Moving files to partition without starting Windows?

Question

Hi,

Today I wanted to have a dual boot on my laptop running both Windows 7 and Linux Ubuntu 12. So I first burned the .ISO file of Ubuntu and then rebooted the computer and started Ubuntu from the CD. From there I began with installing Ubuntu but found out that I needed a new partition for Ubuntu.
So in Windows I opened disk manager to shrink data from the C drive, to create a new partition. No problems at all. But then in the Ubuntu-Installer, I was unable to see this partition thereby not being able to select it as a drive for the installation of Ubuntu.
I then decided to move all data from the Recovery drive (D:) to the C drive (15 GB) and use this partition for Ubuntu. The installation succeeded, but when rebooting I was unable to start Ubuntu without CD. So I started Windows instead but got a blue screen.
The reason why I decided to use the recovery partition is because in total there were 4 partitions in use by default. 4 partitions are the Max, therefore one partition has to be removed in order to make on for Ubuntu. The 4 partitions: C, Recovery, HP Tools and System.

Now I know how to fix it (at least, I think I do). All data that was on the Recovery drive that I copied to the C drive must be moved back in order to have Windows function again. Question is: how? Is it even possible?

I can still start Ubuntu from CD, so maybe there are applications that can manage partitions and that are Ubuntu-compatible? Or can I store the recovery files on a CD or external drive and somehow use it when booting windows? (Since I can still manage my files using Ubuntu)

When purchasing my laptop I did not get a CD with Windows 7 installed. But since I am a student I can get one for free (legally). So if reinstalling Windows is the last option, it shouldn't be a problem. (Or using this for the recovery files).

Computer specifications:
HP pavilion dv7 entertainment notebook
Intel i7 processor
8 GB RAM
1TB free space

Thank you for your time and help,
Stephan.

Answer 1

Hello, this is most likely the result of you moving the recovery files to C:\. The reason why you may not have been able to see the partition you created, was because you may not have created a drive letter. Yes if you partition a drive, it is done and you have two separate volumes. But if you do not have it wiped to unallocated free space, or you do not have a drive letter assigned, the partition will not show.



You can attempt recovery of your Windows partition with a recovery CD. You can try booting from a Linux Live CD/USB device. If booting from this recovery device is successful, you will need to go to the disk manager in Ubuntu. There you should be able to format the D:\ directory to an NTFS files system. Right now it is more than likely a FAT32 file system. Once this is done, you need to find where you copied over the "Backup Files", and put them back in the D:\ directory. Make sure that you delete the "Backup Files" in the C:\ directory, because if you do not, you will have the same problem.



If the problem persists, then you will have to format the whole drive and reinstall Windows.



I hope this information was helpful.

-First Choice Computer Services

Answer 2

Hi..



You can install Ubuntu with windows in the same partition....

You are asked what amount of storage you would like to reserve for Ubuntu ...



If you want to install in to space created when you shrunk the partition.

Go back to windows disc management and allocate the space it can then be seen by Ubuntu during installation.

Answer 3

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