[How-To, Pt. 1] Mac Triple-Boot w/OS X+Win7+Ubuntu - What to do in Mac OS X

The first of maybe 3 or 4 videos showing you how to triple-boot your Mac to make it run Snow Leopard, Windows 7, and Ubuntu.

** ALWAYS MAKE BACKUPS OF YOUR FILES BEFOREHAND! **

The first part of the series tells you what you need to do in Mac OS X:
1) Install rEFIt - Install rEFIt here: http://refit.sourceforge.net/ Install it, but don't restart if it asks you to (well, you can, but you don't really need to). Just minimize the installer.
2) Partition your drive with Disk Utility - While this doesn't remove anything, it's always best to have a backup (Time Machine works very well). Add 2 new partitions to your drive, and size them out however you like. Give them good labels. Format the both as FAT. Please keep in mind that the partition in the middle (the second one) will have to be your Ubuntu one. Also remember the size of these partitions, as this will come in handy when installing the other two operating systems.

The next video will show you how to install Windows 7 on your Mac. If you'd like, you can do this now. Just put in the DVD, hold ALT/Option when you turn on your computer, and choose the Windows disc (not the EFI boot one). Choose "Custom/Advanced" when you're in the installer, and click on your Windows partition (that you made in Disk Utility). Click on "Format". This formats the partition to NTFS. You can then begin the installation.

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[morethanink]

I already have windows 7 installed in bootcamp, is there any way i can create a new partition and install XP SP2?

[gumballtech]

@morethanink There's supposedly some software that can make partitions for you, but I wouldn't trust it. I would backup my W7 partition, then delete it, and then make my new partitions (all with Disk Utility).

[isotonicuk]

I just wanted to ask if the laptop is already bootcamped and Has OSX 10.6 and Windows 7 installed, can you do the partition job if you decide later that you want to install a Linux Distro later?

[gumballtech]

@isotonicuk No. Once you make your partitions, then that's it, unless you want to start your Windows install over.

You'll probably want to just use Linux in VMware.

[thetommantom]

can i boot mac 10.6.7, windows xp, and windows 7?

[gumballtech]

@thetommantom Yup. Would be easier since you don't need Ubuntu. Just make 3 partitions, and install XP after OS X, and then Windows 7 last.

[CANDUism]

Thumbs up if your watching this video on the machine your going to try it on.

[Paerma]

Why should ubuntu be partitioned in the middle? by doing it I can't install windows as my MBR creates hidden partitions that make the third partition to be actually the fifth partition.. which is more than the allowed 4 primary partitions

[LexSpringfield]

doesn't work (anymore?) with lion. i followed the tutorial but all i get is some messed up partitioning on my disk and a cool boot manager that won't see them.

[dhughes1969]

I tried this but wasn't able to get three on after partitioning I ended up having four primary partitions and the last was not primary, all together there were: #1 hidden?, #2 OS X, #3 600MB unknown, #4 one made for Linux then #5 last one for Windows but not primary. The last partition, for Windows, was not primary and Windows couldn't install on it.

[mattwill97]

can u pm me ur walpaper? its sick

[morethanink]

@gumballtech Yeah, I just finished backing up my W7 partition. After I wipe it will disk utility just let me make 3 partitions?