[SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

Gooru · 2011-06-30 15:05:21

So I want to install mentioned OSes and as I read there may be a few problems with that, so I want to make sure I won't get into trouble.
I have Arch and Windows 7 installed and one day after update, my windows broke. I wanted to fix that, but the only solution for me is reinstalling the whole system. My partitions look like:

/dev/sda1 2048 206847 102400 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT <----this is small windows 7 boot partition [unused]
/dev/sda2 * 206848 106498047 53145600 83 Linux <----main Arch partition
/dev/sda3 106498048 536578047 215040000 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT <----windows 7 partition
/dev/sda4 536578048 976768064 220095008+ 5 Extended <----partition for /home and additional disk for windows
/dev/sda5 731896381 976768064 122435842 83 Linux

You can see I'm booting from the linux partition, I'm using GRUB and I heard there may be a problem after installing windows as a 2nd system. Another problem is that I want to install BSD and I read it requires primary partition, can you suggest anything possible without formatting the whole HDD?
Maybe there's a possibility to install windows or BSD on an extended partition? Or is there way to avoid creating this little, ugly windows boot partition, since I'm using GRUB only? How can I reinstall windows and then install FreeBSD without losing my Archlinux?

Last edited by Gooru (2011-07-04 10:20:50)

Inxsible · 2011-06-30 15:11:06

Arch or any linux for that matter will happily install in an extended partition. One option is to use Gparted and move your Arch partition to the extended partition thereby giving you space for BSD.

I did not know that BSD mandates a primary partition. Are you sure about this?

Gooru · 2011-06-30 15:48:03

From FreeBSD handbook:

FreeBSD must be installed into a primary partition. FreeBSD can keep all its data, including any files that you create, on this one partition. However, if you have multiple disks...

You can check it here - Section 2.3.3.1

I didn't know I can move Arch from primary to extended partition. That's great, but is it safe?

Last edited by Gooru (2011-06-30 15:56:27)

Ramses de Norre · 2011-06-30 16:01:40

Gooru wrote:

From FreeBSD handbook:
FreeBSD must be installed into a primary partition. FreeBSD can keep all its data, including any files that you create, on this one partition. However, if you have multiple disks...
You can check it here - Section 2.3.3.1
I didn't know I can move Arch from primary to extended partition. That's great, but is it safe?

It is if you have a backup just in case, like you always should

Inxsible · 2011-06-30 16:10:44

If you use UUIDs and such...you will have to accordingly change the values in fstab etc. But its been done before.

Gooru · 2011-07-04 10:20:33

Ok, I managed to install all operating systems, I can say there were problems but not impossible to solve. After this experience I can say one thing: Don't use Gparted!!! This software scares me.
But that's only my honest opinion. Thanks for help guys, I'll mark thread as solved ;]

toad · 2011-07-04 12:44:43

I know it is a little bit late but there is a package in the AUR called os-prober which I believe would have picked out the different OSs automagically.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-06-30 15:05:21

[SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#2 2011-06-30 15:11:06

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#3 2011-06-30 15:48:03

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#4 2011-06-30 16:01:40

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#5 2011-06-30 16:10:44

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#6 2011-07-04 10:20:33

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

#7 2011-07-04 12:44:43

Re: [SOLVED]Triple boot - Archlinux + FreeBSD + Windows 7

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