When trying to install linux mint16 it tell me there is no other OS on the computer (but it has windows7) and that if I continue it will delete all files on HD so I am afraid to continue as I want to keep Windows and files that go with it?

Obviously you want to answer 'no'!

My recommendation is that you test-drive Mint in "live" mode ("try without installing") and then see if you can navigate to your Windows 7 drive, so you can make a backup before proceeding.

Post back once you have verified your Windows files are there, and you have made a full backup. Then we will try to help you troubleshoot why the installer isn't seeing your Windows partition.

Mint should have multiple options for the installation and one of them is 'Erase disk and install Mint'. That's the one you don't want. Did you see an option to 'Install Alongside...' or a 'Something Else' option? If you have another OS on the computer, you should see at least those three options. Which option did you select?

When I installed Mint (I've put it on two boxes recently), it did display the "Install Alongside" option. It's been a while since I put it on a Windows 7 box, but ditto.

That's usually a sign that Mint was booted in the opposite mode that Windows was installed to the disk in. If Windows was installed in BIOS/Legacy/CSM mode, but the Mint disk got booted in UEFI/EFI mode then something like what you described frequently happens. (Same thing if situation is reversed: Windows in UEFI, Mint in Legacy.)

Easiest way to tell which mode Windows was installed in is by looking at the partitions in Windows Disk Management. Look for a small (200-550MB) partition, formatted as FAT32 usually near the beginning of the disk, possibly labeled as "EFI System Partition" or something to that effect. (It will be a small FAT32 partition; not a small NTFS partition, which may or may not also be shown.)

If that partition exists, then Windows was installed in UEFI/EFI mode and you need to make sure the Mint disk is booted in that mode too. If you don't see it, then Windows used Legacy mode and you need to boot Mint in Legacy mode.

(One other note: If Windows was installed in UEFI mode, you must use the 64-bit version of Mint as well as booting it in the same mode. If Windows install was Legacy mode, then does not matter which Mint you use -- 32-bit or 64-bit.)

Once you find that out, go into the UEFI Settings/Startup Menu and/or the Boot Menu and select the appropriate choice to boot the DVD/USB -- there will be two mode choices to pick from. Installation should work properly from that point on.


P.s. As others have said, make backups of anything important before installing. Also, make Win 7 recovery disks if you haven't done that already.

2 members found this post helpful.

One addition to above that I forgot about.

If you confirm that Windows is installed in BIOS/CSM/Legacy-mode and Mint is indeed being booted in Legacy-mode also, but it still won't see the partitions; then you likely have some old GPT remnant on the drive that causes GParted problems reading it properly. Solution to that is here: http://www.rodsbooks.com/missing-parts/index.html

Hi Goldfinger It seems that the resolution you gave me was the right one but in windows I could not decide which partition to remove so I downloaded "mini partition wizard home edition " for free which named the partition much better than Windows.
Then I removed all the old Linux Partitions and left the Windows Part, then when the installation disk was run it recognised the other OS and gave the option of installing along side so now am happy to say I still have windows 7 + data.
Just have to go now and try to re sequence my grub menu. grand children only want Windows,
When will they Learn?