so I've spent the past couple days freaking out about this and looking for answers, and I decided to resort to asking on forums. probably should have before I wasted 2 entire days.
so I am trying to DUAL-INSTALL Ubuntu 13.10 with my x64 Windows 7 home premium computer. I have 6 gb of ram, 1TB hard drive, and a 3.3GHZ dual core processer (just in case it matters).
I've managed to figure some things out. I've burned the ubuntu files onto a DVD, and I have been able to successfully run it off the disk. I also shrunk my Windows partition by 120Gb and partitioned that for Ubuntu (all using the windows Disk Manager).
Problems:
When I turn my computer on with the DVD in the tray, the computer cant find windows. it flashes a screen real quick that says something about not being able to find an operating system, and then goes to "grub" and asks what i want to do with Ubuntu. this scares me, because I don't know if that means that I will not be able to boot windows if I install Ubuntu.
The Ubuntu 13.10 installer does not detect my Windows operating system. I only have the options to Erase everything on my drive, or "something else."
I choose that, which brings me to 3
I don't understand the partition table. I have no idea which drive im selecting to install stuff on, much less which one to select. I tried to tell by the amount of memory partitioned off, but none of the numbers seem to be accurate. Plus, all the names are dev/sda(#). I know Ubuntu knows the name of my partition, because on the sidebars it shows the names of the different drives, including the partition I made; so why don't they use the names? I have no idea what I'm going to be erasing. I've read that I should know which is which by the file system type, but they are all NTFS, including the one I made. my only other option was FAT, none for EXT2 or any of that like people said to do.
My main concerns are that of accidentally erasing windows or not being able to access windows. any feasible solution is helpful, weather it helps me with the install or to make Ubuntu see windows.
I realize this question has been asked much, but i have found no feasible answers so far. I am relatively new to this, and have never installed an operating system before, so I do not know most of the jargon. please keep it relatively simple, please. I am not a programmer.
Thanks.
