Kick
Active Member
With 12 months to go before Microsoft ceases its support of Windows 7, I thought it time to consider what I would do as I've no intention of using Windows 10. Some have advised that setting up a dual boot arrangement is risky but I thought that, if I did do it, the advantage would be that I could keep Windows 7 for those peripherals that weren't compatible with Linux, disable the internet in Windows 7 and have a Linux system that could utilize the internet. I was somewhat apprehensive about the undertaking but believed that, if I created an image backup of the complete HDD first, should anything go wrong, I would be able to restore back to the situation I was in before.
I previously had a dual boot arrangement on an old XP desktop - I set it up to dual boot with Puppy Precise 5.7 and that worked well for several years. Eventually, the age of the computer began to tell so I replaced it with a new desktop with Ubuntu 18.04 installed. Unfortunately there was an erratic motherboard problem which meant that sometimes the only way to boot the system was to enter the BIOS. The manufacturers thought they had resolved the issue but I have returned it a second time for a motherboard replacement under warranty. I had enough use of that system to see that I could get on with Ubuntu and therefore, I thought, with some of its lighter weight offshoots. Lubuntu came to mind so after, a bit of on-line investigation, I opted to try that in the dual boot arrangement with Windows 7.
There was much useful guidance on the internet regarding dual booting Linux operating systems with a Windows system so I was able to prepare thoroughly. The first thing I did was to create the image backup of the complete hard drive which is 1TB partitioned with a small system partition, a main C: partition for the Windows 7 operating system, program files etc. and a data files partition I had created for my documents, pictures etc. The image backup was saved to an external drive using Macrium Reflect Free. The next task was to create space on the hard drive for the new Lubuntu 18.04 operating system. I decided that about 35gb to 40gb would be enough and that I could spare that from the data files partition. The built in disk partition management facility included with Windows 7 was more than adequate to cope with the job (I did have a copy of an Easeus partition management program that had lots more options but I didn't need them and kept things as simple as possible). With the Windows program, all I had to do was shrink the data files partition by the required amount which then became unallocated space.
Now I required a live dvd or usb memory stick on which to install the Lubuntu 18.04 image file. I opted for a live dvd, downloaded the Lubuntu iso file, burnt it on to the dvd and booted the computer from the dvd. There were two options available: 1) 'Try Lubuntu' or 2) 'Install Lubuntu'. The former allows the user to try the operating system without making any changes to the system so is a good choice if the user is not yet 100% sure. There is a desktop icon for the installer so, if the user does decide to go ahead, installation can be carried out without rebooting to get the second option 'Install Lubuntu'.
The next step, opting to install Lubuntu, was potentially the risky one as I would be committing to major changes but I need not have worried because I was led through each stage and provided with an option to go back if I was not sure I wanted to proceed to the next stage. It was reassuring to know that no changes would be fixed until the final stage. The first decision to make was the choice of language, in my case English (UK) and then the setting of the keyboard. Next there were options regarding software installation; I chose 'Minimal' as I only wanted a basic set of software which included the 'Firefox' web browser (it is essential to have a browser - if you don't like Firefox, you can install your preference later and remove Firefox). Now I had to choose the installation type which, for me, was 'Install Lubuntu alongside Windows 7'. I could have chosen 'Something else' which would have given more options regarding the Lubuntu partition(s) which occupy the unallocated drive space but I was happy to let Lubuntu use its default settings. This ran very smoothly - all I had to do was click 'Continue' to confirm each set of changes during the process. Just before the process completed, I was confronted with a world map on which to click my location (necessary for the system clock). After this, all that remained was to complete a form to include my name, the computer's name, a username and a password - there was also a choice to log in automatically or by password. Clicking 'Continue' at this stage led to the 'Welcome' screen and options to get the time from a network server and to view or skip new features.
The installation was now complete - the system needed to be restarted (I held my breath) after which the 'Grub' boot screen appeared with five options. I was relieved to see '*Ubuntu' as the first option and 'Windows 7 (on /dev/sda1)' as the fifth option. I was even more relieved when both worked.
Of course there was plenty to do after the installation. Even though I chose a minimal installation, there was software I didn't require and could remove and there were programs I needed so had to install. Fortunately the software manager makes this fairly straightforward. I also needed to enable the UFW firewall which, surprisingly, is disabled by default.
My reservations about setting up this dual boot arrangement proved unjustified. The process could hardly have been less trouble free - I'm so glad I did it and can reassure others, who like me, may be nervous of attempting this kind of task, that with a bit of preparation and investigation on the web, it's not such a big deal.
I previously had a dual boot arrangement on an old XP desktop - I set it up to dual boot with Puppy Precise 5.7 and that worked well for several years. Eventually, the age of the computer began to tell so I replaced it with a new desktop with Ubuntu 18.04 installed. Unfortunately there was an erratic motherboard problem which meant that sometimes the only way to boot the system was to enter the BIOS. The manufacturers thought they had resolved the issue but I have returned it a second time for a motherboard replacement under warranty. I had enough use of that system to see that I could get on with Ubuntu and therefore, I thought, with some of its lighter weight offshoots. Lubuntu came to mind so after, a bit of on-line investigation, I opted to try that in the dual boot arrangement with Windows 7.
There was much useful guidance on the internet regarding dual booting Linux operating systems with a Windows system so I was able to prepare thoroughly. The first thing I did was to create the image backup of the complete hard drive which is 1TB partitioned with a small system partition, a main C: partition for the Windows 7 operating system, program files etc. and a data files partition I had created for my documents, pictures etc. The image backup was saved to an external drive using Macrium Reflect Free. The next task was to create space on the hard drive for the new Lubuntu 18.04 operating system. I decided that about 35gb to 40gb would be enough and that I could spare that from the data files partition. The built in disk partition management facility included with Windows 7 was more than adequate to cope with the job (I did have a copy of an Easeus partition management program that had lots more options but I didn't need them and kept things as simple as possible). With the Windows program, all I had to do was shrink the data files partition by the required amount which then became unallocated space.
Now I required a live dvd or usb memory stick on which to install the Lubuntu 18.04 image file. I opted for a live dvd, downloaded the Lubuntu iso file, burnt it on to the dvd and booted the computer from the dvd. There were two options available: 1) 'Try Lubuntu' or 2) 'Install Lubuntu'. The former allows the user to try the operating system without making any changes to the system so is a good choice if the user is not yet 100% sure. There is a desktop icon for the installer so, if the user does decide to go ahead, installation can be carried out without rebooting to get the second option 'Install Lubuntu'.
The next step, opting to install Lubuntu, was potentially the risky one as I would be committing to major changes but I need not have worried because I was led through each stage and provided with an option to go back if I was not sure I wanted to proceed to the next stage. It was reassuring to know that no changes would be fixed until the final stage. The first decision to make was the choice of language, in my case English (UK) and then the setting of the keyboard. Next there were options regarding software installation; I chose 'Minimal' as I only wanted a basic set of software which included the 'Firefox' web browser (it is essential to have a browser - if you don't like Firefox, you can install your preference later and remove Firefox). Now I had to choose the installation type which, for me, was 'Install Lubuntu alongside Windows 7'. I could have chosen 'Something else' which would have given more options regarding the Lubuntu partition(s) which occupy the unallocated drive space but I was happy to let Lubuntu use its default settings. This ran very smoothly - all I had to do was click 'Continue' to confirm each set of changes during the process. Just before the process completed, I was confronted with a world map on which to click my location (necessary for the system clock). After this, all that remained was to complete a form to include my name, the computer's name, a username and a password - there was also a choice to log in automatically or by password. Clicking 'Continue' at this stage led to the 'Welcome' screen and options to get the time from a network server and to view or skip new features.
The installation was now complete - the system needed to be restarted (I held my breath) after which the 'Grub' boot screen appeared with five options. I was relieved to see '*Ubuntu' as the first option and 'Windows 7 (on /dev/sda1)' as the fifth option. I was even more relieved when both worked.
Of course there was plenty to do after the installation. Even though I chose a minimal installation, there was software I didn't require and could remove and there were programs I needed so had to install. Fortunately the software manager makes this fairly straightforward. I also needed to enable the UFW firewall which, surprisingly, is disabled by default.
My reservations about setting up this dual boot arrangement proved unjustified. The process could hardly have been less trouble free - I'm so glad I did it and can reassure others, who like me, may be nervous of attempting this kind of task, that with a bit of preparation and investigation on the web, it's not such a big deal.
