Ubuntu – Ubuntu installation on Windows7 with D partition

system-installation

I have the following problem: I want to install Ubuntu, having already installed Windows 7 and the HD already partitioned. I do not want to erase my data.
During the installation procedure I see the following partitions on my HD:

  • sda1 – 100 MB
  • sda2 – 190 GB (this is my windows C:)
  • sda5 – 285 GB (this is my D: windows partition with my data)
  • sda4 – 25MB

I guess I should resize the space of sda5 in order to leave nough space for ubuntu and swap memory on sda4. However, will this delete all my files on D:?
I have also no understanding of the 'mounting directory' option (/windows or /home): what is it for?

Best Answer

Update

New versions of Ubuntu requires only one partition. The default installation process now creates a swap file in the main Ubuntu systems partition /, rather than a separate swap partition described below.

Original Answer

Ubuntu need at least 2 partitions in formats that Windows does not understand and cannot create. You can shrink sda5 (D:) in Windows 7 and leave the empty space "Unallocated" and unformatted.

You should use Windows internal tools to defragment and then shrink or resize the D:. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg309169.aspx . and http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/quick-tip-shrink-a-hard-drive-volume-in-windows-7/3616 for detailed steps. Remember, do not create a new partition in the empty space. Leave it unallocated.

Ubuntu installation will then find the unallocated space and create sda6 (/) and sda7 (Swap) there during a "side by side" installation.

Ubuntu (and Linux in general) do not use C:, D: etc. to identify partitions. Partitions are mounted at various mount points that can be a folder or a directory. An important mount point is root denoted by /. This is the rough equivalent of C:\ where the OS will get installed. Other partitions are mounted to folders within /. By default /home is a folder in / in Ubuntu. However, one can devote a separate partition to /home by mounting the partition, say /dev/sda8, to that folder. In that case all sub-folders of /home will be in the partition dedicated to it.

Note: the Swap partition has its own format and no mount point, as it is not accessed by the user directly.

See I have formatted a partition for Ubuntu. How do I install it on that partition? and Dual Boot Installation with Win7 - Install Ubuntu in New Partition.

Hore general instructions for installation is at: How do I install Ubuntu?.

Hope this helps

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