Arch Linux

IncredibleLaser

Member

From: Germany, NRW

Registered: 2008-07-16

Posts: 158

[Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

Hi, I have the following scenario: there are 3 HDDs in my computer, 2x500GB and 1x400GB. Arch is installed on the two 500GB HDDs (which are in RAID1 for /boot and RAID0 for the rest). The 400GB HDD is my old drive I don't use atm since everything is backed up. Now I want to install Windows 7 on the third HDD, with the ability to choose it in GRUB. I do not want to use the Windows bootloader. So I'd do it like this:
- backup my MBR (dd if=/dev/sda of=/path/to/backup bs=446 count=1)
- Install Windows on my 400GB HDD
- restore MBR
- edit /boot/grub/menu.lst (might need further tricks to make windows boot if not installed on the first HDD)

Another solution would be to detach my 500GB drives and to install W7 then. However, it doesn't seem to practical to switch cables everytime I want to play a game. So, did anybode go through this before and can give me hints?

Last edited by IncredibleLaser (2010-03-29 18:29:27)

Ber

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2006-07-05

Posts: 80

Website

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

What I would do would be to remove once your 2 Arch HDD, install Win 7 on the third, replace the 2 other HDD and set one of them first in the boot sequence, then simply chainload to your third drive.

I never tried it though, so if anyone can confirm...

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V=RI sweet V=RI

schuay

Package Maintainer (PM)

From: Austria

Registered: 2008-08-19

Posts: 564

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

Hi,
since Windows can only install / boot from the first partition on the first drive, you will need to unplug the other 2 drives during installation. The grub configuration will look something like this:

Title Windows
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
makeactive
chainloader +1

The map statements are used to make windows believe its being booted from the first drive.

csat

Member

From: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Registered: 2008-08-06

Posts: 93

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

I also have three HD (Arch, XP and Win7).  I had for sure install both Win7 and XP in different paces and kept only one HD attached to SATA cable at each installation.  My grub is:

# (0) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux
root   (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/49c96f5a-5b80-4012-a227-4d8c174e56be ro
initrd /kernel26.img

# (1) Arch Linux
title  Arch Linux Fallback
root   (hd0,4)
kernel /vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/49c96f5a-5b80-4012-a227-4d8c174e56be ro
initrd /kernel26-fallback.img

title    XP
rootnoverify    (hd1,0)
map (hd0)    (hd1)
map (hd1)    (hd0)
chainloader    +1

title    Windows 7
rootnoverify    (hd2,0)
map    (hd0)    (hd2)
map    (hd2)    (hd0)
chainloader    +1

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CSAT
Arch User

alexandrite

Member

Registered: 2009-03-27

Posts: 326

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

What you propose should work just fine.  When I did the same thing on my laptop, I just set up GRUB again using the arch installer and everything went alright.

Good luck.

IncredibleLaser

Member

From: Germany, NRW

Registered: 2008-07-16

Posts: 158

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

Thanks, csat's hint is the way to go. I found out by testing, but had no time to post here. Mapping is neccessary, makeactive is not. Easiest way to install windows is to remove the Linux HDDs before installing. Worked like a charm. Thanks everyone.

Edit: I might add this to the wiki once my exams are done.

Last edited by IncredibleLaser (2010-03-29 18:33:05)

gazj

Member

From: /home/gazj -> /uk/cambs

Registered: 2007-02-09

Posts: 681

Website

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

I have used that method for an age, it works great

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dotfiles : shots : musik : linux : .bin : dwarf blog

martin77

Member

Registered: 2010-03-14

Posts: 111

Re: [Solved] Installing Windows 7 after Arch

Hi guys, today I face a similar scenario. I need to reinstall W7 again and that will kill the universe as I know it.
Before doing anything I want to be sure I'm right with what I will do:

1. Reinstall W7 over its own partition
2. Boot Arch Installation disc and install GRUB from menu
3. Restore /boot/grub/menu.lst with the backed one.

This should work fine, what you say?

EDIT:

forget it. Actually it was as easy as

# grub
grub> root (hd0.0)
grub> setup (hd0)
grub> quit

See you.

Last edited by martin77 (2010-05-21 18:41:31)