Question re dual bootup

Computer is Dell 519 desktop, originally came with Vista. Recently added a second hard drive and installed Windows 7 Home Premium (couldn't have done it without help from this forum). W7 seems to be running with no issues.

Now considering replacing Vista (no longer supported by MS) on the original hard drive with Mint from Linux. Is this feasible? Does anyone know if W7 and Mint will play nicely together? Currently on bootup I get the black screen giving me a choice of OS, would that still work the same way if I replace Vista with Mint?

As a non-tech user, I'm hoping to avoid creating any problems, but I know MS will eventually abandon W7. Looking for some advice in terms I can understand, thanks!

 

I am not a duel boot expert, but I know several that use some version of Linux Mint and others as an alternative to Win 7 on the same machine. You might try loading Live Mint on a USB stick and use that for starters.

 

I would do what Bill has suggest and run the live version of Linux Mint to see how it runs. Are you going to run 32 bit or 64 bit?

Remember that it will run slow off the DVD or USB. I run both Mint and Ubuntu on USB thumb drives and Vista on the main HDD. Have also tested with Windows 7 64 bit and had no issues.

The only issue I have ran across that is easy to correct is that when you boot to Linux and then back to Windows the clock may show incorrectly.

 

Yes, you can have mint and windows 7 in a dual boot

 

Would, also, suggest you replace that 7 w/ 10 before the end of July.

 

After some distractions, finally ready to try and replace the original Vista 64 bit HP with the most recent version of Mint. To Bill and Rustys, thanks for your responses, I have fooled with a usb stick (thumb drive, same thing?) before with not-so-good results, apparently beyond my pay grade.

Can someone here using Mint outline the pros and cons of doing this? Is there a tutorial somewhere for idiots that can walk me through the process? I feel that I'm not knowledgeable enough to avoid problems.

 

Some one here is working on a tutorial to do just that. Hold on for a day or 2 Slowpoke47.

 

Vista has been extended to 4/11/2017.

What size if thumb drive have been trying to use? One of my systems sill not boot form a USB device unless it is over 32 GB.

May need to set the boot order in BIOS.

Pros and Cons will depend on what you are planning to do with Linux.

 

Thanks both for the responses. Some months ago I got a flash drive, "SanDisk USB 3.0 64GB" in the course of adding a second hard drive to my machine. Don't recall what happened, but wound up adding the hard drive and installing the W7 OS without using the flash drive. Had to be led by the nose at times during that process.

I am a casual user, decidedly non-tech, this computer was my first, came with Vista about 5 years ago. I'm not a gamer, just use the computer for storing files and Internet access. Vista (though widely scorned) worked ok for my needs, and I only went to W7 when MS announced the end of Vista support, at the same time I was hearing loads of bad reviews for W8 and W10. My interest in Mint is driven by the expected eventual end of 7 and since the original hard drive has Vista, also doomed, it seems worthwhile to use it for a non-MS system.

I am a hands-on type in many other contexts, but not at all comfortable with manipulating software, etc., due to lack of knowledge and fear that I will fubar something. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the help!

 

What do you have the installation information on for Mint?

Where are you wanting to install Mint and how are you wanting to install Mint?
Clean or Dual boot in this case Triple?

 

I have no info on Mint as yet, but it has been recommended to me as a user-friendly alternative to the MS systems. My plan has been to replace Vista, which came with the computer, using an OS that would not be abandoned by its source.

This all came up earlier this year when MS announced the end of Vista support, planned for last April. I was afraid to try and replace my Vista with W7 in case I screwed it up. If that had happened I would have transformed my machine into a paperweight, with no way to recover. But as far as I can tell, 7 is running properly on its own (second) hard drive. Knowledgeable coaching, mostly from this site, was key in that process.

So now, thinking that Vista had been killed by MS, I thought replacing it on the original hard drive would be a good idea. Could be I should just leave well enough alone...

 

Do you have a DVD burner? Blank DVD's?

Here is the Linux Mint site look around.

Using your Windows 7.

You can download Linux Mint by clicking Download from there scroll down till you see Download Links.



Since you have 64 bit Windows installed download the 64-bit. Once you have click on the 64-bit you want Scroll down until you find the servers located in the US and download form them.

NOTE: You do not need to get all of the 64-bit just the edition you want to use.

 

Thanks for those links, I'll be able to follow up with that over the weekend. So I should download to a dvd and then load it into the hard drive, right?

Does this seem to you like a good move?

 

May I ask a question to ensure my understanding of this scenario is correct, and if so make a suggestion?

You have Vista installed on the original hard drive, and you are running Windows 7 on your secondary drive, is this correct? If so have a look at the following.

All things being equal if your machine is running Vista it should most certainly be capable of running Windows 7, and/or Linux Mint.

If you want to ensure you have a pathway to restore your machine to its original configuration, here's a method you could easily do.

1. Firstly either remove or disconnect the original hard drive.
2. Connect the other hard drive electrically in place of the original one.
3. Install Windows 7 on the newly installed hard drive.
4. Then install Linux Mint in a dual boot configuration on the same drive.

This will allow you to choose either 7 or Mint at boot up, whilst retaining the original drive with Vista in the unlikely event you ever wish to revert. With this configuration you can always remove Mint and either just use 7 or else install another version of Linux.

 

I was thinking that you should try Mint before you install it. The best thing about Linux is that you do not have to install it onto the HDD you can run it directly off the DVD. This way if you discover that it is not for you. There is nothing to remove or have to reinstall or revert.

Now running it off the DVD it will be slow yet you can get a feel for it and see if that is the one for you.

 

That is also true Rustys, sorry to jump in on you.

 

Do not worry about it Gus you have an excellent idea there.