installing ubuntu without reformatting hdd

mrryanthai · 10-24-2007, 02:44 PM

hi wondering if there was a way to install ubuntu without reformatting my harddrive so i can keep my windows boot.thanks please post asap

jay73 · 10-24-2007, 02:47 PM

Sure, you just need to resize the ntfs partition so that you end up with unallocated space for Ubuntu. The installer should have an option to do this for you but you can also do it manually prior to installing from a gparted liveCD.

mrryanthai · 10-24-2007, 02:53 PM

can you show me how?step by step if you can please i'm a noobie to linux :S thanks

rs2 · 10-24-2007, 03:01 PM

Without your reformatting hard drive or having to re-partition it you might be interested in the wubi-installer.

wubi-installer[dot]org

Basically you install it like any other program in windows, it reboots the machine and you get an option of either windows or ubuntu at the boot screen. To remove ubuntu is as easy as going to your add/remove programs in windows.

HTH

mrryanthai · 10-24-2007, 03:03 PM

is that a full install or is that something like VMware?because i looked on other forums and from what i think i think it's like a "liveCD" install

rs2 · 10-24-2007, 03:06 PM

From what I understand its like a normal install other than its on your NTFS partition in windows so it may not be as fast as the normal install.

Someone can correct me if im wrong.

mrryanthai · 10-24-2007, 03:09 PM

ah i see what you're saying..but is there a way i can install it so i can have it as a normal speed like as if i were to reformat my harddrive and install ubuntu

rs2 · 10-24-2007, 03:19 PM

You can do as jay73 advised or you can use hirens boot cd or any other partitioning tool to free up some space for ubuntu as it needs its own partition, once you boot into the ubuntu cd and go to the install icon it will format the partition for you and install grub so you have a choice of windows or ubuntu when you boot your machine.

jay73 · 10-24-2007, 05:54 PM

It's a lot less frightening than it sounds, actually. Just pop in the Ubuntu liveCD and click on the install icon. When it gets to the partitioning stage, there will be a slider to select the new size for your ntfs partition. Just move it to the left until you have space enough to install Ubuntu. Just make sure that you don't overdo things. You can't make your xp partition smaller than the amount of data it contains. And it may be a good idea to have windows defragment itself (multiple times) before you boot the install cd.

emoore · 10-26-2007, 04:55 PM

Wubi is just using a container (a file) to emulate a partition. Its a slight performance overhead, but nothing like when you're using a virtual machine or a Live CD, you probably wouldn't even notice it.

However, (as the other comments said) resizing a NTFS partition is no big deal.