Fwd: Converting Fedora 19 machine to dual-boot with pre-installed Windows 7

[Rick Stevens]

On 10/18/2013 09:50 AM, Oliver Ruebenacker issued this missive:
>
>       Hello,
>
>    I have a Lenovo T430 that had Windows 7 Pro pre-installed, but I
> wiped out Windows and installed Fedora 19 instead (actually, I first
> installed Ubuntu and then Fedora).
>
>    Now I want to turn it into a dual-boot machine with Fedora and
> Windows based on the license for the pre-installed Windows.
>
>    I see on the web some recommendations to first install Windows, and
> some say you can install first Linux and then Windows, but it may not
> work for (some?) pre-installed versions.
>
>    So, now I'm wondering whether I should first wipe out Fedora and then
> put first Windows and second Fedora, or whether I should try to keep
> Fedora and add Windows next to it?
>
>    My file systems currently look like this:
>
> [oruebenacker at localhost ~]$ df
> Filesystem              1K-blocks     Used Available Use% Mounted on
> /dev/mapper/fedora-root  51475068  8239400  40597844  17% /
> devtmpfs                  3929460        0   3929460   0% /dev
> tmpfs                     3936376       96   3936280   1% /dev/shm
> tmpfs                     3936376 900   3935476
> <tel:900%C2%A0%C2%A0%203935476>   1% /run
> tmpfs                     3936376        0   3936376   0% /sys/fs/cgroup
> tmpfs                     3936376       52   3936324   1% /tmp
> /dev/sda1                  487652   120305    337651  27% /boot
> /dev/mapper/fedora-home 420590200 21603936 377598388   6% /home

I haven't done it with recent versions of Windows (7 or 8) as I only
install that crud as a virtual guest and run it once in a very, VERY
long time.

<soap>
I _detest_ Microsoft's business practices, but that's a topic that is
not apropos to this list or thread.
</soap>

That being said, in the past Windows assumed it owned the whole machine
and would take over the entire hard disk. The installer did not honor
existing non-Windows partitions so it would blithely blow anything else
away.

The safe mode is:

1. Back up your Linux stuff
2. Install Windows, making sure you have it leave some disk free.
3. Install Linux in the free space left by Windows.
4. Restore your data to the Linux space.

Unlike Microsoft, Linux installers honor existing partitions and
operating systems and will "play nice". Windows does not. And be VERY
careful about messing around with Windows' disk tools. You could
destroy your Linux stuff easily.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Rick Stevens, Systems Engineer, AllDigital    ricks at alldigital.com -
- AIM/Skype: therps2        ICQ: 22643734            Yahoo: origrps2 -
-                                                                    -
- If at first you don't succeed, quit. No sense being a damned fool! -
----------------------------------------------------------------------