Ask HN: Win 7 installation - misleading about multiboot?
It had 12 (1-3 primary and 5-13 xtended) partitions and I have 3 GNU/linux variants installed on it (you never know what you need on a rainy day)
When you reach the install screen on windows 7 there are 2 links below the "Install Now" button.
1. What to know before installing windows 2. Repair your computer.
I clicked on the "What to know ..." link and it has a note like this.
Heading: "To install a custom (new) version of Windows 7"
Note: "Use custom when you want to replace your current operating system entirely; When you want to keep your current operating system and install Windows on an available, separate partition of your hard disk (multiboot); or when no operating system is currently installed"
When I read this note I was happy, because it meant that I would not have to tweak with the boot loader after installing windows.
However after it finished the installation, there was no option to boot linux.
I called up microsoft support - first in the US and then in India (this number +91 80 40103000).
In india i spoke to Shruti and then a technical supervisor Sudhakar Bhagavanth - the IVR number is: 110414013468005
I pointed out the text to them, both of them made me put in the installation DVD.
They said that I had installed windows over my linux partiton etc - i said no, the windows 7 installation is not honouring the multiboot which was shown on the initial screen. I had various arguments with Sudhakar - he first tried to argue that multi means 2, then said it did not work because i had 3 installations of linux, but would have worked it i had say 1 Mac OS, and 1 Windows and 1 Linux, but not 3 versions of Linux, about how I had installed windows on the linux partition, or Other operating Systems means Windows XP ( it is clearly written in the note " ... keep your current operating system ") - My current operating system is linux.
No, dont believe me - it's all recorded on the call and that tape is in the call center.
I feel that the information presented in the note is misleading and thought I would post here just to figure out if others feel the same or is it just me.