Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

Patriot3G · 2011-08-12 21:37:43

Hey,

I've searched, I've read the wiki...So please be nice

I love Arch, but I love Ubuntu too (and need Ubuntu for college stuff...teacher gets mad).

I've installed Arch on my desktop, and I can do that part. I just have no idea how to partition my laptop, which already has Ubuntu 11.04 installed -- and not lose my data.

Ubuntu is installed using the default installation (using the entire hard drive). I know how to use gparted...just don't want to start resizing and moving stuff around because I'm not
certain how I should set up the partitions to install Arch too.

Can anybody help?

Thanks

mate · 2011-08-12 22:02:59

Hi Patriot3G, i m new guy too so don t expect too much from me
how many partitions does ubuntu use on your hhd, are all of them primary or have you some logical ?

Patriot3G · 2011-08-12 22:06:28

Hey,

Ubuntu is using 3 partitions...

/dev/sda1, ext4 and is mounted at /
/dev/sda2 is extended, and sda5 is my swap.

I guess there all primary.

mate · 2011-08-12 22:34:06

just two of them are primary, 1 and 2
sda2 is extended that means that it contains other partitions ( logical ) sda5
so you dont have a home partition, is it just a folder inside root?
if so i would just create 2 more primary partitions /(ext4) and var(reiserfs) for arch and inside the extended partitions collocate the arch home(ext4) partition.
i think it will be nice to collocate the arch root partition and var partition just after sda1 and place the extended as last partition.
i m almost sure that you can delete the extended partition and make it again as last partition as it contains just the swap partition for now.
my scheme is: 1 boot 100mb
2 root 30gb
3 extended 260gb containing: 5 var 25gb
6 home 60gb
7,8,9 three partitons with no mouting point that i use to store, backup and so on
4 swap 5 gb

i m not 100% sure that you can just move your swap partition so be patient and wait for other responses (from more skilled users) before doing anything

Patriot3G · 2011-08-12 22:45:07

Ok

Thanks alot, the partitions thing is the only thing I haven't figured out for sure yet. Installing Arch was actually pretty easy.

lukaszan · 2011-08-13 00:28:53

Since sda2 only contains swap, you're in luck. You can do pretty much anything, as only sda1 contains data.

My advice (for your setup):
sda1 = ubuntu
sda2 = new primary to install arch
sda3 = primary, swap

You can leave it there. Below is optional setup:
sda4 = extended
sda5 = /home (so you can share between Arch and ubuntu)
sda6 = /var (not sure about ubuntu, but for Arch it's definately advisable)

edit: tpyo

Last edited by lukaszan (2011-08-13 00:30:10)

Patriot3G · 2011-08-13 00:32:23

OK, Now when it comes to GRUB on Arch, do I install it to sda, then boot into Ubuntu (will have to use the LiveCD I'm guessing) then update-grub? From what I read it should fine Arch....

lukaszan · 2011-08-13 00:40:01

Since you already have GRUB installed for ubuntu (on 1st primary partition/mbr), it's just a question of adding Arch to your menu.lst

If you have more time and will, I'd follow @mate and setup a standalone /boot partition.

Patriot3G · 2011-08-13 00:41:14

Ok, Thanks!

Arch Linux

#1 2011-08-12 21:37:43

Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#2 2011-08-12 22:02:59

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#3 2011-08-12 22:06:28

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#4 2011-08-12 22:34:06

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#5 2011-08-12 22:45:07

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#6 2011-08-13 00:28:53

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#7 2011-08-13 00:32:23

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#8 2011-08-13 00:40:01

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

#9 2011-08-13 00:41:14

Re: Ubuntu/Arch Dual Boot Questions (Don't hurt me..please)

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