Installing Fedora 16 alongside windows 7?

Question

Hello,

I am a new users of Linux and this is the first Linux operation system I am using so far.
First I have downloaded Fedora 16 from their official website, the file's name is 'Fedora-16-i686-Live-Desktop.iso'. To make a virtual disk and run the file I downloaded 'Virtual CloneDrive'.

Now I want to know how to install Fedora 16 in my computer and keep Windows 7 (which I already have) at the same time.

Also can I want to do the installation of Fedora completely inside Windows 7 or I have to use some USBStick or something like that?

Thanks,
Nahiyan

Answer 1

You will need:

1GB or greater USB Drive or CD/DVD



Unetbootin (if you are using USB Drive to install)

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/



EasyBCD

http://download.cnet.com/EasyBCD/3000-2094_4-10556865.html



If you want to use CD or DVD, just burn the iso file to CD/DVD using windows built in tools or other third party software...



First, you will need to create a free space for your Fedora. You can do it by shrink the partition...

You can follow this tutorial (just shrink it no need to create partition). The minimum installation size for Fedora is about 5GB so you will need to shrink more than 5GB

http://khangyu.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/shrink-and-create-partition-in-windows-7/



After you finish shrink, you can burn your iso to CD/DVD or use Unetbootin to create installation USB drive.



After that, restart you computer and set the BIOS to boot your CD/DVD or USB drive. And this will boot into Fedora... You can choose try Fedora Live ( if you are use Unetbootin just select "Default")



It will loading and bring you to Fedora desktop, before install you can try the Fedora... If you have decide to install then select install Fedora on the desktop...



It will open Fedora Installer, select your language, tick the option you want ( update while install or install third party software)



After that you will see this screen...

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/FedoraCrypt5-600x467.png



Select Create Custom Layout, untick Use LVM and tick Review and Modify Partitioning Layout.



After click Next you will see list of partition in you Hard Drive, select the Free Space you create in Windows and click create...



First you need to create Swap partition, insert the size (1024 MB is enough) and select the type as Swap...



Second, select the free space left and click Create... use all the remaining free space and select type as Extended 4 File System(ext4) and Mount Point as /



After done and click next you will see the screen for bootloader installation screen...By default Fedora will install the bootloader to hard disk MBR. Click change devices and select First Sector of Boot Partition -"partition number that mount point as / "



After done the installer will install the Fedora...after finish you will boot into Windows first then use EasyBCD to add Fedora in boot menu



Run EasyBCD, Add New Entry , Linux/BSD, select Grub(legacy), type Fedora name, select partition you have install Fedora...Add Entry



Reboot select Fedora on Boot Menu and have FUN!!!

Answer 2

Your big mistake was you didn't take the time to read the free Fedora Core 16 Installation Guide, FIRST, found on the Fedora Core website



If you had, you'd have known: How to burn the ISO to a CD / DVD, AND or, how to put it on a USB Flash Drive, if your PC doesn't have a DVD burner. And, how not to destroy W 7 in the process. And, FYI, using 'Virtual CloneDrive' is also the wrong choice.



TIP: Linux Mint would be a much better choice for a 1st time Linux User, Fedora can get a little too geeky for most new users.

Answer 3

How to dual-boot Fedora 15 and Windows 7 (applies to Fedora 16)

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/06/27/how-to-dual-boot-fedora-15-and-windows-7/





LUg.