Installing CentOS 7.1 Dual Boot With Windows 8.1 on UEFI Firmware Systems

10. Now it’s time to manually partition your disk. If you already have Windows OS installed on your machine, then you will notice that some partitions are already present on your partition table as illustrated on the below screenshots.

Important: Do not touch or alter those partitions in any way. In exchange you will use the free space from your hard disk to create the Linux partitions. For this guide we will configure three partitions for the system in the following manner:

  1. Swap partition – double size of your RAM Memory – no mount point.
  2. Root partition – at least 10 GB – mount point / – Standard partition type – Formatted XFS
  3. Home partition – the rest of space – mount point /home – – Standard partition type – Formatted XFS
Manual Partitioning
Manual Partitioning

11. First create the swap partition by hitting the below plus (+) button, choose swap as Mount Point with the space value for this partition, then hit Add mount point as presented on the below screenshot.

Create Swap Partition
Create Swap Partition

12. Then, create the root partition by hitting the plus button again with / as a mount point and at least 10 GB space. Hit Add mount point, then, from the right menu choose Standard Partition.

Create root Partition
Create root Partition
Select Root Filesystem Type
Select Root Filesystem Type

13. Repeat the same steps as above to create the /home partition with the left free space (leave the Desired Capacity value empty in order to use all the remained free space).

Create Home Partition
Create Home Partition
Select Home Filesystem
Select Home Filesystem

Don’t worry about the /boot/efi partition, because it will be added automatically to your partition table.

14. Once you finish with configuring the partitions, hit the above Done button, review your new partition table and Accept Changes from the pop-up warning window in order to proceed further with the last installation settings.

Accept Partition Changes
Accept Partition Changes

15. Once you’re back to the main installer screen, hit the Kdump menu and uncheck the Enable kdump feature. Hit Done to apply settings and go back to main screen.

Enable kdump
Enable kdump
Kdump Selection
Kdump Selection

16. On the next step configure your Network and Hostname. Choose a descriptive name for your machine Host name (you can type use a FQDN name). If you want to set up your Network Interface with static IP configurations, hit the below Configure button, go to IPv4 Settings tab, select Manual and enter your network IP addresses.

When you’re done hit the Save button, switch the Ethernet to ON, then hit above Done button to go back to the main screen. The following screenshots illustrates this steps.

Select Configure Network
Select Configure Network
Set System Hostname
Set System Hostname
Set Network IP Address
Set Network IP Address

17. Now it’s time to install the system. Hit the below Begin Installation button from the Installation Summary screen and a new screen with User Settings should appear.

From this point on the installation procedure is automatically started and can’t be reverted. Select the Root Password menu and enter your system root password twice. Hit Done when you finish to go back and create the first user.

Root Password
Root Password
Set Root Password
Set Root Password

18. The last setting of User Creation is optional. If you want to create a user, then hit the User Creation menu and enter the username and the password for this new user.

Check the Make this user administrator box if you want to add root privileges for this user and, also, check the Require a password to use this account box for extra security. As soon as you finish, hit the Done button to go back to the main screen and wait for the installer to complete.

Select User Creation
Select User Creation
Create User Account
Create User Account

19. Now you’re almost done. Once the installation process finishes, Reboot the system, choose CentOS from the Grub menu (you will notice that Windows Boot Loader is also present here), hit the License Information menu and check the I accept the license agreement box. Hit Done to go back and Finish Configuration button.

CentOS Grub Menu
CentOS Grub Menu
Select License Agreement
Select License Agreement
Accept License Agreement
Accept License Agreement

20. That’s all! Now, Sign in to CentOS system with the new user credentials created during the installation process and you’re done. To view CentOS release version, open a Terminal and issue the following command:

$ cat /etc/centos-release

Also, make sure your system is up-to-date by issuing the following command:

$ sudo yum upgrade
CentOS Login
CentOS Login
Check CentOS Version
Check CentOS Version
Update CentOS
Update CentOS

21. CentOS 7 has no default support for NTFS filesystem. In order to be able to mount and access Windows NTFS partitions, add the Epel repositories package to CentOS and install the ntfs-3g package by issuing the below commands:

$ sudo yum install epel-release
$ sudo yum upgrade
$ sudo yum install ntfs-3g

23. After installing ntfs-3g, you can mount your Windows NTFS partitions using following command.

$ sudo mount -ro ntfs-3g /dev/sda5 /mnt
$ cd /mnt
$ ls -l
Mount Windows Partition on CentOs-7
Mount Windows Partition

Where /dev/sda5 is the my default Windows Partition, in your case the drive may be different..

Enjoy CentOS 7.1 in dual-boot with Windows 8.1 on your machine. To switch back to Windows Operating System, reboot the machine and choose Windows Boot Manager from the Grub menu.

Matei Cezar
I'am a computer addicted guy, a fan of open source and linux based system software, have about 4 years experience with Linux distributions desktop, servers and bash scripting.

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37 thoughts on “Installing CentOS 7.1 Dual Boot With Windows 8.1 on UEFI Firmware Systems”

  1. Thank you, it was my solution for make dual boot easy, but in my case I was needed to configure efi partition also, so you can update your tutorial and note this step.

    Reply
  2. I just have bought a new computer with Windows 10 and I’d like to have a dual boot between Windows and CentOS7.

    What do you recommend?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Create a new partition and install CentOS alongside Windows 10. Make sure you boot CentOS the same way Windows was installed. On a new hardware the firmware would be UEFI, so boot-up CentOS under UEFI mode.

      Reply
  3. Hi, I exactly followed the steps detailed. But at the “installing bootloader configuration” stage during installation it stuck for a while and throws error ‘”failed to write boot loader configuration” and asks whether to continue the installation.

    I continued installation and is successful but after reboot, all i can see is grub prompt. I can boot to windows as normal though.

    Can you tell what went wrong.

    I’m used centos 7.1 iso and it was Windows 10 in my system.

    Reply
  4. In this guide, not shown very well, which is Windows partition , and which partition to use for CentOS installation . I have tried many times with no success for dual boot. I did it many times before with Fedora Installation

    Reply
  5. Great tutorial! In “Prerequisites” part I’ll offer to include that if WINDOWS disk is encrypted with BitLocker save the encryption key in external media like USB or as a text file for example in an email, in another way you are in big trouble!

    Reply
  6. Excellent article, it’s easy to follow for a noob that me, but I have the next problem: Windows has not appear on Grub Menu!!

    What would you thing should I do?

    Reply
    • UEFI settings -> Boot Options -> BBS Priorities. From there, on some UEFI machines, you can setup what OS should be loaded by default.

      Reply
  7. I have tried all flavors of Linux distros and without a doubt, Fedora25 is the easiest and most straightforward to install. Just for a laugh I tried to install SuSe again and gave up when it asked for all the details to set up my ISP connection, Fedora just needed my router password. SuSe seems to have gone backward.

    Reply
  8. After completing all the steps indicated on both pages of this post, I reboot my system and never see a grub menu. My machine still boots straight into Windows 10. :(

    Reply
  9. There’s no need to format the partition with an FAT32 file system. Just create the partition and leave it unformatted or don’t even create the partition at all, leave it as unused space. CentOS 7 should recognize the unused space by default, but this should also be valid for Oracle Linux 7 as well.

    Reply
  10. Hello Admin,

    Please help me..

    I’m trying to dual boot windows 7 (already running Windows7) and oracle Linux 7 with bootable USB Stick. First I downloaded Oracle Linux Release 7 for x86_64 (64 Bit) V46135-01.iso from https://edelivery.oracle.com/osdc/faces/SearchSoftware.

    Then I created a partition of 50 GB (FAT32) for Oracle Linux then I created a bootable USB Stick using Rufus 2.11.exe on windows OS. after that I started the installation from USB Stick but To choose where to install the Linux the partition of 50GB I made earlier is not listed.

    Reply
  11. Hi,

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have a computer which has window7 already. I am trying to install dual operating system with CentOS7. I follow your instructions. After partitioned the disk when I click on “Done” button is located at top left, but could not get success. The error message is showing “No valid boot loader target device found. See below for details. For a UEFI installation, you must include an EFI System Partition on a GPT-formatted disk, mounted at /boot/efi.”, I have tried so many times, but getting the same error. Please help me to fix this problem.

    Reply
    • You need to change partition table from MBR to GPT style. First of all backup all important data from HDD, boot-up with an Ubuntu Live media and run a disk utility such as Gparted from GUI or gdisk utility from CLI in order to change partition table format from MBR to GPT. My recommendation is to use gdisk to convert partition layout. After the changes are applied, reboot the machine into CentOS 7 and proceed with the installation. This method use it to in preserve data.
      A second method, is to wipe out everything from your HDD and reinstall Windows 7 from scratch on your hard drive partitioned in GPT layout and subsequently install CentOS 7.

      Reply
      • Thank you very much for reply, I appreciate this.

        What you meant to say, I need to boot-up with Ubuntu live media, and change the partition table from MBR to GPT by using gdisk utility from CLI, after done this, boot again with CentOS USB and proceed the installation ?

        Reply
        • Yes, that’s what I mean. But before that, backup important data. You can achieve this from CentOS 7 installer to by deleting all partitions and re-initialize the disk, but this method will destroy all data, including previous windows installations. Also, on UEFI system, the way you boot-up and install the system matters. If you boot-up the USB installer from UEFI make sure the CentOS bootable USB is created with a valid GPT scheme by using a tools such as https://rufus.akeo.ie/ . If you boot up from BIOS legacy no special requirements are needed for the bootable USB drive. Also, if the Windows installation in performed in UEFI, the hard disk will be automatically partitioned with GPT scheme style. So, subsequently installations of CentOS will need to be performed from UEFI too, with the bootable USB disk formatted with GPT valid scheme using Rufus utility.
          The simplest solution would be to install both Windows and CentOS from BIOS legacy by changing the default behaviour from your machine BIOS/UEFI settings.

          Reply
  12. Hello,

    I had previously installed Win7 system . After installing the Centos7 I can not see appear the Windows boot. One shows me that Centos at PC startup. I recall that I am a beginner in Linux..

    Can you help me please

    Reply
    • 1.Install “ntfs-3g” package so Linux system can read the Windows partition.
      sudo yum install ntfs-3g

      2.Create the new Grub conf file
      sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

      Reply
  13. Hello,

    I am having an issue where the install will error out and repeat
    dracut-initqueue timeout [435]
    After 50 of those the next error is
    could not boot
    /dev/disk/by-label/centos-7-x8 does not exist
    /dev/mapper/live-rw does not exist

    Reply
    • It’s difficult to investigate the issue without additional info. Looks like you there’s a problem with disk from LVM configuration.

      Reply
  14. Steps 10-14: mine didn’t automatically recognize the Windows EFI partitiion so I did have to manually select it and add /boot/efi as a mount point. If you do as the error message can be interperted and add a /boot/efi under new Centos, mkconfig-grub2 will not see the Windows bootloader.

    Reply
      • As a guess, try go to your machine BIOS settings and verify if Secure Boot and Fastboot are disabled. Then try to recreate the /boot/efi partition again.

        Reply
        • Hello,i disabled them in bios,at the time it creates the efi partition an error popup: “an unknown error has occurred”
          file usr/lib/pyton2.7/site-packages/blivet anaconda
          i choose the automatic partitioning.
          my drive is mbr.
          thanks in advance

          Reply
          • Boot with Parted Magic or any other Linux Live ISO, delete all partitions and initialize the disk with MBR. Afterwords boot CentOS iso and try to reinstall the system.

  15. i did that earlier …created the dual machine…

    but after sometime GRUB menu (showing 2 boot paths ,centos and windows)
    showing only 1 boot path (i.e windows)

    it seems to me …windows boot menu replaced GRUB ?? how this can be solved??

    Reply
    • It means that you mess up the installation somehow! First install windows, then CentOS.Boot with a live CentOS CD and reinstall the grub.

      Reply
  16. Why i didn’t notify for the comments.?
    – OK Let me start from First ( Now i have installed fedora 21 with GPT format on UEFI Mode & Secure boot is DISABLED )
    – I have laptop with UEFI & secure boot is disable, & another option is Legacy mode,
    – So i am going to format my HD with MBR format than Select Legacy mode and install window 8.1
    is it OK ( going smooth for dual boot ) or need any other changes.
    Than after Window installation I never changed bios moode (OK )
    Through REFUS I make bootable USB of FEDRA 21, ( HD is MBR Formatted, & mode in LEgacy) than fedora installed or not

    Reply
  17. It gives you en error when booting from Legacy Mode because your HDD is partitioned in GPT style(Legacy Mode uses GPT partition scheme)
    If non of the methods work…then wipe out your disk using a Linux Live distro, boot and install Windows 8.1 from Legacy Mode then install Fedora…or other Linux distro.

    Reply
  18. -Make a bootable USB stick with Rufus if you are planning on booting the USB from UEFI Firmware
    -Make a bootable USB stick with UniversalUSBInstaller or any other utility if you are planning on booting the USB from UEFI Legacy
    -Enter UEFI settings and disable Secure Boot option (if supported)
    -Try to boot from DVD if USB method doesn’t work
    – Consult your Laptop Manual
    -Make sure you take a close look on Laptop’s sideways…usually some of them have a small hole from which you can boot from.
    And what kind of Laptop/Model manufactor you own?

    Reply
  19. Dear Admin
    I face same issue which is describe you but i cant find out any solution, First of All i would like to share my Laptop architecture., I buy New Laptop and Laptop comes with pre installed Window 8.1, and Bios mode ( Legacy & UEFI ), But I need to install dual boot fedora 21 with 8.1.
    Problem is that when i select legacy mode than window run but fedora boot-able USB not run, IF i change mode into UEFI than window can’t run and bootlace USB boot, when when i select Disk for fedora installation they give me error and I am unable to complete install, So can you tell me how to dual boot ( Fedora 21 with Windows * )

    Reply

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