How do I install Windows 7 from an iso file on a separate partition from Ubuntu?

Question

I have already installed Ubuntu on my computer's hard drive. But I want to create a second partition that runs Windows 7. My computer cannot read DVD's (it's that old) so I have the Windows 7 iso file on my desktop and a free 4gb USB that can be used to install it. I would also like to be able to boot into this separate Windows partition.

Solution 1

Use the "GParted" tool available from the Ubuntu Software Center (package name is just "gparted") to create a new NTFS partition for Windows to use. Note that it may need to be a primary partition (as opposed to a logical, or extended partition).

To create the bootable USB drive with the Windows installer, you'll find how-to's in other places across the web. Once you're in the installer, be sure to specify the partition you created using GParted rather than letting Windows take over the entire disk.

Solution 2

If you haven't already made a partition, use gparted to resize your first partition, and make another NTFS partition, this may need to be done on a live cd, http://sourceforge.net/projects/gparted/files/gparted-live-stable/

Then use the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool , http://wudt.codeplex.com/

Basically you run the tool on windows and it transfers your iso(it does not provide this so no licensing issue...)(wine doesn't seem to work with it) to install the iso on your usb.

Then boot your pc to the usb, del usually gets to bios options, F8 many times lets you select the boot device (check you BIOS/motherboard manfucture information for more details or for what keys to press) tell windows to install on you empty partition, be very careful to choose the right partition to install to. This will install windows but It will overwirite grub, so you need to re install Grub, via the Boot-Repair tool on a Live cd https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair , https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Reinstalling_GRUB2.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Whenever I try to make a partition in gparted to resize my first partition everything is in grayscale and I can't click on anything. How do I get around this? Thanks for the help

[Mateo]

Are you using it on a live cd? The partition can not be resized while you are using it, there is a live usb for this also, gparted.sourceforge.net/liveusb.php

[Pacerier]

@Mateo, Since the Windows 7 US/DVD download tool actually gives us a real Windows 7, how is licensing handled?

[Mateo]

@pacerier ask microsoft...

[Mateo]

anyway, looks like they changed this since 2012...

[Mateo]

@Pacerier it dosn't provide the iso file... so no real licensing issue - you buy the iso from the windows store, or make it from your own media