My desktop computer contains two hard disks, with the following configuration:
sda: boot partition (Q) of 100 MB, plus a separate partition containing Windows 7
sdb: spare (empty) partition, plus a separate partition containing Windows 8.1
EasyBCD is used as boot manager. All the boot data, for both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1., are apparently stored in the boot partition on sda (Q).
I have a MINT 13 (Maya) installation disk. The installation disk recognizes only Windows 8.1. but not Windows 7. The installation disk indicates it will install MINT alongside Windows 8.1, thereby using a part of the already existing Windows 8.1. partition for use as a new Linux partition, to be formatted in ext4.
Apparently the installation succeeds. But after restarting the system only the original start-up menu is visible, giving the original two options of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The newly installed MINT is invisible.
Apparently GRUB is installed on the newly formed MINT partition and there seems to be no correlation from GRUB with the data in the special boot partition Q. EasyBCD cannot indicate MINT, as it cannot read ext4 formatted drives.
The question now is: how can I make MINT visible in the start-up menu. It seems logical to start up from the original installation disk and then try to modify the GRUB configuration in such a way that, one way or other, the MRB recognizes the original present Windows 7 and 8.1., as well as the new MINT. I am, however, a complete newcomer in the LINUX environment and have insufficient knowledge of the necessary bash commando’s. Any help is much appreciated!
Regards,
wvanes

This link will give you some lights about what is going on!

What about just dump windows all together and stay with GNU/Linux only ?
Want a good reason? And plenty more here!

Regards

Thanks, ukiuki, for your reply. The link you provide deals with harddisks in the so-called UEFI mode. Mine, however, are in the MBR mode.
I will study the info from the link thouroughly and try to bend it in my direction.

There are, undoubtedly, many good reasons for dumping Windows alltogether. There are, however, also many good reasons to let it stay on. For a while at least, alongside Linux.

Regards,
WvE