How to dual boot Win7 and Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Finnish Remix) with 2 HDD's and a UEFI BIOS motherboard

[thumus]

So I have Windows 7 already installed on 1TB HDD. I will be buying a new 1TB HDD for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Finnish Remix). But I have a UEFI BIOS motherboard model: ASUS M5A97 R2.0. I want to install Ubuntu to the new HDD alongside with the existing Win7. How do I do it. Step by step manual with pictures would be nice. If someone from Finland reads this then you can post it in finnish. Thanks already

 

[stillblue]

I find the safest and easiest way to do this is to disconnect your windows drive, connect the Ubuntu darive, make sure safeboot is OFF in the BIOS, boot to the DVD or Flash drive of Ubuntu. Follow the very straight forward install instructions which are

choose your language
choose your keyboard
choose your time zone
install third party software, yes
do not connect at this time to the internet unless you have a very high speed connection or a lot of time to devote to letting it update everything while installing, since yours is a remix that would probably mean everything new and that could be a lot.
Install to entire hard drive
name and password
Take your picture for icon if you have a camera turned on

Shut down after it finishes installing and reconnect your windows drive.
When you reboot if it starts to windows then shut it back down and change the boot order in the BIOS to boot to Ubuntu drive.
When Ubuntu is running, to add windows to the boot selection menu you open a terminal with Ctrl+Alt+t or from accessories in the program menu and type sudo update-grub it'll ask for your password and you should have windows as an option next time you boot.

This method leaves no chance to screw up your windows installation.

 

[stillblue]

I should add. To open the BIOS in your asus it's probably the del key but maybe f2. The boot order of hard drives is there as well is safeboot.

 

[skittle]

Does 12.04 even support UEFI?

Strongly recommend you use 14.04 LTS instead for your newer hardware! You may find things not working correctly in 12.04..

 

[thumus]

What is the difference between 12.04 and 14.04 and does the installation process change?

 

[skittle]

Installation process is largely the same across most Linux distributions.
The biggest difference between 12.04 -> 14.04 is driver's for newer hardware, newer kernel, newer software including UI improvements

How i install (keep your windows harddrive plugged in):
1) Burn iso to CD or use LiLi to make liveUSB of Ubuntu http://www.linuxliveusb.com/
2) Boot from usb / CD
3) The installer will guide you through the process. (partitoning, install bootloader, keyboard setup/language etc). Take care to make sure you install to the correct drive!
4) When installing the bootloader, Ubuntu will "automagically" detect your Windows 7 installation and add a Windows entry to the boot menu. This will allow you to choose Windows or Ubuntu when booting.
5) Reboot and set UEFI/BIOS to boot from your Ubuntu harddrive first.

You can find many guide on youtube if you want video

 

[thumus]

BTW wouldn't removing the Win7 HDD make Ubuntu not detect the Win7 HDD, so Ubuntu would be installed as dev/sda and not dev/sdb. I'm not sure but woudn't this be a problem since Win7 is also installed as dev/sda? Also have you done this yourself, because I don't want to have any chances.

 

[skittle]

Linux no longer simply designates drives as /dev/sdX in the "fstab". Modern Linux uses UUID ( https://wiki.debian.org/Part-UUID )

UUID offeres uniqe identifier for each harddrive so it does not matter what order drivers are booted as.

Suggest keeping your Windows drive plugged in during Ubuntu installation as Ubuntu installer can detect Windows install and add it to the bootloader for you.
Of course this is not necessary it just saves you a step of having to add it later. Often it is suggested to unplug windows drive so as to not accidentily install Ubuntu to the wrong drive. IMO this is a worry from the past, modern Linux installers will detect other OS installations so it is hard to make this mistake!

[edit]
Have I done this my self? Yes although I use ArchLinux and not Ubuntu! Ubuntu/Linux/Windows 7 dual boot is well documented and very easy. Especially easy if you have installed to seperate drives!

 

[stillblue]

Everything Skittle said is right. I suggested disconnecting the windows drive because you seem to be doing this the first time and recognizing which drive is which for a new user can be confusing. Better an extra step to add windows and be safe. I'm pretty sure uefi began with 12.04 but even if it did you should upgrade to 14.04 like skittle said and then make your own Finnish remix with remastersys.

 

[skittle]

I see from Ubuntu wiki that uefi was added in 12.10 but backported to 12.04

 

[stillblue]

I see from Ubuntu wiki that uefi was added in 12.10 but backported to 12.04

So if his remix was made prior to that then it may not work. Thanks for catching that.

 

[thumus]

Thanks for the help guys. Yes I am doing this the first time so I really do appreciate the help. I will buy the HDD when I get the money and will absolutely bookmark this thread and use it for my help. Again huge thanks really do appreciate it. 😉