No more peaceful coexistence of Win7 and Linux?

**ZStefan** · 24-Dec-2009, 11:08

If I understand correctly, there is no more

"Install Linux as a second OS, and Windows will run as it is. Linux won't disturb it".

If Grub is installed on MBR, Windows 7 will not install service pack.

If the MBR is left untouched during the installation of Linux, the active flag has to be switched from Windows's partition to Linux's partition. This again will prohibit Windows 7 from installing a service pack.

Thus installing Linux as a second OS and giving the computer to somebody who is not expert in partitioning and booting will lead to trouble if Windows is regularly used.

Is this correct, and is there a solution as to not creating worries for the Windows users by installing Linux?

Was this done intentionally in Redmond?

**caf4926** · 24-Dec-2009, 11:17

I have only seen this happen on Vista.
I'm not aware of any win7 service packs to date. But of course Vista and 7 are much the same.

It's easily worked around. Restore MBR. Install SP.
Re-install grub. A doddle.

**joerione** · 24-Dec-2009, 11:23

Your choice will be the best answer. I have a vista on another partition. I have tried most of the grub boot options and still cannot find a way to settle with that service pack issues. In the end I refused to let that service pack dictate to fix the windows mbr first and just run linux all the time. Now I have a machine with xp for the applications I need outside linux and it is not connected to the internet.

**Tokugawa-Ieyasu** · 24-Dec-2009, 12:27

I don't see how this is relevant now? The first service pack for Windows 7 will still take a year to come out.
Then, even if it should be true that you can't install it with grub installed ( I wouldn't know why), you could still restore the mbr, install sp, restore grub. Easily done.

**Captain_Tux** · 24-Dec-2009, 12:32

We all know Vista was quite the doozie, but luckily I never had any problems dual booting it with Linux.

**joerione** · 24-Dec-2009, 14:13

Dual booting is not the problem. It's just that before installing the service pack, you have to load the windows dvd to fix mbr and install the service pack, reboot the computer and reinstall grub to run linux. Nah for me just run linux all the time and need not worry about windows.

**ZStefan** · 24-Dec-2009, 14:56

The problem is, that I cannot service all the computers on which I have installed Linux as a second OS.

And the users, while able to use Linux, cannot do the MBR manipulation to install the service packs for Vista and Windows 7.

**Daqar** · 24-Dec-2009, 14:59

Are we talking strictly 'Service Packs' or updates in general?

I don't know about Service Packs, but I'm running Windows and OpenSUSE on my ACER laptop, both has updated a number of times, without problems. But I haven't yet installed any service packs for windows 7.

Daqar

**ZStefan** · 24-Dec-2009, 15:05

As far as I know, problematic are service packs only. Namely, the multiple reboots during service pack's installation do not succeed.

Windows and Linux weren't hurting each other's operation with Windows XP.

**j_xavier** · 24-Dec-2009, 17:33

i may be missing the point entirely or not understanding the true problem, but if the boot sector on the Windows partition needs to be left pristine, why wouldn't the method described by swerdna here:

Boot Multiboot openSUSE Windows (2000, XP, Vista - any mix) with Windows bootloader.

be useful to solve the updating windows service pack problem?