How can I install Windows after I've installed Ubuntu?

Question

I have Ubuntu on my laptop. Now I want install Windows 7 in a dual-boot. How can I do this?

I can't lose my Ubuntu files, and I'm afraid that I might break GRUB.

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^{Editor's note:} Current readers should keep in mind that this is an older question, and the exact steps may have changed over time. Also, UEFI has primarily replaced BIOS in that time. As a result, many answers here may be out of date. Make sure you choose an answer appropriate to UEFI or BIOS depending on your system, and consider favoring more recent answers which may have more up-to-date information.

Answer 1

Here's the general outline:

1. Make space for Windows
2. Install Windows
3. Mount the /boot directory or partition
4. Install the bootloader (GRUB)

Step Zero – Backup your important data before doing anything

Step One – Make space for Windows

Open up GParted, and make sure that you have at least 20 GB available for Windows 7, either as a partition you can remove, or as unpartitioned space. If it's a partition, remove it from GRUB to make sure it doesn't break your Ubuntu install — GParted will complain if anything bad is about to happen.

Make note of current /boot device. If that doesn't show up there, make note of the / device. The device name is something like sda5.

Step Two – Install Windows

Install Windows 7 into the space you just made

Step Three – Mount /boot

_{Note: Instead of mounting the boot directory or partition from the installation in the live media environment you can specify the path with the --boot-directory parameter for grub-install, more information on the manpage.}

Load up from your Ubuntu live CD, and then run these commands.

• If you DO NOT have a separate /boot partition:

  sudo mount /dev/DEVICENAME_FROM_STEP_ONE /mnt
  sudo rm -rf /boot    # Careful here, make sure YOU ARE USING THE LIVE CD. I tried it, it works.
  sudo ln -s /mnt/boot /boot
  

• If you have a SEPARATE /boot partition:

    sudo mount /dev/DEVICENAME_FROM_STEP_ONE /boot
  

Step Four – Install the bootloader

_{Note: These instructions were initially written for Windows 7 and BIOS booting computers. If you have UEFI and Windows 8 and above you probably need to replace grub-pc with grub-efi-amd64 in sudo apt-get install grub-pc.}

Then continue with those commands:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install grub-pc
sudo grub-install /dev/sda     # NOTE THAT THERE IS NO DIGIT
sudo umount /boot

And restart. It should work fine and boot both systems.

Answer 2

Installing Windows after Ubuntu is not the recommended process for a dual boot Windows and Ubuntu system, but it is possible.

• First, you have to make sure that the 50GB free space is available, resizing your Ubuntu by using gParted if necessary.

• Also use gParted or Disk Utility to format the free space as NTFS, this prevents Windows 7 from creating an additional boot partition in addition to the "C" drive.

• Next, boot to the Windows DVD installer and install Windows on the NTFS partition. Upon reboot, Windows will automatically boot and you won't see the grub menu allowing you to choose Ubuntu, because the Windows bootloader has replaced grub.

• Now, what you need to do is run Ubuntu from LiveCD or LiveUSB and install boot-repair.

• To install boot-repair, open up a terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and type the following commands:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
  

• After installation, boot-repair will automatically launch, if is doesn't, launch it via Dash.

• Make sure to select recommended repair to repair grub. Reboot and that's it.

• You should now have a Grub menu on boot, allowing you to choose from Ubuntu, memtest, and Windows 7.

Answer 3

UEFI only!

This answer covers UEFI-only, and is meant to be a bit of a more modern answer as UEFI has succeeded the ancient BIOS. Also, there are some edits here to fit the fact it's answering a "how I do this" rather than a "can I do this" type of question.

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To install Windows alongside Ubuntu, you just do the following:

1. Insert Windows 10 USB
2. Create a partition/volume on the drive to install Windows 10 on alongside Ubuntu (it'll create more than one partition, that's normal; also make sure you have space for Windows 10 on your drive, you might need to shrink Ubuntu)
3. Install the Windows 10.

That's it!

Note: when making sure things are ready for your dual boot, check if Ubuntu is installed in the GPT partition table! While 99% of the time you will be using GPT if you're planning to do this, it is possible to install Ubuntu's UEFI on MBR but Windows 10 does not support that strange use-case. In that situation, convert to GPT if possible. If not, backup and reinstall, and I'd recommend that as it'll be easier.

Answer 4

boot-repair did a really good job launched from a live-usb, by just applying the recommended option.

Answer 5

When you boot have you checked the boot order on your BIOS? If you're booting straight to the hard drive it will always miss the USB. You need to move the USB device boot option higher in the priority list.

Also check that your computer allows you to boot from USB in the USB port you are using.

Answer 6

First, you have to boot with a live CD/USB stick and shrink your partition in order to create a second one. Windows 7 requires and creates a second partition which is called "system reserved". I don't know why, but it does. (So you will end up with three partitions or four if you have a swap partition.)

When your partition is ready, just boot with your Windows 7 DVD/USB stick and install Windows 7 on the new partition.

When Windows 7 has been installed, GRUB will break and you will only be able to boot Windows (automatically). Just boot with a live Ubuntu CD/USB stick and fix it (how it is mentioned in other comments).

Now another issue that some users may face:

I own an HP Mini 210 netbook which came with Windows 7. I erased everything and installed Ubuntu. Later on I decided to also reinstall Windows 7 and have a dual boot (needed Windows for a specific application from my university which wouldn't run through wine). At that time I had three partitions:

- Ubuntu
- Swap
- Backup/download storage

Now when I tried to install Windows 7 I faced a problem because Windows 7 needs to create a second primary partition (system reserved). I already had three partitions and therefore was unable to create two more. The workaround here is to create an extended partition in which you will include both swap and backup storage. Now I have:

- Ubuntu (primary)
- Extended
  - Swap
  - Backup/download storage
- Windows 7 (primary)
- Windows 7 system reserved (primary)

Answer 7

Basically the same answer as @evgeny, but using chroot instead of a symbolic link.

1. Boot into a Ubuntu LiveCD
2. Open GParted and make sure you have an unused partition with at least 20GB free space. This will be your Windows 7 partition.
3. Install Windows 7 onto this partition.
4. Boot into a Ubuntu LiveCD
5. Make a note of the partition Ubuntu is installed on and any separate /boot partitions if applicable.

6. Mount your Ubuntu installation

   sudo mkdir /mnt
   sudo mount /dev/<partition> /mnt

7. Give this partition internet access

   sudo cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/etc/resolv.conf
   

8. Only if you have a seperate /boot partition, otherwise skip this step

   sudo mkdir /mnt/boot
   sudo mount /dev/<boot_partition> /mnt/boot

9. Set up then enter chroot

   sudo mount -o bind /proc /mnt/proc
   sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev
   sudo mount -o bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts
   sudo mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sys
   sudo chroot /mnt
   

10. Make sure grub-pc is the latest version

    apt-get update && apt-get install grub-pc
    

11. Install GRUB

    grub-install /dev/sda
    

12. Exit chroot

    exit
    

13. Reboot and check if it works

Answer 8

In case your computer came with a pre-installed copy of Windows 8 and you removed it because to many people told you to hate it and you found that after you installed Ubuntu, that it isn't what you want, note this:

Your computer boots with UEFI and has a GPT partition table.

For installing Windows 7, either create and boot the Windows 7 installation media in UEFI-mode or set boot-mode and partition table to legacy.

Answer 9

To install Windows you need an empty partition that will be dedicated to Windows. If you do, then go ahead and install on this using the normal installation procedure. After installation, reboot into Windows and reboot a few times more to experience Windows ;-) (sorry, couldn't resist)

Like you said, this will break GRUB and your computer can only boot Windows after this. Do not despair, as there is a help section dedicated to restoring GRUB and being able to dual boot. Look here. After performing this, your computer will be able to boot Ubuntu as well as Windows.

Before you start, very very carefully note down the location (hard drive number, make & partition number within that) of the current Ubuntu install (which you don't obviously want to overwrite) and the empty partition in which you want to install windows. Also, during Windows installation, if it offers to format any partition other than the one you are installing Windows into, please do not accept.

Answer 10

One good advice: When you make the separate partition for Windows 7, using gparted for example, format it to the NTFS right away. Do not use Windows installer to format the partition, because several times I had a situation, when the Windows installer corrupted the partition table after that and I had to restore the lost partition. So, as the people recommended here: using gparted, create separate partition, format it to the ntfs, install windows there, then restore grub using livecd or liveflash. You can use the SystemResqueCD for liveflash.

Answer 11

Its a easy process to install dual OS. 1st create a NTFS partition from Ubuntu using Disk Utility. Then restart your system and continue with your windows installing. After finishing installing you can see that your GRUB is not working..... NOT A PROBLEM. I have two method to fix this GRUB problem.

[Method 1] Try to reinstall GRUB under Ubuntu LiveCD. For example, like recommended @kiri above in this answer.

[Method 2] It may be bit difficult. Don't worry i have also a easy one. For that you have to login into windows. Download EasyBCD and run it. Go to Edit Boot Menu and set your desired boot option as default. Then save it and reboot your system. [Tested under windows].

Please let me know if you stack in something.

Answer 12

The most save way is to install Windows 7 first and to reinstall Ubuntu after that. This will ensure that grub works.

You can also edit your partitions with a live cd, and then install Windows 7. When you have done this you boot into Ubuntu with a live cd and restore grub. This procedure however, is a bit more delicate than just installing them in the right order.

Answer 13

I suggest you virtualize Windows 7 with something like VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org)

This way you can run Windows and Linux at the same time, without the chance of destroying you Bootloader Grub.

I don't know why you want to run Windows 7, but if you don't need the full hardware capacity (Running the Latest 3D Games for example) of your computer for windows then virtualization can be a good solution.

Answer 14

Boot that USB

1. Turn on or restart the computer.
2. While the display is blank, press the F10 key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
   NOTE: The BIOS settings menu is accessible by pressing the F2 or the F6 key on some computers.
3. Select the Advanced tab using the right and left arrow keys.
4. Press Enter.
5. Use the up and down arrow keys to select Boot Order.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to change the boot order so that USB is at the top
7. Press Esc.
8. Select the Exit tab using the right and left arrow keys.
9. Press Enter.
10. Press Enter.

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Reboot...

Answer 15

Install Windows after Ubuntu on a single partition without touching the grub bootloader (without USB)

1. Prepare the NTFS partition by the Disk Utility.

2. Download HBCD_PE_64.iso, extract it on this partition, and add this menu entry to grub.cfg:

menuentry "HBCD_PE" --class windows11  {
  insmod part_msdos
  insmod ntldr
  set root='hd0,msdos6' 
  ntldr /BOOTMGR
}

Replace 'hd0,msdos6' with the appropriate values. also, BOOTMGR can be replaced with bootmgr based on the boot manager name in the HBCD_PE_64.iso

3. Reboot to HBCD_PE from the Grub menu.

4. Use Windows cmd to create a 25 GB vdisk, attach this vdisk, and make it a single partition:

diskpart
create vdisk file=D:\win.vhd maximum=25000 type=fixed
attach vdisk file=D:\win.vhd
lis dis
Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt

Disk 0    Online          465 GB  1024 KB
  Disk 1    No Media           0 B      0 B

Disk 2    Online           24 GB    24 GB

sel dis 2
convert mbr
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows-vhd"
assign letter="F"
active

Replace D with the appropriate letter.

5. Use Rufus (existed in the HBCD_PE ISO, in the programes directory) to make Windows To Go from Install.wim on this vdisk, and select prevent Windows To Go from accessing the internal disk. you will find the Install.wim file in the windows ISO in sources directory.

6. Copy bootvhd.dll to the boot directory on the NTFS partition. this file will help us to boot from the vdisk.

7. Use bootice.exe (existed in the HBCD_PE ISO, in the programes directory and start menu in the MBR section) to add a boot entry to the BCD file. select add, vhd entry, select the disk, the partition, and the vdisk file.

8. Reboot, select HBCD_PE, then select vdisk boot entry.

9. After Windows is configured, reach the desktop on the vdisk, reboot to HBCD_PE, attach vdisk by these commands:

diskpart
select vdisk file=D:\win.vhd
attach vdisk

, make backup.wim, and apply it to the NTFS partition.

Dism /Capture-Image /Compress:maximum /ImageFile:E:\backup.wim /CaptureDir:F:\ /Name:"WIN11"
Dism /apply-image  imagefile:E:\backup.wim  /index:1 /ApplyDir:W:

Replace E and W with the appropriate letters. you can use Dism++ to Capture and apply the wim file.

10. Use bootice.exe to add a boot entry to BCD for the Windows partition. select add, windows entry, select the disk, select the Windows partition, and edit the entry name.

Now you can access HBCD_PE, vdisk, and Windows. all of these are placed on a single partition without touching the grub or ubuntu, also you can delete HBCD_PE_64 files after applying bcdboot command:

BCDboot c:\Windows /s C: /f ALL

this command will create the BCD files for BIOS and UEFI in the same Windows partition.

The vdisk can be deleted, but retaining it is useful for installing other Windows versions if you prefer that. with vdisk files, you can make many Windows versions on the same partition.

You can access the vdisk or Windows when you select HBCD_PE from grub menu. also, you can rename this entry to Windows or windows boot manager.

Create recovery partition to install, backup, restore and repair: multi Ubuntu versions, HBCD-PE-64 and multi Windows installation without usb drive

Create USB drive contains multi Ubuntu versions, HBCD-PE-64 and multi Windows installation

Answer 16

Installing windows after ubuntu is a pain but after you do this you'll need to put in your ubuntu live cd and install boot-repair and run that. Becouse installing win7 after ubuntu will break grub. But, boot-repair will remedy that!