Ubuntu – Dual Boot Installing Ubuntu 12.04 with Windows 7 (64) on a non UEFI system

dual-bootgptgrub2uefi

I cannot seem to install the correct boot loader for a non-UEFI firmware system. I'm trying to install Ubuntu 12.04 and Windows 7 (64) which are technically compatible with GPT but for windows only if the firmware is UEFI enabled. My system uses the old BIOS system and does not support UEFI. Therefore, whenever I finish my Ubuntu install and try to install Windows I get a "cannot install to GPT partition type" error.

Even if I use Gparted to format a special NTFS file format for windows it can't handle the GPT partition style because it doesn't have UEFI. But my ubuntu install always forces GPT during installation and never asks if I want to install the old BIOS style MBR instead.

How do I resolve this? Both OS's will install fine on their own the problem is when I try to install the second OS it doesn't recognize any of the other's partitions and tries to rewrite it's own on top of the other. I've tried both OS's first and always run into the same problem. Since there is no way to make Windows recognize GPT without upgrading my Motherboard how do I tell Ubuntu to use the old BIOS MBR on install?

Do I have to download a special Ubuntu with a specific grub version? or should I manaually configure my partition somehow to force it not to use GPT?

Thank you,

Best Answer

You are making a mistake somewhere. The LiveCD does NOT use grub as a bootloader, it uses Syslinux.

  1. Boot from the Desktop Live CD and press the Down-Arrow when you see the below:

    enter image description here

  2. Press Enter and select English:

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  3. Press F6, go down to nomodeset, and press Enter. You will see an X next to it. Then press Esc, and "Try Ubuntu"

    enter image description here

  4. If the above doesn't work, repeat steps 1-2, but press F6 and then Esc to see the command-line. There, replace quiet splash with nomodeset and press Enter.

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