Introduction

These pages describe how to setup your computer to dual, or multi-boot Ubuntu, with another instance of Ubuntu, and additional operating systems.

Back Up Your Data

First, backup your data files and settings to an external backup medium (ex. USB hard drive) before attempting any kind of changes.

Recovery CD for existing operating system

It is best to have OEM provided external recovery media prior to making any changes to your hard drive. If you don't have any please contact your vendor for support.

Some Cases

Most operating systems during install automatically check for other currently existing operating systems. They then add the existing ones into a boot-menu along with the new one so that you can choose which OS to boot into. However, Windows does not.

General Case

Usually you already have an existing OS which you use. As you go through the Ubuntu installer you reach a section called "Partitioning Section", this offers you a choice to install Ubuntu alongside your existing OS. This does all the work for you. When you reboot the machine you get to a menu with these choices:

  1. Ubuntu
  2. Ubuntu in recovery mode = housekeeping & handy fix-it tools

  3. Old OS 1
  4. Old OS 2 (if you are making a multi-boot rather than just a dual-boot)
  5. Memtest
  6. There might be other options

If you installed Ubuntu first and a different OS last then the menu will look something like this:

  1. non-Windows other OS
  2. Ubuntu
  3. Memtest (usually)
  4. There might be other options

So, if Ubuntu is not installed last then the "recovery mode" is missed but can be edited into the list.

Windows

For instructions on Windows, please see here.

Mac

Please see section 4 of this guide on Mac Dual-boot. The Mac guide is not as complete as the sections for other Operating Systems but i think it is being worked on.

Xen Server

There is a guide but also this question might help. Note at the end it mentions using "chainloader"


CategoryHardware

DualBoot (last edited 2015-05-17 13:43:14 by 100)