Triple Boot

chazdg · 03-15-2012, 07:34 AM

I am dual booting Windows 7 and Windows 8 on their own partitions (both on Primary Partitions). I would like to add Ubuntu 12.04 on a third partition. Three questions:

My understanding is that Grub will not pick up Windows 8 and Windows 7, only Windows 8. Is this correct?

If I select Windows 8 in Grub, will it give me the Windows 8 bootloader which includes Windows 7; and

Is there anyway to install Ubuntu into the Windows 8 bootloader?

I never had luck with Easybcd, but that might be an option, but would prefer not to. Also, I don't care for any kind of VM setup. Any and all info would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

yancek · 03-15-2012, 10:42 AM

What is your partition structure? Do you have a partition created/available to install Ubuntu to? You should boot the Ubuntu CD and select the option to try it without installing and then open a terminal and post the output of: fdisk -l (lower case Letter L).

Quote:

If I select Windows 8 in Grub, will it give me the Windows 8 bootloader which includes Windows 7;

Grub doesn't boot windows, it chainloads which basically points to the windows bootloader which should take over from that point. If you install Grub to the master boot record, it should detect windows. If you have the windows 8 bootloader configured to boot both 8 and 7, you neee to use the entry for windows 8 in Grub.

Quote:

Is there anyway to install Ubuntu into the Windows 8 bootloader?

Not sure what you mean by that? You mean put an entry for Ubuntu in the windows 8 bootloader? EasyBCD is the only program I am aware of although you may be able to manually create an entry in the windows 8 bootloader. I know that was done with xp.

chazdg · 03-15-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yancek

What is your partition structure? Do you have a partition created/available to install Ubuntu to? You should boot the Ubuntu CD and select the option to try it without installing and then open a terminal and post the output of: fdisk -l (lower case Letter L).

Grub doesn't boot windows, it chainloads which basically points to the windows bootloader which should take over from that point. If you install Grub to the master boot record, it should detect windows. If you have the windows 8 bootloader configured to boot both 8 and 7, you neee to use the entry for windows 8 in Grub.

Not sure what you mean by that? You mean put an entry for Ubuntu in the windows 8 bootloader? EasyBCD is the only program I am aware of although you may be able to manually create an entry in the windows 8 bootloader. I know that was done with xp.

Thanks for replying. I have plenty of free space to install Ubuntu. I know a triple boot works with XP, 7 and Ubuntu - I did it. The problem is the Windows 8 Bootloader. I believe you are correct when you say EasyBCD is the only way to do it. I have never had any luck with that program and prefer not to bother. There are those who insist it works flawlessly with I am proposing. I am skeptical.

yancek · 03-15-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

I believe you are correct when you say EasyBCD is the only way to do it

No. EasyBCD isn't the only way to do it. Grub should be able to chainload windows. The problem may be with the windows 8 bootloader. I haven't tried it and don't know if it is any different than the windows 7 bootloader. What I am saying is that the Grub bootloader doesn't try to boot windows, it chainloads which basically means it points to the windows bootloader and the windows bootloader then takes over. If you already have windows 8 and windows 7 installed and booting and are using the windows 8 bootloader, you would need to point Grub to whatever partition the windows 8 bootloader files are on. You should then have an option to boot either 7 or 8 in the windows boot menu.

chazdg · 03-15-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yancek

No. EasyBCD isn't the only way to do it. Grub should be able to chainload windows. The problem may be with the windows 8 bootloader. I haven't tried it and don't know if it is any different than the windows 7 bootloader. What I am saying is that the Grub bootloader doesn't try to boot windows, it chainloads which basically means it points to the windows bootloader and the windows bootloader then takes over. If you already have windows 8 and windows 7 installed and booting and are using the windows 8 bootloader, you would need to point Grub to whatever partition the windows 8 bootloader files are on. You should then have an option to boot either 7 or 8 in the windows boot menu.

When I say the only way to go, I mean to have an entry for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Ubuntu in GRUB, which to my understanding GRUB cannot do. I would love to hear differently, nor have I tried it. My understanding is there would be 2 entries, one for Windows 8 and another for Ubuntu. When selecting Windows 8, the Win 8 bootloader would come up giving me an option between Win 8 or Win 7. Please correct me if I am wrong.

syg00 · 03-15-2012, 06:22 PM

That would be correct. That is a limitation/requirement of what M$oft choose to do to "dual boot" two versions of Windoze.
There is only one copy of boot code - so there is only one possible place for grub to chainload to.

chazdg · 03-18-2012, 08:01 AM

Well, I decided to give it a try with EasyBCD and it worked. I get three entries in the Win 8 Bootloader. First time I was ever able to get that software to work. I never thought it would happen but I gotta give the Windows crowd props for insisting it would.