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I have a Win7-Ubuntu16.04 dual-boot non-UEFI laptop. I'm planning to downgrade my Ubuntu to 14.04 LTS after having a problem with 16.04 not booting properly. I don't have important files in the Ubuntu partition to worry about so I'm thinking of outright deleting it with the Windows Disk Manager, and afterwards boot to a live 14.04 disk and install from there.

On top of this, I'm not planning on restoring the Windows boot loader (since I can't, anyway. CD drive broken). So unless 14.04 installs correctly or at least a new grub is put in place, then probably goodbye Windows as well.

I just want to know if what I'm about to do is perfectly, definitely OK. What are the odds of 14.04 not installing successfully or booting in the first place? I'm using Rufus to burn the ISO into a USB drive.

DorkOrc
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  • Why do you think 14.04 will work if 16.04 doesn't? If you're using newer hardware, the reverse is much more likely – Zanna May 20 '17 at 04:43
  • I'm using a 10-year old computer with Vista originally installed on it. I don't know maybe my frustration with 16.04 is clouding my reasoning. Perhaps I'm going to try another distro sometime. But for now I just want to have a working Linux machine – DorkOrc May 20 '17 at 04:46

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Why delete it with the Windows disk manager? You can make all your alterations with the live usb-stick's volume manager, after booting with the live usb-drive. You can even leave Windows in place then, if you like.

Just boot with the live usb-stick. See if it works, replace Ubuntu with the old one, see if it boots.

If GRUB for some reason doesn't work then, you can use the live usb-stick to boot from either the stick, the Ubuntu partition or the Windows partition.

Zanna
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Wilbert
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