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STEP-BY-STEP: Install Linux Fedora 16 when Windows Vista was installed first -and you have 1 hard disk

It's the nature of a step-by-step that it appears long and difficult. Not so!

Installing other operating systems on your Windows Vista computer may invalidate your warrantee.

It's important to follow the instructions exactly as stated and you should have a properly working Windows.

A. Make your preparations

1. Backup important data before making any changes to a partition. You can burn files to a CD, clone an image of your hard disk, copy files to a USB flash/pen/thumb drive, or use an USB external drive (a good choice)
2. Download Fedora 16 Live CD, standard or 64-bit version from http://fedoraproject.org/. You can use the excellent free GetRight download manager to help with the large download. Create the Fedora Live DVD from the downloaded .ISO file.
3. Download Neosmart's EasyBCD v 2.1.2 or later (free - it simplifies editing the Win8/7/Vista boot loader).
   Optional: Download NeoSmart's free Windows Vista System Recovery Disk if your Vista DVD is missing!
4. Disconnect all external devices before you start.

B Make space (Unallocated) for Fedora 16

You must create disk space and leave it as Unallocated. Decide first on how much disk space you wish to allocate to Linux and if you will create an extra partition (/home) for your Linux data. This data partition can be left intact should you wish to reinstall Linux at a later time. The Swap area size should be about twice your RAM size but you should allow less than twice if you have a lot of RAM.

Always make a note of the size of the Unallocated space (it will be named 'Free' in Linux).

1. Restart computer correctly (close all programs/software before Restart).
2. Open Disk Management in Windows Vista (right-click Computer, select Manage, click Disk Management).
   • Right-click the Vista volume, and click Shrink Volume.
     • In Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB: enter enough for Linux and its Swap file.
     • Click the Shrink button (it may take some time!).
       Note that we are leaving the newly acquired free space as Unallocated.
     If Shrink does not give you sufficient Unallocated space, read how to Shrink the Windows 8, 7 or Windows Vista Partition for instructions or use the free GParted Live CD. Then return here.
3. Restart to Windows Vista.
   • Open Disk Management and check that the change made is correct.

C. Install Fedora 16

Raid/LVM was not an issue when testing so partitions were created manually during installation. Fedora was installed with Grub 2 placed on the Linux EXT4 partition. The originally Active partition always remained Active after Fedora 16 installation so Windows then booted automatically. Finally EasyBCD created the Linux Fedora 16 entry in Vista's boot manager thereby creating the Windows dual-boot.

1. Bootup from the Linux Fedora 16 Live CD.
   Double-click the Install to Hard Drive icon (in Activities > lowest icon).
   • Select the appropriate keyboard and then click Next.
   • Select Basic Storage Devices (unless you have a non-standard setup).
   • Enter a name for identification.
   • Select the correct city for your time-zone.
   • Create a Root Password of your choice (and remember it!).

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2. Select Create Custom Layout in the next screen (that's VERY important)

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   • In Please Select A Device, highlight the Free space (check the Size) you created for Fedora, and click the Create button.
   • In Create Storage, select Standard Partition, and click Create.
     A new window will open. First create the Linux EXT4 partition.
     • In Mount Point:, select / (a forward slash).
     • In File System Type:, select ext4
     • In Allowable Drives, all drives can be enabled
     • In Size (MB):, enter all available space (for Fedora) except 2000 MB (for the Swap File)
     • Leave Fixed size checked.
     • Click the OK button.

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   • Back in Please Select A Device, note the name allocated to the new Device (like sda2, sda3, sda5).

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   • Now highlight the remaining Free space, and click the Create button.
   • In the next window, select Standard Partition, and click Create.
     A new window will open. Now create the Swap partition.
     • In Mount Point:, leave it blank.
     • In File System Type: drop-down, select swap.
     • In Allowable Drives, you should have no choice (you have only one hard disk).
     • Tick to enable Fill to maximum allowable size
     • Click the OK button
     Take a moment to look at the partitions to be created and Formatted.
     They're marked with a tick and no other partition should be ticked.
     Click NEXT when ready, or click Back to recreate partitions.
     Click Write changes to disk when ready and now the new partitions will be created & formatted.

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   • The next screen is vital to ensure the correct location for GRUB.

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     • Tick Install boot loader on ..., and click the Change device button.
       Select First sector of boot partition - /dev/sda* and click OK
       (/dev/sda* is the Device name you noted above).
     • Using a boot loader password is optional.
     • The following option may not be available.
       Under Boot loader operating system list, Fedora should be ticked (set as the Default).
       The "Other" boot option is for Vista - highlight it and use Delete to remove it (strongly recommended).
     • Click Next.
   • The install process will start now. Click Close when it's completed.
      
3. Reboot your computer when installation is completed (remove the Fedora Live CD). Windows Vista will boot automatically.
   
   We can now use EasyBCD 2.1.2(+) to add Linux Fedora 16 to the Windows Vista boot loader menu.

D. Put a Linux Fedora 16 boot option in Windows boot loader

1. Restart to Windows Vista
2. Install and run EasyBCD 2.1.2(+).
   Click Add New Entry in the left pane.
   • Click the Linux/BSD tab under Operating Systems in the upper right pane.
     • In Type, select Grub 2 in the drop-down.
     • In Name, use a name like Linux Fedora 16.
     • In Device, it will be Automatically configured - that's correct for GRUB 2.
     • Click Add Entry in the same pane and wait a few moments while EasyBCD locates Fedora.
   • Optionally, you can now modify the timeout of the boot loader menu
     - click the Edit Boot Menu (left pane) and set the Boot default OS after to about 5 seconds.
   • Exit EasyBCD.
3. Restart computer. Select Fedora 16 from the Windows Vista boot menu and complete its installation.

Congratulations! You have created a natural dual-boot of Windows Vista and Linux Fedora 16 on a single hard disk with Windows in control when Windows Vista was installed first.

Footnote: EasyBCD creates an NST folder on the root of the Windows partition when it adds an operating system to the Windows Vista boot loader. This NST folder contains one or two files vital to booting the added OS. Be sure you do not accidentally delete it.

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