install to it. Windows will then install and kill Grub. You will then only be able to boot into Windows. Then you can move on to reinstalling grub. Another way of reinstalling grub below.

http://www.supergrubdisk.org/wiki/Howto_Fix_Grub

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub-2.html

This was all posted assuming you run Grub 2 as you did not give details on which version of Ubuntu you are using.

Happy Trails, Rok

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Yup - that's exactly right. It's really shouldn't be a big deal.

Just:
1. Look at the links rokytnji sent (or Google for some of your own).
Whatever you feel comfortable with - just get "the big picture".

2. Run "df" or "mount" while you can still boot Linux, and write down
the partitions.

3. Install Windows 7.
Overwrite Vista (Windows7 doesn't support "upgrades" per se anyway!)
Make sure Windows 7 doesn't try to overwrite your Linux partition.

4. Verify Windows 7 is OK.

5. Insert your Ubuntu Live DVD, and run the grub-install on your original boot partition.

6. Voila! You should be back to multi-boot, with all your old Ubuntu files!

Hi,

After installing windows7, only windows7 would boot.
Then, I used Ubuntu live DVD, and ran grub.
I then used only 3 grub commands:

1. grub>find /grub/stage1
2. grub>root (hd0,4)
3. grub>setup (hd0)

Then I reboot the machine without the live DVD, and voila!!

Thanks a bunch!!

Hector

1 members found this post helpful.