Hi Guys!

I want to install a triple boot with Windows 7, Windows 8 Developer Preview and MeeGo on my ExoPC.

I modified this instructions a little bit: Link

• I deleted all partitions and installed first Windows 7

The next step:

• I installed Windows 8 Developer Preview

It creates automatically a "selection tool" for the 2 Windows installations. So no problem at all to boot Windos 7 or Windows 8.


Now I continued with the standard procedure:

• Installed MeeGo
• Modified /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf to access again Windows

Works fine except the "Windows boot selection tool" - it still appears, but the list is empty, nothing to select and I'm only able to boot Windows 8. (automatically chosen after 30 seconds)

Sadly AppUp doesn't supports Windows 8 so I really "need" a option to boot Windows 7.

I had no luck with this question at the MeeGo forum. Perhaps the specialists are simply more located over here.
Any hints?

If it is not a secret, where did you get it?

Doesn't Windows 8 secure boot prevent booting other stuff or is it still no implemented?

No secret at all - here you have the link: Windows Developer Preview downloads

But be careful at your desktop. Test it only at your own risk. And in my opinion it makes only sense at a tablet. But it laks a lot in multitasking. (unable to close a task except thru the task manager)

If you have a ExoPC dualboot would be a good idea.
I gave you the link, now try it yourself and give me hints how to setup a tripleboot, please.

Perhaps not implemented or the ExoPC doesn't support UEFI (what is needed for a certificated bootloader)

I'm able to dualboot Windows 8 and MeeGo without problems as Windows 7 and MeeGo. But I'm currently unable to run Windows 7, Windows 8 and MeeGo on the same ExoPC.

Could you not install GRUB and use that to boot any/all three?

The Problem I'm facing is Windows creates unbootable NTFS partitions (need to test this a second time but I'm very sure)
Windows 7 creates 2 Partitions:

• 100MB NTFS Bootable - hidden
• 10GB NTFS Windows 7 system

(I dimly remember this is because only the first 4 GB are Bootable if it is NTFS - am I right or am I confusing this with something different?)

Windows 8 creates 1 aditional partition and continue to use the 100MB NTFS for boot:

• 10GB NTFS Windows 8 system

So I have 3 partitions but for the MeeGo bootmanager only the 100MB NTFS Boot partition. This boots into the Windows Boot Manager "selection" screen where I was able to select between Windows 7 and 8 before - after the MeeGo installation this screen is empty and it boots automatically to Windows 8.

Is the default MeeGo bootmanager GRUB?

I'm not really a Linux expert and I'm currently unable to check. (it doesn't boot at the moment and I won't say why )

I answered already at the MeeGo forum, but perhaps someone over here will find this small guide useful, too.
Sorry for the double posting.

I installed this week also a tripleboot Windows 7, Windows 8 and MeeGo because of a very similar reason. My girlfriend loves to play Plants vs. Zombies and this doesn't support Windows 8. And once played on my Tablet there was no way back to her Desktop.

A triple boot doesn't work using the Windows 8 Boot selector but using the one from Windows 7 it works very well. So you need to install it in a unusual order.

Here are the steps I performed to install the stuff:

1. Windows 8

• Boot from your Windows 8 disk
• perform a manual installation
• clean all aviable partitions during the installation
• create a about 25 GB big NTFS partition
• you get a information that the wizard may create additional partitions to enable all features and a warning that your Installation may won't run without - ignore it
• the wizard created a 350MB NTFS Boot Partition and your 25GB NTFS - delete the 350MB Partition and select the 25GB NTFS for the installation

preparation for Step 2:
Download all needed Windows 7 drivers (especially W-Lan) for your ExoPC - check if your need the 64bit or the 32bit drivers

2. Windows 7

• Boot from your Windows 7 disk
• perform a manual installation
• create a about 25 GB big NTFS partition
• select the 25GB NTFS for the installation
• as soon as you finished install the files from the second NTFS partition you downloaded before the installation - yes, both drives are visible, try to don't get confused - good luck!

3. MeeGo

• Boot from your USB Stick with the latest pinetrail image
• Use the free space for the linux partitions - if you check, you've only wasted 100MB in the beginning because MeeGo will use there 250 for his Boot partition
• reboot, connect a keyboard and go to the terminal
• get root using su and the password meego
• Modify /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf using vi ("timeout 60", comment out the "menu hidden" line, rename other to Windows (yes, only one at choice) and store the file using [ESC]:wq)

Now you have your tripleboot system ready.
Chose using the sensor in the corner if you want to boot MeeGo or one of your Windows installations. Short press to select, long press to boot. If you select Windows a second Menu will appear where you able to select which dirty evil system you want to boot alternatively.

As ever at your own risk...
Windows may deform your mind so use it carefully and ENJOY THE TRIP!

Thanks for this step by step guide. It works great!

The only drawback is that both NTFS partitions are at Windows installations automounted. This is sometimes really confusing but I don't know how to hide those. I try to deal with it.