Duel Boot

**Bman** · February 18th, 2011

I want to start using Ubuntu as my primary OS as much as possible. The crappy part is that for games and a few other applications I need windows. So I need to duel boot.

I have Windows 7 x64 installed already on my drive. How do I install/partition my main drive without wiping it...and all that good stuff thats needed.

It's been awhile, I used to know. lol (yes I could probably find a tutorial on Google for this, I was bored and felt like posting

)

**LeeJend** · February 19th, 2011

You can go 2 routes.

1) Use windows disk management to shrink the drive freeing up room to make an Ubuntu partition. See apcmag.com for detailed help.

2) You can use the WUBI installer that will create an Ubuntu install in an area of the existing Windows partition without changing the Windows partition.

I have used both techniques with no problems. Regardless of which you use run a disk compression (the windows one, diskkeeper, perefect disk, etc) before starting and repair any disk errors that are found.

**Johnny** · February 21st, 2011

Why don't you install VMWare to play your games? I do the similar with my mac. It works great.

**Bman** · February 22nd, 2011

I don't think VMWare can play all old and new games, maxed settings at 1920x1200. lol

**LordOfLA** · February 22nd, 2011

Until proper para-virtualised 3d drivers are available gaming on a VM will be abysmal.

You can use WINE on linux for most things but native is always best.

**Xie** · February 23rd, 2011

Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming.

**Johnny** · February 23rd, 2011

Originally Posted by Xie

Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming.

Good point.

**Bman** · February 24th, 2011

Originally Posted by Xie

Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming.

Does not work, I have done that many times and there are many issues with VM. Such as resolutions that are possible, its harder to accomplish things like better resolutions, and certain applications. And getting access to my hard drives contents, etc etc.

**Johnny** · February 24th, 2011

What you could do to partition it is use something like Acronis Disk Director to create the partition then install it. That is how I used to do it, myself.

**Xie** · February 24th, 2011

Originally Posted by Bman

Does not work, I have done that many times and there are many issues with VM. Such as resolutions that are possible, its harder to accomplish things like better resolutions, and certain applications. And getting access to my hard drives contents, etc etc.

Well if you wanna go all out doesn't Win 7 let you shrink it (not sure what version you need)? Then you could use EasyBCD to boot both 7 and Ubuntu no issues.

**Bman** · February 25th, 2011

Lets say VMs have the ability for 3D applications and intensive stuff. Basically just a real OS running within an OS, no disabilities.

What kind of system would you need to pull that off. Say having Windows 7 as your main. Having videos, tons of applications running, and maybe even a game. And then have Ubuntu running inside it doing the same kind of stuff.

To do that without lag or issue, are we talking like 32GB of RAM, duel GPUs, duel CPUs etc...or is it less crazy then that?

And to your other points, my issue is booting. I don't want to have to shutdown and boot into something else. But obviously VMs are not good enough for what I want yet, so yes duel booting is my only option.

**Johnny** · February 25th, 2011

If you don't want to shut down to boot into another, you are going to have to use a virtual machine.

Something else you could do for the dual os is this: Get a drive switch, and install an OS on each drive, then all you have to do is flip a switch before you boot. More info below.

Indus Technologies — Welcome

**Xie** · February 25th, 2011

Originally Posted by Bman

Lets say VMs have the ability for 3D applications and intensive stuff. Basically just a real OS running within an OS, no disabilities.

What kind of system would you need to pull that off. Say having Windows 7 as your main. Having videos, tons of applications running, and maybe even a game. And then have Ubuntu running inside it doing the same kind of stuff.

To do that without lag or issue, are we talking like 32GB of RAM, duel GPUs, duel CPUs etc...or is it less crazy then that?

And to your other points, my issue is booting. I don't want to have to shutdown and boot into something else. But obviously VMs are not good enough for what I want yet, so yes duel booting is my only option.

Why would you need to run "intensive" apps on both systems at the same time (as well as games)? With a VM you can give it whatever you want. I don't see why you would need to go "all out" in both OS's at the same time though, so you shouldn't need the crazy specs you just listed.

I would say just try it .. best part of a VM is you can mess with it forever and if in the end you don't like it .. you just delete it.

You want to change the specs around .. just close the guest OS and respec.

**LordOfLA** · February 25th, 2011

You seem to want to do the same as I do Bman - windows for games, linux/bsd/other os for everything else. I've been looking in to this for sometime with things like XenClient, XenDesktop and NXTop.

Both Citrix and the company behind NXTop said that their solutions would only run games with paravirtualised drivers and then not as well as running native. VP Sales at NXTop doubted his product could run games "decently" for some time due to the wide variety of hardware games have and all but suggested running windows native and the other OS in a VM.

To that end my ideal system for gaming and VMing is as follows:

AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
Asus Crosshair Formula IV
16GB DDR3 RAM (Crucial or Corsair)
Corsair Obsidian 800D Case
XFX Radeon 5870
Asus Xonar D2 (not the X version as its the same as the D2 just needs extra power)
2 x WD Velociraptor Discs RAID 0 for Windows and VM's
4x Hitachi 3TB disks RAID5 for data/video/games

**Bman** · February 26th, 2011

Originally Posted by LordOfLA

You seem to want to do the same as I do Bman - windows for games, linux/bsd/other os for everything else. I've been looking in to this for sometime with things like XenClient, XenDesktop and NXTop.

Both Citrix and the company behind NXTop said that their solutions would only run games with paravirtualised drivers and then not as well as running native. VP Sales at NXTop doubted his product could run games "decently" for some time due to the wide variety of hardware games have and all but suggested running windows native and the other OS in a VM.

To that end my ideal system for gaming and VMing is as follows:

AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
Asus Crosshair Formula IV
16GB DDR3 RAM (Crucial or Corsair)
Corsair Obsidian 800D Case
XFX Radeon 5870
Asus Xonar D2 (not the X version as its the same as the D2 just needs extra power)
2 x WD Velociraptor Discs RAID 0 for Windows and VM's
4x Hitachi 3TB disks RAID5 for data/video/games

Yea thats basically it, except Adobes software on Windows as well. I have only played with a few of the free VM softwares out there. Do any of them really make a difference over another?

**LordOfLA** · February 26th, 2011

I'd suggest virtual box really. VMWare player automates things you don't always want automated.

**Johnny** · March 2nd, 2011

Is Parellels supported by Linux? If so, it is optimized for games and 3d. So it might work.

**Bman** · March 3rd, 2011

Overview - Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows & Linux

Your telling me I can have Ubuntu as my main system. Have Parrellels running Windows 7, playing my games at full spec resolutions? I don't believe so.....?

**Johnny** · March 3rd, 2011

They must not make parallels 6 for linux, that is the one I am talking about.

**LordOfLA** · March 3rd, 2011

I doubt very much that Parallels would play games anywhere near comfortably unless there are developments in display and sound drivers I'm not aware of yet.

February 18th, 2011	Top \| #1
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Duel Boot I want to start using Ubuntu as my primary OS as much as possible. The crappy part is that for games and a few other applications I need windows. So I need to duel boot. I have Windows 7 x64 installed already on my drive. How do I install/partition my main drive without wiping it...and all that good stuff thats needed. It's been awhile, I used to know. lol (yes I could probably find a tutorial on Google for this, I was bored and felt like posting )

February 19th, 2011	Top \| #2
LeeJend OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 5,261 Reputation: 3386 Power: 199	Re: Duel Boot You can go 2 routes. 1) Use windows disk management to shrink the drive freeing up room to make an Ubuntu partition. See apcmag.com for detailed help. 2) You can use the WUBI installer that will create an Ubuntu install in an area of the existing Windows partition without changing the Windows partition. I have used both techniques with no problems. Regardless of which you use run a disk compression (the windows one, diskkeeper, perefect disk, etc) before starting and repair any disk errors that are found. Thought for the new millenium: In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows and Gates? - Open Office - Firefox - Thunderbird - Gimp -Ubuntu - Red Hat -

February 21st, 2011	Top \| #3
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot Why don't you install VMWare to play your games? I do the similar with my mac. It works great. Paul Reed Smith.

February 22nd, 2011	Top \| #4
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Duel Boot I don't think VMWare can play all old and new games, maxed settings at 1920x1200. lol

February 22nd, 2011	Top \| #5
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Duel Boot Until proper para-virtualised 3d drivers are available gaming on a VM will be abysmal. You can use WINE on linux for most things but native is always best. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

Latest News Posts

Latest Forum Posts

Latest Member Blogs

February 23rd, 2011	Top \| #6
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Duel Boot Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming. tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

February 23rd, 2011	Top \| #7
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot Originally Posted by Xie Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming. Good point. Paul Reed Smith.

February 24th, 2011	Top \| #8
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Duel Boot Originally Posted by Xie Since your probably not going to go Ubuntu full time if you like Windows at all (since they are on opposite ends of the usage scale -- at least for me). I would put Ubuntu in a virtualbox (or whatever VM) and just run it full screen. Then if you must game you can just pause the VM and minimize, and away you go gaming. Does not work, I have done that many times and there are many issues with VM. Such as resolutions that are possible, its harder to accomplish things like better resolutions, and certain applications. And getting access to my hard drives contents, etc etc.

February 24th, 2011	Top \| #9
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot What you could do to partition it is use something like Acronis Disk Director to create the partition then install it. That is how I used to do it, myself. Paul Reed Smith.

February 24th, 2011	Top \| #10
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Duel Boot Originally Posted by Bman Does not work, I have done that many times and there are many issues with VM. Such as resolutions that are possible, its harder to accomplish things like better resolutions, and certain applications. And getting access to my hard drives contents, etc etc. Well if you wanna go all out doesn't Win 7 let you shrink it (not sure what version you need)? Then you could use EasyBCD to boot both 7 and Ubuntu no issues. tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

February 25th, 2011	Top \| #11
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Duel Boot Lets say VMs have the ability for 3D applications and intensive stuff. Basically just a real OS running within an OS, no disabilities. What kind of system would you need to pull that off. Say having Windows 7 as your main. Having videos, tons of applications running, and maybe even a game. And then have Ubuntu running inside it doing the same kind of stuff. To do that without lag or issue, are we talking like 32GB of RAM, duel GPUs, duel CPUs etc...or is it less crazy then that? And to your other points, my issue is booting. I don't want to have to shutdown and boot into something else. But obviously VMs are not good enough for what I want yet, so yes duel booting is my only option.

February 25th, 2011	Top \| #12
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot If you don't want to shut down to boot into another, you are going to have to use a virtual machine. Something else you could do for the dual os is this: Get a drive switch, and install an OS on each drive, then all you have to do is flip a switch before you boot. More info below. Indus Technologies — Welcome Paul Reed Smith.

February 25th, 2011	Top \| #13
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Duel Boot Originally Posted by Bman Lets say VMs have the ability for 3D applications and intensive stuff. Basically just a real OS running within an OS, no disabilities. What kind of system would you need to pull that off. Say having Windows 7 as your main. Having videos, tons of applications running, and maybe even a game. And then have Ubuntu running inside it doing the same kind of stuff. To do that without lag or issue, are we talking like 32GB of RAM, duel GPUs, duel CPUs etc...or is it less crazy then that? And to your other points, my issue is booting. I don't want to have to shutdown and boot into something else. But obviously VMs are not good enough for what I want yet, so yes duel booting is my only option. Why would you need to run "intensive" apps on both systems at the same time (as well as games)? With a VM you can give it whatever you want. I don't see why you would need to go "all out" in both OS's at the same time though, so you shouldn't need the crazy specs you just listed. I would say just try it .. best part of a VM is you can mess with it forever and if in the end you don't like it .. you just delete it. You want to change the specs around .. just close the guest OS and respec. tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

February 25th, 2011	Top \| #14
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Duel Boot You seem to want to do the same as I do Bman - windows for games, linux/bsd/other os for everything else. I've been looking in to this for sometime with things like XenClient, XenDesktop and NXTop. Both Citrix and the company behind NXTop said that their solutions would only run games with paravirtualised drivers and then not as well as running native. VP Sales at NXTop doubted his product could run games "decently" for some time due to the wide variety of hardware games have and all but suggested running windows native and the other OS in a VM. To that end my ideal system for gaming and VMing is as follows: AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Asus Crosshair Formula IV 16GB DDR3 RAM (Crucial or Corsair) Corsair Obsidian 800D Case XFX Radeon 5870 Asus Xonar D2 (not the X version as its the same as the D2 just needs extra power) 2 x WD Velociraptor Discs RAID 0 for Windows and VM's 4x Hitachi 3TB disks RAID5 for data/video/games If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

February 26th, 2011	Top \| #15
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Duel Boot Originally Posted by LordOfLA You seem to want to do the same as I do Bman - windows for games, linux/bsd/other os for everything else. I've been looking in to this for sometime with things like XenClient, XenDesktop and NXTop. Both Citrix and the company behind NXTop said that their solutions would only run games with paravirtualised drivers and then not as well as running native. VP Sales at NXTop doubted his product could run games "decently" for some time due to the wide variety of hardware games have and all but suggested running windows native and the other OS in a VM. To that end my ideal system for gaming and VMing is as follows: AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Asus Crosshair Formula IV 16GB DDR3 RAM (Crucial or Corsair) Corsair Obsidian 800D Case XFX Radeon 5870 Asus Xonar D2 (not the X version as its the same as the D2 just needs extra power) 2 x WD Velociraptor Discs RAID 0 for Windows and VM's 4x Hitachi 3TB disks RAID5 for data/video/games Yea thats basically it, except Adobes software on Windows as well. I have only played with a few of the free VM softwares out there. Do any of them really make a difference over another?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz Duel-core or not?	me_man	General Hardware	13	July 5th, 2006 9:58pm
Awesome DIY light saber duel	LordOfLA	Entertainment & Sports	9	March 29th, 2006 11:36pm
Power DVD & Duel Monitors	Crucial	General Hardware	7	July 3rd, 2002 6:27pm
trouble removing Duel Boot with XP	MunkayboyPC	Windows Desktop Systems	7	June 6th, 2002 11:04pm
Duel boot system	toolfool719	Windows Desktop Systems	1	April 26th, 2002 1:37am

February 26th, 2011	Top \| #16
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Duel Boot I'd suggest virtual box really. VMWare player automates things you don't always want automated. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

March 2nd, 2011	Top \| #17
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot Is Parellels supported by Linux? If so, it is optimized for games and 3d. So it might work. Paul Reed Smith.

March 3rd, 2011	Top \| #18
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Duel Boot Overview - Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows & Linux Your telling me I can have Ubuntu as my main system. Have Parrellels running Windows 7, playing my games at full spec resolutions? I don't believe so.....?

March 3rd, 2011	Top \| #19
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Duel Boot They must not make parallels 6 for linux, that is the one I am talking about. Paul Reed Smith.

March 3rd, 2011	Top \| #20
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Duel Boot I doubt very much that Parallels would play games anywhere near comfortably unless there are developments in display and sound drivers I'm not aware of yet. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.