Dual-boot Fedora 18 and Windows 7, with full disk encryption configured on both OSs

3. Install GRUB 2 to Fedora’s boot partition: Once inside Fedora, the next task is to install GRUB in the Partition Boot Record (PBR) of the boot partition, that is, the first sector of the boot partition. Once in Fedora, launch a shell terminal and su to root. To install GRUB 2 in the boot partition’s PBR, you need to know its partition number or device name. The output of df -h will reveal that information. On my installation, it is /dev/sda3. Next, type grub2-install /dev/sda3. The system will complain and refuse to do as instructed. Not to worry, you can force it.

To compel it to install GRUB 2 where we want, type add “- -force” option to the command, so that it reads grub2-install – -force /dev/sda3. Once that’s done, reboot the computer. Note that completing this step does not remove GRUB from the MBR. It just installs another copy in the boot partition. At the next step, GRUB will be removed from the MBR.

4. Restore Windows 7′s boot manager to the MBR: When the computer reboots, you will still see Fedora’s boot menu, but instead of booting into Fedora 18, boot into Windows 7. The next task is to restore its boot program to the MBR and add an entry for Fedora 18 in its boot manager’s menu. The program I know that makes it easy to do that, is EasyBCD. Download it from here. Note that EasyBCD is free for personal use. After installing it, start it, if it does not start automatically. Shown below is its main window. Click on Add New Entry to begin.

Then click on the Linux/BSD tab. Select GRUB 2 from the Type dropdown menu, and edit the Name field to match. Click on Add Entry.

This is a preview of what the entries will be on the boot menu of Windows 7. The final task is to restore the Windows 7 boot program to the MBR. To do that, click on BCD Deployment.

Under MBR Configuration Options, make sure that the first option is selected. Then click on Write MBR. Exit EasyBCD and reboot the computer.

If you reboot the computer after that last operation, you will be presented with Windows 7′s boot menu. Test to make sure that you can boot into either OS. When you are satisfied, reboot into Windows 7 to start the last series of steps in this operation.

5. Encrypt Windows 7 with Truecrypt: If you’ve not downloaded Truecrypt, you may do so now, and install it. Start it by clicking its icon on the desktop. Throughout this step, very little extra explanation is necessary because the on-screen explanations will suffice. So, at this step, the default is good. Next.

Click Create Volume.

Select the last option as shown, then Next.

The first option is it. Next.

For obvious reasons, the last option offers a more (physically) secure system. Next.

Though not indicated in this screen shot, I chose “No”. I think the on-screen explanation is sufficient.

Last option, then Next.