A bit tired ow Windows 7 now so I’m considering to try an Ubuntu live-CD, and if I like it, possibly replace Windows 7 with it. If I like Ubuntu I see little or no point in keeping W7 parallel. Also, I will be able to keep my only two partitions (one for the system and program files, one for my personal files).
As far as I know, Ubuntu won’t work on my NTFS file system. So the questions are;
Will Ubuntu automatically convert C: to its own file system (ext3 or something?) during formatting/installation?
Will the boot loader (Grub?) make sure that Ubuntu is booted, rather than some not-anymore-existing W7?
If I, after all, decide to reformat and install W7 again - are there any problems to expect? E.g. converting back to NTFS, or any boot loader problems?
You can make two partitions. One for Windows (NTFS) and the other for Linux (ext3).
You can install Ubuntu within Windows, as any other program, and test (Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu). You can uninstall it later if you want.
Grub loader can manage both Windows and Linux installations. Linux and Windows can reformat a disk.
Hope it answers your questions.
Ubuntu can read and write to NTFS partitions, but can not have itself installed in to NTFS. (You can of course install it using WUBI inside Windows, just like any other program).
So, I would suggest you to make an ext3/4 partition (about 30 GB) for Ubuntu and an NTFS partition for your files with the rest of the disk. (10 GB is enough for Ubuntu, but if you want to install Windows 7 later, it requires 30 GB)
If you ever come back to Windows, all you need to do is to format the first partition (C drive) and install Windows. All your data is still available.
I also suggest you to try Linux Mint instead of Ubuntu. It is an Ubuntu derivative with more stability and additions.
Mint is fine, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s more stable than Ubuntu.
Does your current system have enough RAM/CPU to run virtual machines? It’s an easy thing to play with a Linux distro in a VM do decide which one you like before going to the effort of partitioning your HD for Linux and installing it just to find out you don’t like it.
I like to play with various Linux distros as kind of a hobby. I currently have VM’s of nine distros. I’ve yet to actually see the need to create a Linux partition due to the ease of running a VM.
The only drawback I’ve encountered yet with the VM’s is that if you’d like to try the new Unity interface on Ubuntu, it isn’t happy with the current VMWare drivers, so it falls back to the classic GNOME interface. Not a big deal really…
If you use VMWare, you can even download appliances of many distros, so you don’t even have to install or setup the OS. You just download and open the VM. It’s a really quick way to get a feel for the distro. If I like it, then I’ll download the full ISO and install it.
Will Ubuntu automatically convert C: to its own file system (ext3 or something?) during formatting/installation?
You’ll have to reformat the partitions (So If you are not going to use windows 7 Delete the program partition and the OS partition including that stupid 100MB partition and then use the the empty space for linux), most recommended is ext4 as it’s newer; OR Shrink your partitions then use the free space for the linux file system
Ubuntu Can Read NTFS So you can mount the personal files partition with no problem (Most Distro’s can read NTFS File systems) so you don’t have to reformat your personal files partition
Will the boot loader (Grub?) make sure that Ubuntu is booted, rather than some not-anymore-existing W7?
YES, It’s written in the bootsector of the HD so IF you have windows 7 installation still using it will detect it and automatically configure GRUB to let you choose whether you want to boot to Linux or Windows 7
If I, after all, decide to reformat and install W7 again - are there any problems to expect? E.g. converting back to NTFS, or any boot loader problems?
No Problems; Windows 7 installation re-writes the bootsector; IF you have issues you may use ‘bootsect’ or ‘fixmbr’
I’m a Arch Linux Fan fyi
Ubuntu is a great OS, but there are others out there that beat Ubuntu at Speed/Security/etc etc…
It's an easy thing to play with a Linux distro in a VM do decide which one you like before going to the effort of partitioning your HD for Linux and installing it just to find out you don't like it.
I find it much more 'better' to actually have linux on your desktop/laptop and then run VMWARE Player or Workstation on Linux then install Windows 7 or XP or what-have-ya ... Reason why because I actually found it faster on start up and faster performance period... Plus I got my boottime under 8 Seconds from power to desktop running Arch Linux... So If you wish you can try this :)
It is an Ubuntu derivative with more stability and additions.
"Stability"? That can be debatable; "Additions"? that can too be debatable
Many thanks for your answers guys, I’ll check back as soon as this little project comes closer (i.e. when the weather gets cold and rainy here, which is quite common during a Swedish summer).
Hi again, I’ve read your informative posts and now feel confident in performing an Ubuntu installation. I already have two partitions, the first one is 40 GB (currently with W7), the other one 260 GB for personal files, media etc. No need the change the proportions I think.
I’ve tried the Ubuntu live CD a bit, and indeed I like it. It worked great straightly out of the box. Sound, graphics, USB mouse (probably any USB) and wireless network just worked directly (surprise? :D). So easy to use and navigate in, so easy to get the software I’m used to (GIMP, 7-Zip, Opera, etc). As for office I migrated to OpenOffice years ago, so LibreOffice will now be fine.
Had a couple of issues with Ubuntu though;
Apparently Adobe Flash isn’t really officially “stable” for 64 bit. At least it doesn’t work in Opera, and I’d hate being stuck with Firefox. >:-D I can accept Chromium though.
A more serious issue is that after waking the PC from “suspend mode”, the mouse and keyboard won’t work. I really hope they fix it soon.
As soon as there is time I’ll go ahead and replace W7 with this beauty. All backups are made (even my Opera customization files ;D). The only thing I’ll miss in Windows is some of the GUI stuff such as transparency and animations, but I guess that Ubuntu can be customized with some efforts. And of course, I’ll miss CIS, although it’s not needed in Ubuntu.
I’ve yet to actually see the need to create a Linux partition due to the ease of running a VM.