Saturday, June 28, 2014

*FIX* Dual Boot Windows 8.1 with Ubuntu 14.04: Ubuntu Install Doesn't Recognize Windows Partition

I've been using Ubuntu as my primary OS for a while now, and have been using VM's to run Windows when necessary (Games, Other Software, etc). However, I've now run into a bind that requires full 100% capability (video editing). VM's don't allow full hardware usage, and Linux video editors plain suck! I need my Adobe Premiere/After Effects/Photoshop products!

So I found it's more painful get Windows 8.1 starting from a Ubuntu base, so I backed up my files, wiped and reloaded with Windows 8.1. The process to get a Dual Boot goes like this (from the Internets): http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2014/05/install-ubuntu-1404-alongside-windows.html

1. Install Windows 8.1
2. Use the Windows Disk Management tool to "Shrink" or split your hard drive into a separate partition for Ubuntu
2. Disable Fast Boot/Secure Boot
3. Enable Legacy Boot
4. Make an Ubuntu 14.04 bootable USB and plug it in
5. Reboot into the Ubuntu Live session
*6. Install Ubuntu onto the free partition

Here lies the problem. Your Ubuntu install doesn't see the Windows partition. Neither does GParted. In fact, it only sees your entire hard drive as free unallocated space, and installing Ubuntu on this part would just overwrite your Windows 8.1.

However, the Ubuntu Disk tool shows two partitions as "/dev/sda2" and "/dev/sda3". So things seem half right.

Lucky for you, my Google digging found this solution:
1. Go to the GPT fdisk (gdisk) download page and install the *.deb file for your Architecture version
2. Open a shell and type "sudo sgdisk --zap /dev/sda". It'll complain about partition problems, but it will still work because it'll fix your partition troubles.
3. Successfully install Ubuntu using the Ubuntu Installer (Should be on your Desktop or left sidebar), and you should now see the option "Install Ubuntu Alongside Windows 8"!

This isn't all though. Don't restart your computer just yet because if you do, you'll restart your computer with excitement and frown when Windows 8 loads up instead of an option to use either installed OS. You must fix the bootloader using these steps in your current Ubuntu Live session:
1. Install "Boot Repair"
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair
sudo sh -c "sed -i 's/trusty/saucy/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yannubuntu-boot-repair-trusty.list"
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y boot-repair && boot-repair
2. The Boot Repair window should popup. Select "Recommended Repair", and let it go until finish.

3. BINGO! Restart and you should see a menu that gives you about 30 seconds to decide which OS you want to boot into.

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