Can't create dual boot with Windows 7 and Fedora 21

asked 2015-02-06 00:53:35 -0500

sidcss
11 ●1 ●1 ●2

updated 2015-02-06 07:15:36 -0500

mether
7061 ●43 ●67 ●111 https://fedoraproject....

Hi,

I am new to Linux and unable to understand the reason for not being able to install Fedora Live 21 KDE Spin 64 bit as a dual boot with Windows 7 Professional 32 bit. I decided on a dual boot as this provides me an opportunity to get to know the OS without sacrificing productivity.

I have AMD Athlon APU 5150 with Gigabyte AM1M-S2H motherboard. HDD is Seagate 1 TB (931 GB of total space) with 8 GB of RAM.

I installed Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.3.18 to check compatibility before a physical installation. I created a fixed disk of 100 GB. I created 2 partitions for Win 7 Pro 32 bit with NTFS formatting and left 51 GB of unallocated space for Fedora (64 bit). Fedora installed without any issues and I was able to run both OS through dual boot.

I then started the physical installation on my HDD with 2 partitions for Windows and 511 GB of unallocated space for Fedora 21 Live KDE Spin 64 bit. The installation stopped at the partitioning screen. The installer was asking me to free up more space from my existing partition which surprised me since there were no issues in VirtualBox.

I could not shrink the Windows volume anymore, while I had my data in the second partition. I am not comfortable with the idea of a clean installation of Windows again since I can install Windows only 3 times.

This being a learning period where I might have to install everything again in the learning process is a consideration that makes me uncomfortable with the idea of a clean install of Windows.

What am I missing here in the process of creating a dual boot of Win 7 and Fedora?

Thanks to everyone in advance for any help in this situation.

Regards sidcss

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Can you update your question with something that shows your partition layout? sudo parted -l would be my preference.

randomuser ( 2015-02-06 08:35:54 -0500 )edit

Hi randomuser, The command that you are refering to does not seem to be a Windows command. Anyway, the partition sizes were - Windows (C Drive) - 300 GB, Data (D Drive) - 120 GB and 511 GB of unallocated space for Fedora totalling 931 GB.

I have been trying to free up space from my existing partitions. I have uninstalled programs, used a registry cleaner to clean the registry and then did a compaction of the registry. I will have to shrink the partition again. With the data partition - I think I should be able to get an additional 10-12 GB.

Regards sidcss

sidcss ( 2015-02-07 22:17:58 -0500 )edit

Right, that's a linux command. After booting a Fedora live image, you can open a terminal and run the command.

randomuser ( 2015-02-09 15:21:36 -0500 )edit

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answered 2015-02-07 08:20:03 -0500

Phx_01
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When all free space is partitioned, you will get the warning that you do not have enough disk space and need to free space. This is due to Linux not wildly claiming partitions, which MAY (or not) be empty.

What you may want to try here is the manual partitioning and then look for your 100 GB partition you created. Make sure that you use it for the slash ("/") mount point and tick the "format" option.

Important: Make sure that it is the proper partition. Choosing any other partition will wipe the contents of that partition instead, though I think that you got the idea.

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Hi Phx_01, Thanks for the tip. I will give it a shot and post the results.

Regards sidcss

sidcss ( 2015-02-07 22:19:49 -0500 )edit

Hi Phx_01, It did not work. I am always getting a red colored letters in the partition section. I got an expansion drive and deleted all partitions except the windows one and repartitioned the hard drive but same result.

Seems I will have to do some study before attempting to install Linux. At present my knowledge of Linux is nonexistent.

Regards sidcss

sidcss ( 2015-02-13 08:39:29 -0500 )edit

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answered 2015-02-09 21:05:51 -0500

Irfan
1

Hello Sidcss,

I not an expert on computer, buy maybe you can try this step.

300GB - Windows 7 partition 511GB - Data(Replace with the fedora partition since if you want to keep big data file ex. music)

(You can create this using Fedora liveCD)
121856MB - 119GB - /root partition
500MB - /boot partition(important) don't leave this.

or if your don't want to change the Data partition.

522240MB - 510GB - /root partition
500MB - /boot partition(important)

For the swap partition on fedora I think your can just ignore them since nowadays RAM got fast and more big or maybe another people have more idea on this swap partition.

Thanks.

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Dear Irfan,

Thanks for the tip. Tried it but the partitioning section continues to be in red color.

As I said to Phx_01 seems like I will have to do some study on Linux and then try installing it.

Regards sidcss

sidcss ( 2015-02-13 08:42:48 -0500 )edit

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Can't create dual boot with Windows 7 and Fedora 21

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