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I have a system with Windows XP. My hard disk has 189 GB NTFS. I want to change the operative system to windows 7, but I want to add Ubuntu as well. As the change might take several days (because I don't have much time) I want to install one system (or Windows 7 or Ubuntu) keeping my windows XP installed in another partition so if something doesn't work in thebrand new operating system installed I can use my Windows XP installation.
So I've thouht about doing something like this:
- Copy the data I want to keep to an external hard disk.
- Make partitions enough to install windows 7, keep data in another partition and another one to install Ubuntu.
- Copy the data I want to keep to the partition I've just created.
- Install Ubuntu in the partitions for Ubuntu.
- Check if Ubuntu works fine
- If it works OK install Windows 7 on the partition of Windows XP (Windows XP will be erased).
- Reinstall the programs in Windows 7.
So my question is:
- How many partitions do you recommend me to have (and the size of each one and NTFS or FAT32)? The operative system I'm going to use more is Windows 7 (though I love Linux I use many programs which are windows dependant).
- Do you think I should do anything else / change something in the proccess to avoid any problem? I don't know if making the partitions can harm the data I have in the disk.
Thanks.
Best thing to do is buy another hard drive to install Ubuntu-W7 on, this way you can go back to XP fairly quick if need be. This way you can take your time and not worry about having a bootable and working PC during the install of a dual boot system. – Moab – 2011-01-17T21:19:38.857
@Moab Thanks for the comment, maybe I wanted to install too many things in a single disk. I'll buy another disk but I'll install in this one windows 7. I want to make 2 partitions: one for windows 7 and to install programs and another for data. Which size should I use for each partition? – Juanillo – 2011-01-18T16:06:49.080
Windows 7 needs a bare minimum of 40gb, but I suggest a minimum of 80gb. Its up to you how much over 80 you choose. – Moab – 2011-01-18T18:43:00.653