Beware when re-installing Linux in dual boot system!

[frank4360]

Just a warning - I am not sure if this is the right place.

I tried to dual boot LinuxLite with Windows 8.1, but had problems with the Grub loader.

I re-installed version 2 of LL, and the installer realised I had another LL already loaded, and asked if I wanted to
1. install using the entire disk (no, as I had W8 already installed),
2. install alongside the earlier version (no, as I wanted to replace the LL version)
3. install over the earlier LL (yes, I mistakenly thought)
or 4. something else (which would have given me control over disk usage).

I chose 3, and the install took the entire disk, wiping out W8 (not a great problem for me, as I have other computers), but could be a problem for others.


So, a word of warning - be very careful when upgrading dual boot systems!

This will be a general problem for all Ubuntu derived systems, I assume, not just LinuxLite.

I

[gold_finger]

frank4360,

Good post!  I've seen many, many people in the Mint forums who made same choice from the installer and ended up wiping out everything too.  Clearly, that option doesn't accurately describe exactly what it will do.  Safest bet is definitely to choose "Something else" so one can manually direct the installer.

On a different note, now that you have LL 2.0 installed on what I imagine is a UEFI based computer, I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind posting back with output from a couple of commands.  I don't have a UEFI computer myself, but have been curious to see if LL is capable of installing in UEFI mode even though installing in that mode is "not supported".  It's possible you installed in Legacy mode on the computer.  The output from following commands will tell us which mode it installed in and show current partition structure:

Code:

[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "EFI boot on HDD" || echo "Legacy boot on HDD"

Code:

sudo parted -l

[Dookus]

There is a plethora of free imaging programs available for download, some are even cross platform, I use Macrium Reflect free for Windows, If anyone does not own, or has not made recovery disks for their Payware OS, whether via the program that ships with your Machine or via a third party option, it "is" a very good idea to so so, installing Linux as with any duel booting scenario may leave you with a broken system.

Tasks such as moving your OS to a new HDD, upgrading to a SSD, any time you may need to replace or install a new piece of hardware, making registry changes in Windows or making sure you don't have to re-install every program and make every tweak or change in Linux or other OS, again these programs will save your ass!

[N4RPS]

Hello!

I know I'm closing the barn door after the horse has run away, but I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way that the best choice is ALWAYS 4 (Something Else). The FIRST thing I always do before changing ANYTHING is to use Redo Backup to make a backup copy of the entire drive.

For future reference, is GRUB pukes on you, you MAY not HAVE to reinstall Linux Lite. There is a utility called Boot Repair that can fix most GRUB errors without a reinstall. Boot Repair has saved MY skin MORE than once.

FOR UEFI installs, follow these instructions in post #24 at this URL:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2223856&page=3

You can either download an ISO to create a Boot Repair LiveCD or download Boot Repair and run it from a Linux Lite or Ubuntu Live CD...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob