Can't install Windows 7 on extended partition

Question

I am trying to install Windows 7 in a dual boot configuration on a PC that's already running Ubuntu 8.04.

Windows 7 is kind enough to refuse installing very early in the process, issuing the following error message:

Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition

Update: I found this thread describing a struggle with a similar issue. The "solution" there was to disconnect all drives except for the one on which Windows 7 is to be installed. This does not work for me!

Any idea how to solve this problem without wiping clean my Ubuntu installation?

Solution 1

And the answer is... it is possible to install Windows 7 on a partition other than the 1st partition, as long as it is a primary partition. I just managed to do so, with the Windows 7 partition being the 3rd one, after an extended partition, as show below:

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Solution 2

Use gparted live CD and move the Ubuntu partition towards the end of the disk. Windows 7 wants to be in the first partition (don't know if just creating a 100Mb "boot" partition is enough).

You might want to take a look at this guide before you get that done. There is a section for reloading grub mentioning that for 10.04+ with Grub2 the guide is on a different page. Also there is a similar question here in superuser.

Solution 3

Try imaging the different partitions, then wiping the disk, then rearranging all the partitions and restoring the images. It's not pretty, but it could prevent reinstallation of several OSes.

Comments

[Android Eve]

thanks (and +1). I tried using the GParted live CD as you suggested, but it has no way of moving the unallocated space in the extended partition (that I reserved for Windows 7) to the beginning of the disk. I may end up simply re-installing everything. This is horrible.

[Android Eve]

thanks (and +1) for your suggestion. It seems that re-installing Ubuntu 8.04 will take the least amount of time. But out of curiosity, which imaging software do you recommend?

[CamronBute]

I recommend Ghost if you have cash, Acronis if you want free.