How To Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.04

I usually wouldn't write something like this. I mean, everyone know how to do a dual-boot setup right? I thought this setup would be just as simple. I mean I've done dual-boot installs hundreds of times, why would this one be any different?

I don't know about your system, but when I tried to dual-boot my Dell Mini 9 with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.04 I had some problems. You see, I always start with the Windows Install first, then install Linux last so Grub can take over as the bootloader. I am sure most of you do too!

That's what I did first. I booted up with my Windows 7 DVD, and deleted all of the old partitions, then I partitioned my drive in half and installed Windows 7. After that, I booted up with Ubuntu, and started to install, and here is where I had the problem. Ubuntu didn't see the Windows 7 partition as an operating system! When the installer got to the disk partitioner, it showed that I had 32GB of free space! That was strange because when I mounted the hard drive from the live CD I could see all of the Windows 7 files. WTF!?!

I'm not sure what it is, but Ubuntu doesn't understand how Windows 7 does it's partitioning even though Windows 7 is using the same NTFS that we have all grown to love. Never fear though, I found a solution that works.

After playing around with different settings and installs, I finally found the best way to install it (for me anyway). Here is what I did:

1. Boot up with the Ubuntu 9.04 CD
2. Opened a terminal, and run Gparted
   
   >sudo gparted
   
   
3. Create an NTFS partion (I used the first half of the disk)
   
   
   
   
   
4. Quit Gparted, and reboot
5. Boot up with the Windows 7 DVD
6. When asked where to install, select the ntfs partition you created in step 3 and click next
   
   
   
   
7. Windows 7 will install
   
   
   
   
   
8. After Windows 7 Installs, bootup using the Ubuntu CD again and proceed with the install as usual to the empty partition
   
9. Ubuntu should now see the Windows 7 partition as a Windows Vista Partition, and now you can dual boot!
   
   
   
   

In the end, the moral of the story is that if you create your initial partitions with the Windows 7 DVD like you did in previous versions of Windows, then Ubuntu 9.04 will not be able to see the partition as an Operating System. If you use a third party partitioner, like Gparted, and install Windows to that, you will be good to go!