How to install Ubuntu with Windows 8.1 without formatting any partition?

07
2014-07
  • metal gear solid

    I have laptop running Windows 8.1 with single SSD of 128 GB. I have 2 partitions. C:/ has windows and D:/ is also filled with files. I can make space in D:/ driver around 20 GB.

    Can I install Ubuntu along with Windows without formatting any partition and loosing any data?

    Can I install it in remaining space in drive D:/ without moving it's all other files to some other External HDD?

    How much space Ubuntu for Desktop can take in HDD?

    • Answers
  • Muhammad Fahad Baig

    HOW MUCH HARD DISK SPACE UBUNTU INSTALLATION TAKES

    Ubuntu requires a minimum of 6 GB of space for installation. As you are saying you have 20 GB available, it is more than enough and Ubuntu can be easily installed!

    CAN I INSTALL IT IN DRIVE D'S REMAINING SPACE

    Well, you cant just install it on Drive D. You have to first shrink the partition. To do it, follow the steps:

    1. Go to Charms and hit Search. Now enter Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions. Click on the first link in the search.
    2. You now have to provide administrative access. When done, in the new Window that launches right click your desired partition (in this case D) and click Shrink.
    3. In the new window, after Disk Engagement queries the drive for available space, enter the amount you want to shrink. Make sure you have that much free space available prior to shrinking.
    4. When entered, click shrink.

    Now that you have successfully shrunk the space and created a separate partition for Ubuntu you can now install Ubuntu on it, without losing you data or creating a backup of it on another hard drive.


    • Related Question

    Ubuntu installer doesn't see windows partition
  • kopelitsa

    The problem:

    I have Windows installed, i wanted to install ubuntu too, but when i go to the installer, it doesn't see the existing partitions, it shows the whole 500GB of the hard drive as free space and it wants to install ubuntu on the whole hardrive.

    The background:

    I have changed the original hard drive of my laptop with one that came from a mac, i formatted it and installed windows there.

    Now what?

    I am suspecting some issue related to MBR (and GPT?), but what should i do? All i want is a dual boot win and ubuntu. Another smaller hint that is puzzling me for a while is that while i am on windows, i get the option to unmount except from any other portable hard drive or USB, the C as well! I never tried it though...


    • Related Answers
  • Yitzchak

    I had that issue once. I was told to try another CD because there was probably a problem with gparted. Didn't work so I just manually made another partition at the "end" of the hard drive and prayed it wouldn't eat into my files. It worked.