Is it possible to fake a Windows install for grub to add to boot menu?

Posted by Mussnoon on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Mussnoon
Published on 2010-12-23T13:18:10Z Indexed on 2010/12/23 13:55 UTC
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Filed under:

Windows

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linux

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multi-boot

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grub

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dual-boot

When doing a fresh install of a Linux distro (Ubuntu, for instance) on a fresh hard drive, if I want to install Linux first, and Windows later, is it possible to make grub think there's a Windows install on the first partition so that it'll be added to the boot menu after the installation is complete?

To illustrate, I have a new hard drive and have created two primary partitions (both still raw) and two logical (Ext4 and Swap). I want to install Ubuntu on the Ext4 partition first, and some version of Windows on the first primary partition only after that (because I currently don't have a Windows install disk, but do have one for Ubuntu). Is it possible to make Ubuntu add an entry for Windows right now and avoid having to repair grub after I've installed Windows?

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