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    Install Ubuntu on recovery partition?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by quarkX, Jul 6, 2011.

  1. quarkX

    quarkX Newbie

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    I have a 11+ gb recovery partition, and on my 128 gb SSD it is prime real estate.

    Can I use Install Ubuntu on my recovery partition OR somehow delete the partition itself and then Install Ubuntu?
     
    quarkX, Jul 6, 2011
    #1
  2. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    which OS DVD did you use? the one that came with the m11x or an OEM one?

    win 7 i mean because the dell version is slight modified over the OEM version.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 6, 2011
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  3. quarkX

    quarkX Newbie

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    I used the one what came with the M11x.

    Also, I have created a system image, so I am pretty sure I wouldn't miss the Recovery partition.
     
    quarkX, Jul 6, 2011
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  4. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    try with an OEM disc cos i think the dell version of win7 is creating that partition at install.
     
    thegh0sts, Jul 6, 2011
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  5. quarkX

    quarkX Newbie

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    Is there no way to do this without a clean reinstall? I mean, cant I:

    i. Delete the Recovery partition
    ii. Merge the lost space with my C:
    iii.Create a fresh partition for Ubuntu?

    OR

    i. Format the Recovery Partition
    ii. Install Ubuntu there?
     
    quarkX, Jul 6, 2011
    #5
  6. bavman

    bavman Notebook Evangelist

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    You can do 1, 2, and 3 as listed above, as well as the second 1 and 2. Once a partition has been created on the drive its there and you can reformat it and play with it as much as you want without messing with the rest of the drive.

    So you can:
    1) Delete the partition and expand your c:
    2) Install ubuntu on it, it'll reformat it for you
     
    bavman, Jul 6, 2011
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  7. quarkX

    quarkX Newbie

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    Alright... so deleting the Recovery partition does NOT mess with my boot config? I came across some posts that said this was the case.

    Any preference 1 vs. 2? Also, would I need any software besides diskpart?

    Thanks
     
    quarkX, Jul 6, 2011
    #7
  8. bavman

    bavman Notebook Evangelist

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    Linux is fun to try around, so its up to you. I've never tried it on the m11x though and don't know exactly how well it would work (concerning the multi-gpus). You dont need any software, even diskpart. While in windows 7 you can use disk management to reformat, delete, or modify partitions on a drive. When you pop in a ubuntu live disk to install it, it comes with gparted which does harddrive work like partitioning. So you wont ever need extra software than what comes with both operating systems.

    In the case you do mess up your boot config somehow, simple insert the windows 7 disk or a windows 7 recovery disk, and there is an option to fix mbr, master boot record. And you'r good to go.
     
    bavman, Jul 6, 2011
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  9. quarkX

    quarkX Newbie

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    Thanks... going to make the leap later today. See you on the other side :)
     
    quarkX, Jul 6, 2011
    #9