Partitions for Zorin 17.3

[ANM]

Hi everyone, i needed some guidance. I have an old laptop from 2007 with no EUFI or legacy boot. On the 240gb SSD i have 2 partitions: C drive 95gb for Windows 11 and E drive 120gb for Media. I want to install Zorin OS on the empty E drive while also keeping Windows (on C drive) and have the option of dual boot OS selection. If i normally select the full E drive it doesnt let me proceed saying i need an EFI boot partion. Please help with step by step instructions. Thank you!!

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Welcome to the Forum!

@ANM

I have an old laptop from 2007 with no EUFI or legacy boot.

It should have one of it. Could You name the Brand and the Model?

As a common Advice, I could give You the Following:

Because You want to replace a Partition, I would suggest to not take the ''Install Zorin alongside Windows'' Option and instead use the ''Something else'' Option (the marked One):

In this Option, You get a Partition Table. The Partition that You want use for Zorin, You have to delete and then format it to ext4 and add the Mounting Point / to it.

Under the Partition Table, You have the Option ''Device for boot loader installation''. There You should use in the Dropdown Menu ''Windows Boot Manager'':

[ANM]

Thanks for your reply.

I am using a HP Pavilion dv7-1264nr. Windows 11 starts fine. BIOS screens below.

I tried your steps but there is no Windows Boot Manager in the drop down and it gives the error message saying No EFI System Partition was found . Below are the screens.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

What Tool did You use to create the bootable USB Stick with Zorin on it? I would recommend for Windows Rufus.

When using this, in Your Case, I would suggest to choose on the Option ''Partition Sheme'' MBR for Your BIOS:

[ANM]

Yes i used Rufus and set it to MBR. And then loaded the USB and entered Zorin OS install.

But i am a bit of a beginner and dont know what EFI is and how to set it to clear the error im getting in the last screen above. My windows boot partition /dev/sda1 is not EFI though.

I would really appreciate some step by step instructions on what to do on the last installation screen.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Okay, first take the Partition that You want to use for Zorin, mark it and click on the - Button. That will delete the Partition! So, when there is something on it, save it before! there is no turning back after it.

Then ake something from Your free Space - 512mb. And on this Screen:

choose in the Dropdown Menu from ''Use as'' EFI-Partition. That will be the Boot Partition. And for the Rest of the free Space, You make it like on Your Picture. choose / and ext4.

[ANM]

Thanks but it didnt work. As soon as i made the EFI partition, the rest of the volume free space was showing as unusable. So i just ended up formating the full SSD (deleted all partitions) and did a fresh install of Zorin OS which worked.