Ubuntu Installtion in Detail

Recently I installed Ubuntu [Linux] as a dual boot OS with Seven already installed on my Machine. I faced a lot of problems, but the end result was worth all the trouble as Ubuntu rocks


In this thread I will post the step by step method to install Ubuntu (or any of its other versions such as Mint) as a dual boot OS on Seven machine. I will also specify some mistakes I made and what I learned outta those.

The first step to install Ubuntu was to creat a partition on my existing hard drive. There are two ways how you can do it in Seven:

1. In built 'Shrink Disc' feature in Seven
2. Use a disk partition software to do it for you.

Ubuntu or Mint comes with an inbuilt disk partitioner. What is required is a unallocated free space on your hard drive so that it can be partitioned while installing Ubuntu

1. Making Space using "Shrink Disc" feature in Seven:

a. Log on to Seven.
b. Right-Click on "My computer" in the main menu and select "Manage"
c. It will ask for administrator password, enter it and click "allow"
d. Click on Disc Management.
e. There is will show the available partitions and external storage devices if any
f. Right Click on the disc partition you want to shrink and select "shrink volume"
g. Seven will assess how much space can be made free.
h. It will suggest the value which can be made free. Be sure that this is at least 10-15 GB. If you dont have this space, you will have to delete some data to make space for the partition.
i. Then select "shrink"
j. Seven will shrink the volume and show the new freed space as "unallocated" space.
k. After this close the window. You are done with shrinking

2. Making Space using a Disk Partition software:

a. I had problem that Seven used to say "access denied" when I tried to shrink the main C: Drive (I had only on partition )
b. So I used a Free Disk Partition Software to shrink the space.
c. You can use the following software: EasyUS partition Master-Home Edition which you can download here:
d. Using this it is easy to create space for a new partition.
e. Using the above program, select the partition you want to shrink/resize
f. Using the "Resize" tool you can shrink the volume and the rest of the space would be shown as "unallocated space"
g. Apply the changes and you are done