I wished to know if I can install windows 7 on my system when I am already running Linux Mint 10(as the only operating system on my machine).
I got the following reply to my question.

That configuration is called a dual boot.
If you install Win7 first (or it is already present), THEN install linux, you will find that grub notices both and you will not need to mess with the MBR.

The better solution is to load mint, add VirtualBox, and install Win7 into a virtual machine.
Then you get to run Linux and Windows AT THE SAME TIME!

That is, in my experience, the BEST way to run windows. EVER!


Kindly help me with the procedure of doing this so that I can run both these operating systems on my machine

So... Which solution do you want help with? Dual booting between Windows 7 and Linux, or running a Virtual Windows 7 system on a Linux host? You were supplied with two choices in answer to your original question.

Play Bonny!

Well, VirtualBox is in the MINT repos and you can just install it using the software manager.
There is also this how-to site if you need USB support: http://www.khattam.info/howto-instal...010-11-20.html

Creating a virtual drive and machine and installing Windows there is the subject of several how-to documents: I recommend you google for it or check the VirtualBox forums. (Easier with an ISO image of Win7, but you can attach the cdrom drive to the virtual if you have media.)

If you select the dual boot option, you will want to either:
1. WINDOWS first
a. install Win7, leaving adequate space not partitioned to have room for mint
b. install mint in the free space
c. enjoy.
or
2. Linux First
a. install mint, leaving space for Windows
b. Install Win7
c. discover that the MS install has overwritten your MBR and you must use the Mint media to re-install grub to your MBR
d. let grub detect bootable images and rebuilt your boot configuration.
e. sigh in relief when you reboot and get a menu with mint AND win7.
f. enjoy (finally)

Whatever you choose, feel free to ask about more detail or references for the option you select.

Whatever you do, do not expect Microsoft to assist. This is not exactly their preferred scenario!

1 members found this post helpful.

So you want us to answer this same question AGAIN????
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...x-mint-879825/

If you want to install VirtualBox, what have you tried? Did you try to look this up? A brief Google search turns up lots, including solutions already posted on the Linux Mint forums
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=5096
http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/208

Once installed, then install Windows. If you want to dual-boot, this has been covered on LQ MANY times...a search will bring those threads up.