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Ubuntu bootloader - where to put it?!

Swiss Knight Posted messages 2257 Status Member -  
jeanbi Posted messages 15399 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   -
Hi!

I’m in the process of installing Ubuntu on the second primary partition of a hard drive in a laptop. The first contains Vista.

At the moment of installation, it asks where to place "the boot loader" and by default suggests /dev/sda.

/dev/sda1 is the Windows partition
/dev/sda2 is the partition where Ubuntu will be installed.

My questions: what is /dev/sda without any number after "sda"?

can I put the boot loader on /dev/sda2, the partition dedicated to Ubuntu?
If yes, what will this imply for booting? How will I be able to choose to boot Vista or Ubuntu?

Thank you very much!!

6 answers

  1. initials 76
     
    Hi ;-)

    Sda without an assigned number is the MBR, the first boot sector, the first bytes.

    If you install it there, it will boot Vista and Ubuntu.

    You can install it on sda2, the root partition of Ubuntu, but then you will need to use software to modify Vista's BCD and thus create a link to Grub.

    To read:
    https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/17757-realiser-un-multiboot-avec-easybcd

    That way you don't touch the MBR.

    Under no circumstances should you install Grub on sda1!
    --
    If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
    1
  2. Swiss Knight Posted messages 2257 Status Member 110
     
    Hi.

    Clear and concise response, I will look into all that. Thanks a lot.
    --
    "If you can't explain a concept to a six-year-old, you don't understand it well enough." -A. Einstein-
    0
    1. initials 76
       
      Good luck ;-)
      0
  3. Swiss Knight Posted messages 2257 Status Member 110
     
    Ok, it seems to be working fine... THANKS! :D

    ...but I’m having issues with:
    - wifi
    - the HDD keeps "chclock"ing way too often for my taste... that’s not normal...
    - my Ubuntu CD is an "AMD64" version... is it compatible with 64-bit Intel processors too ??

    --
    "If you can't explain a concept to a six-year-old, you don't understand it completely." -A. Einstein-
    0
  4. jeanbi Posted messages 15399 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   2 383
     
    hello,
    yes for the version
    the hdd makes chlock?
    the wifi
    usb integrated card ...
    model
    see you
    --
    FC 13 - Mandriva 2010 -Debian squeeze-
    The best things take patience. (JC ANGLADE)
    think about the tips https://www.commentcamarche.net/list
    0
  6. Swiss Knight Posted messages 2257 Status Member 110
     
    Internal Wi-Fi: Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG.
    The HDD makes a clunking sound yes. Head parking noise... And it's far too frequent in my opinion.
    --
    "If you can't explain a concept to a six-year-old, it's because you don't understand it completely." -A. Einstein-
    0