Ubuntu – Install Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS without losing Windows 7 bootloader

14.04bootloadergrub2mbrwindows 7

I want to install Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS alongside with Windows 7.

But there is one issue that if I install Ubuntu, I will lose Windows 7 bootloader and it will replace GRUB bootloader instead of Windows 7 bootloader with black screen.

Brief description what I did before:

I have tried to install Ubuntu with this way and I lost my Windows 7 bootloader 2 days ago. Then I panicked and removed the partition of Ubuntu in Windows 7 and when I restarted PC it showed black error screen with grubrescue command line. I inserted Windows 7 installation disk and restored Windows 7 bootloader from command line with bootrec command.

What I want to do now:

Now I want to install Ubuntu 14.04.1 and also to have Windows 7 bootloader with two OS options: Windows 7 and Ubuntu. What I should do?

Thanks!

Best Answer

On installation, choose the Soomething else option to open the advanced partitioning tool.

Make a separate partition for /boot (500 MB in size is enough):

boot partition

and another one for root:

Ubuntu partition

You can make a separate partition for /home for your data and settings and also one for swap if you want to use hibernation on Ubuntu.

Before continuing to install, you must choose the boot partition as the bootloader. On the screenshot below it's on /dev/sda5.

bootloader

After the installation got completed you won't see Ubuntu on the Windows bootloader and your Winodws will boot as usual. Then, you can use EasyBCD grub editor on Windows to add Ubuntu to its bootloader.

EasyBCD

Read more detailed procedure on how to dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows.

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