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Install ubuntu without bootloader changing

Is there a way to install ubuntu without it taking over the bootloader and defaulting to ubuntu on startup?
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arnold
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It will have to install the bootloader, but you can change which system is the default modifying the boot to the windows as the default.
Grub.conf there is an entry default=n
Where n is the number in the list that is the default, change the n to the number that corresponds with the windows, I think if n is 1 and the windows is above, n should be 0
I don't know if the newer installer of Ubuntu has this option, but many linux distro's allow you to set where you want to install the boot loader. Usually if you select just the partition on which you install the OS, and not the MBR of the disk (/dev/sda would be the MBR, while /dev/sda3 would be the partition), it won't change any setting of your original boot loader. But this will also make it hard to boot into Linux, particularly if your original boot loader is one of Windows...
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Ok this is getting a little confusing.  
Can you guys walk me thru this please?
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arnold
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A link there is also a customized gui that can be used once installed,
You may need to search for it.


https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto/ChangeDefaultOS

Use virtualbox or vmware ESXi free server to test install ubuntu.

Make sure you back up your data just in case something goes wrong.
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Ok Rindi I will take a look at that option.  Thanks.  Stand by..
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Rindi ok so what should I choose then?
The one you are installing Ubuntu on. But I see you only have ntfs partitions. For Linux you should use something like EXT4.
Ok.  
Can you explain how to do all this step - by - step?  This is new territory for me.
You do not have empty/unalocated space onto which you would be installing.
you have a single 750 GB drive

100MB "windows boot"
749 GB windows partition.

You need to add another drive into the system before proceeding any further.
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So there's no way to get the computer to boot to a screen where I can choose which OS to log into?
There is, but the boot loader will be that of ubuntu includes with the install not the windows one.

You still need to have a partition/space onto which ubuntu will be installed.
So there's no way to get a window up like the one that asks if you want to repair your computer, but to choose an OS?
You can, but have to go through getting yet another bootloader that will be installed on your windows system such as easybcd which will be referenced as the boot option for ubuntu which has the correct ubuntu boot directive.
i.e. windows 7 bootloader, boot easybcd which then starts the ubuntu boot process.

The other option is install a second drive while disconnecting the windows drive, install ubuntu on this system at the conclusion of the process reconnect the windows disk in the old case.

The default will boot the first, windows disk.  When you want to boot ubuntu, you have to remember to trigger the Boot menu of the BIOS and select the second drive as to boot device.

The concern you have that seems to stem from issues when the windows 7 system runs into issues.  You can let it repair the boot/boot loader, and then rerun the ubuntu to install its boot loader again.

If this is a practice, use the liveCD portion of ubuntu.

......
This is really confusing.
does the same thing happen if you add Win 7 to ubuntu as adding ubuntu to win 7?
Yes, though I am unsure the windows 7 install which will recognize prior windows Oses would recognize linux and will create an entry for it.

though the same rule, you would need unused partition space for the install of the OS.
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Ok I need to read the bcd thing again then
Still working on it.
I still dont get why we cant have 7 and ubuntu on a computer AND use the windows boot manager.
Because m$ boot managers have no idea about any non m$ OS's. M$ just doesn't care about other systems.
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Ok Arnold, step by step, one two three, what do I do here please and thank you!
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Ok great.  Now can you break #1 down as to how to do that?
You eighter need to shrink the space used by windows, third party software, or if you are adventurous, boot the system using A windows disk, and use diskpart to resize it.
My suggestion given the cost of HD is to get a separate drive and add it to the system and install ubuntu on it.250GB will do just as well.
Once you have either, insert the ubuntu media, and depending on your system it will boot from the media if so configured, or you would need to hit a boot selector key, esc on some, F11/12 on others, etc.

At this point from my recollection, you do not have the space onto which ubuntu can be installed.  you can use the Ubuntu Media to run ubuntu in live/demo mode to see whether it is what you are looking for.
You can take this opportunity to explore the various linux systems available to see which you prefer.  Try linux Mint, Knoppix, I.e. download the iso and run the live-CD version. no install needed. No changes to the bootup process of your windows OS.
The current hdd has hardly any used space
If you use two separate physical disks, you can install Linux to the 2nd disk and allow it to install grub to sdx of that disk. To be on the safe side, remove your Windows disk during the installation so nothing can go wrong. When finished, you can tell your PC which disk to boot from via the boot priority in the BIOS.
While the current HD has free space, when ubuntu looks at this disk it sees two or three partitions occupying the entire DISK.
104MB boot partition
750 GB windows partiontion

Run the following command: diskmgmt.msc
(disk manager in windows.)
You should see disk 0 Do you see UnAllocated space there where you can create a new partition??


ubuntu can not be installed onto a windows partition as though it is a windows program going to c:\program files\ubuntu.

hope this makes it clearer.

When installing ubuntu you need a DISK that has space that is unused.
[                                                                                                             ] Entire disk space 500GB when new
With windows installed and an unallocated space
[ 104 mb boot][  windows partition 400GB][100GB unallocated ]

You are missing the unallocated space in your example.
The options available to you is to shrink the existing 750 GB windows partition. (third party tool/ or using a windows boot and using diskpart) while it is possible to resize online using diskpart, issues can happen that ..........
The addition of a second drive to the computer, make this rather simple.

We are running in circles covering the same thing. Your system currently does not have the required disk space (not free space in windows) to perform the installation.
Please look at the screen shot you posted and note that ubuntu is asking you on which partition of the ones listed do you want it to install itself.  If you choose, it will erase your windows and will install itself in its place.

While Rindi and I said it before, the amount of data in a post could ... so let me separate everything else out.

The first thing you need is a NEW and additional HardDrive in the existing System.
But then dont you have to go into the case and plug/unplug stuff?
What's the problem with that?
You only plug, no unplug needed if you attach the second drive into a higher numbered sata port.

If you are insisting on staying with the single drive, you need a third party tool partition magic, or ...
Which you would use to boot up your system, and then resize your windows partition from the 750GB that it currently uses to something smaller allowing for at least 20GB of space unallocated.

Note that a mixup here will result in corruption of your windows partition and might prevent it from booting, so make sure you have all your important files backed up just in case.
Doesnt linux have a free partition tool?  I thought I saw that once
You can use ubuntu liveCD with gparted resize the existing windows partition.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoResizeWindowsPartitions
That's what I explained way up in https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28594600/Install-ubuntu-without-bootloader-changing.html?anchorAnswerId=40549275#a40549275

With Windows 7 you can also use diskmanagement to shrink your partitions. You don't need any 3rd party tools.

But if you want to install Linux to the same disk as Windows 7, you will have to either use Grub as bootloader, or add Ubuntu to the Windows loader using EasyBCD.

The other option you have, as I just explained, is to temporarily remove your Windows disk, install a 2nd disk and install Linux to that. When finished, add your Windows disk again, and use your BIOS to change the HD's boot priority to select the OS you want to boot to.

A 3rd option would be to install Linux to a USB stick or SD Card (if your PC has a card reader). Then you wouldn't have to add a 2nd disk and open the PC (although that is no problem at all). Here again just select the correct boot order when you want to boot to the stick, and during the OS installation make sure you select the stick for the location where Grub should be installed
wow thats wild.  you can run ubuntu off an sd card?
Sure. It may just take longer to boot. And personally I wouldn't recommend Ubuntu, but rather most other distro's.
Any storage including, sd, usb, etc.
Virtualization vmware, virtualbox will ley you run any and as many as you have space to accommodate will let you run ...............
Try linux mint.
I will try Mint, standby
I've requested that this question be deleted for the following reason:

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please keep open for a few more days.
What's the best site to get Mint from?
Theres a lot to choose from and I dont need a virus.
Directly from the Linux Mint Webpage, or via the distrowatch page, which also directs to the official mint download page, but here you have the advantage that most distro's are listed with a short description, and you can find others to try out easily.

http://distrowatch.com/
Working to get that downloaded now.
Ok I burned Mint to a dvd.  
Is there anything I need to know before I install it regarding how to make Windows the default OS?
review all the notices.  I.e. After several the tendency is to just continue hitting next/yes. No matter, the default os can be changed it is not carved  in stone..

The issue remains that you have to have space on an unused/allocated partition in a drive.

It will however, replace the windows bootloader.
Is it possible to make the bootloader choose Windows as the default in the list instead of Linux?
Check the /boot/grub/grub.conf file. There you have the different menuentries, with the OS's listed when you boot up the system.

You can then edit the /etc/default/grub file and change the value of "GRUB_DEAFULT=..." to the entry that is for Windoze (the menuentries start from 0). When done run "sudo update-grub".

Now the default should be for Windows.
Is that after Linux is installed?
I believe during the install it asks which or whether you want one as the primary. But do not recall whether it is a affirmative question or needing a negative response not to set linux as the default..
In either case, when the system boots it will show which is the default, if it is not windows, let it boot into linux and adjust the grub.conf settings pointing to the windows as the default.
And that all it would take.
It's after Linux was installed and when you have booted into the new installation.
I wonder if I can speak to Arnold or rindi on the phone whilst I install this.  So many things have been given on this thread.  I am confused.
How about you take the non impacting to your system approach and use either vmware's free option or use virtualbox to install in a Virtual environment..
This way you can test/repeat.
I don't have a phone. Besides, the EE rules forbid direct communications like that.
Arnold so what's the difference using VMware and install creating a partition?
VMWare or virtualbox will be running within windows as the host and will not impact your bootup process. Virtual system within your windows setup.
i.e. will function similar to a word document where you will have to open word to access the data within the document.  Depending on which you will pick, you would need to open a player (vmware or virtualbox) and within it start the linux "virtual" system.
I think I know what that is now.  Win 7 has a built in vm XP
What's the best place to get the free vmware?  I dont want to download a virus
VMware Player is available directly from the VMware site, and VirtualBox from the Oracle Virtualbox site. In my point of view VirtualBox is the better option as it is OpenSource and most distro's already include the driver modules, and some even have VirtualBox available via their repositories. Besides, the free version of VMware Player can only be used in a private environment, not in a Business.

https://www.virtualbox.org/

http://www.vmware.com/
Rindi, it says, "Here, you will find links to VirtualBox binaries and its source code. VirtualBox binaries".

This sounds like a site for web dev guys.  Is this what you were talking about?
Just download and install the binaries for your platform (windows).
What does "install a 'binary'" mean anyhow.  That's odd language to me.
Binaries are executable files (exe files when used in Windows).
Who talks like that today??????????
Hard to believe that vmware's just going to give away a free player, too.
They use the word "binary" because it runs under different OS platforms. Exe's (executionals) is an m$ Windows thing.

VMware has always had free products. If I'm not mistaken, they started up with free products only. Just remember that the free player is for personal use only. For business use you need at least the player Pro, which isn't free, but not as expensive as VMware Workstation. Even VMware ESXi is free if you only need that.
oh I see.  VMW makes you put in ur email address for marketing before you start.
That is only since the newest version. Before that it wasn't necessary.
Ok.  Well, Im still thinking about which way I want to install this. Im leaning towards dual boot.  I might do a test run and make sure I understand all the questions with non intuitive negatives
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We gave all possible ways to get this done.
Ok I will review this as soon as I am able
bear with me.  will try soon and get back