Partition configuration for dual booting Ubuntu and Windows 7 in separate partition

Question

Partitions:

MBR                 100 MB  (Primary)
C: Windows 7        100 GB  (Primary)
D:                  35 GB   (Logical)
E:                  280 GB  (Logical)
Unallocated         50 GB   (free)

I want this unallocated space of 50 GB to be used for Ubuntu Now that Ubuntu require at least two partitions to function correctly:

root
swap

But MBR doesn't allow more than 4 primary(including extended) partitions in a disk.

Is this time for me to change my partition table to GPT (meaning that I would have to switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1). Would I be able to do that? Isn't GPT hardware dependent?

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Additional Details:

I used GParted tool from ubuntu to create GPT partition table using a USB bootable version of Ubuntu. After that when I tried creating more partitions with windows 8.1 installation in the same disk it generates an error saying [We couldn't create a new partition Error Code: 0xeacbbf40] although it shows my previous configuration of partitions(created with GParted).

Also, when doing reverse of this i.e. Creating GPT partition table from "diskpart" tool from windows command prompt it creates successfully which then is then considered misconfigured partition table from GParted (GParted won't even read the current partition schema, just shows huge unallocated space).

And yes, my laptop (Acer Aspire V3-551G) is 3 years old and it came up with Windows 7 pre-installed.

Answer 1

@ n0noob, While GPT is highly recommended for ease and "future proofing" your install you can still use MBR. Windows 8/8.1 migration IS NOT Required in either of the following setups..

Gonna make the following assumptions:

-- Laptop is at least 4 years old OR newer which means it is EFI capable

-- Not all of Drives D:\ and/or E:\ are full ---or are backed up properly..

-- A ubuntu And / or Windows installer Media are handy or obtainable.

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• TO retain MBR: Assuming some or all of D:\ or E:\ are free

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On a Windows Or Ubuntu Installer

1) Boot to the formatter screen

2) "grow E:\ (and any portion of D:\ that is free) to include the additional space making it an extended Partition --with at least "logical" volumes -- (for ex. 280 Gb + 50 Gb = 330 Gb for the "New E:) second one will be Ubuntu

3) Reboot and get into Installer's boot repair tool and rebuild the BCD (Boot Code Directory)

3a) After OR in place of 3) you can now boot into Ubuntu and use the space from E:\ to install the Ubuntu install using AT A minumum /, /home, swap (as separate logicals inside E:\ -- Ubuntu will call it /dev/sda3 - /dev/sda6 --the installer will handle the boot order just make sure when asked where it goes ---again assuming no new drives in the mix -- /dev/sda

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• TO Migrate to GPT:

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1) Backup anything worth it to you from Windows

2) Using the Formatter from either Windows OR Ubuntu Wipe / delete / Format the drive and re-create a new table --GPT (Globally Universal Unique Identification Partition Table )

3) Create At a Minumum 4 partitions --all partitions are "Primary" on GPT --also good as you can boot from ANY of them if a valid install resides there. 3a)

  Partition 1 ~ 40Mb  --biosboot (aka biosgrub) --this is needed as a overflow space for the UEFI loader -- If your current or future  motherboard has EFI  split this into  a 5Mb and 35Mb  scheme the 5Mb for biosgrub and the 35Gb  for  {/boot}/efi 

  Partition 2 ~ 35-40Gb (assuming sizes were backwards in post )  This will be the Windows Main Partition -- C:\

  Partition 3 ~ 100Gb  -- D:\ for whatever on Windows  OR possible a "share for both OSes 

  Partition 4 ~ Balance of the drive (assumes LVM for Ubuntu )

       Partition 4 (Logical -- /dev/sda4)  ~10-15Gb  /  for Ubuntu (the equal to C:\ )

       Partition 4 (Logical -- /dev/sda5)  ~2-4Gb  Swap  (assumes less than 8 Gb of  on-board RAM)

       Partition 4 (Logical -- /dev/sda6)  Balance of the Drive (~ 290gb)  /home (the equal to D:\) 

AS with MBR schema Above this is how the Extended would look (the Partition 4 part would be the extended in a MBR world)

In both cases make sure the Ubuntu Installer (for ease of loader rebuilding this should be last --aka install / fix Windows THEN install ubuntu

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NOTE: There are tools like Gdisk and Gparted that can "In-place" Create a "Hybrid" Table these are

• Highly advanced techniques

• More more unstable and carry a much higher data loss potential..