Ttgjyuk

I have a laptop with Ubuntu installed as the only OS. I also have a USB stick with a Windows 7 installation on it. I want to install Windows from the USB stick on my laptop but when I try to restart the laptop to get access to BIOS, I can't seem to find the command for it, its like it skips everything and just says Ubuntu and then takes me to the login screen.

How do I change the boot priority to USB in Ubuntu?

On some systems you have to press F2, Del or Esc to access Bios settings. Less frequently it is CTRL+Alt+ESC.

Once in Bios settings, on some systems, while there is a boot order giving you "removable drives" and "primary hard disk" as options, you may have to set the boot order again in an item labelled "HDD's" where you find again the USB drive.

For gaining access to the BIOS to edit boot order, you usually need to press the F2 or F12 key during that brief splash screen right after hitting your power button (it usually only lasts a second or two so you have to think fast) Once in, you should be able to either choose to boot from USB or move it to the top of the Boot order. Google around for the correct key for your specific computer model and you should be able to find out how to get into the BIOS.

As for installing Windows along side your Ubuntu Installation, remember that Windows will write over the Master Boot Record (MBR) and you will not be able to boot into your Ubuntu installation until you re-install the Ubuntu's Grub boot loader.

Directions for how to do this are here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RecoveringUbuntuAfterInstallingWindows

You might then also wish to know how to change the boot order once you have the two OS's installed and running. You will have to edit the file /etc/default/grub
directions for doing this are here: How do I change the GRUB boot order?

Hope this helps enough to get you started with your dual-boot system. There are some great guides on how to set up an ideal Windows 7 and Ubuntu dual boot set up if you Google around a bit.

The boot priority settings are often found under the Boot tab of the computer's BIOS/UEFI utility. The BIOS/UEFI utility can be accessed by pressing the key which is shown on the manufacturer's splash screen when booting. This is the F12 key on many computers. The keys to press, such as F12, F2, Del or Esc, differ on computers from different manufacturers.

When the power button is pressed to start the computer, it will try to boot first from whatever option is listed first in the boot priority section of the computer's BIOS/UEFI utility. If a USB flash drive is listed first in the boot priority list, it will try to boot from the USB flash drive first. If the internal hard drive where Ubuntu is installed is listed first in the boot priority list, the computer will boot to Ubuntu.

Boot menu and BIOS access keys^_source

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Acer Aspire One zg5, zg8, Aspire Timeline F12 F2 
Acer Aspire v3, v5, v7 F12* F2 
Acer Esc, F2, F12 Del, F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Apple Post-2006 models Option

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Asus Desktops F8 F9 
Asus VivoBook f200ca, f202e, q200e, s200e, s400ca, s500ca, u38n, v500ca, v550ca, v551, x200ca, x202e, x550ca, z202e Esc Delete 
Asus N550JV, N750JV, N550LF, Rog g750jh, Rog g750jw, Rog g750jx Zenbook Infinity ux301, Infinity ux301la, Prime ux31a, Prime ux32vd, R509C, Taichi 21, Touch u500vz, Transformer Book TX300 Esc (Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control") F2 
Asus k25f, k35e, k34u, k35u, k43u, k46cb, k52f, k53e, k55a, k60ij, k70ab, k72f, k73e, k73s, k84l, k93sm, k93sv, k95vb, k501, k601, R503C, x32a, x35u, x54c, x61g, x64c, x64v, x75a, x83v, x83vb, x90, x93sv, x95gl, x101ch, x102ba, x200ca, x202e, x301a, x401a, x401u, x501a, x502c, x750ja F8 Delete 
Asus Eee PC 1015, 1025c Esc F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Compaq Presario Esc, F9 F10

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Dell F12** F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
eMachines F12 Tab, Delete 
Gateway 

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Fujitsu F12 F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key  
HP Esc, F9 Esc, F10, F1 
HP Pavilion Media Center a1477c Esc F10 
HP Pavilion 23 All In One Esc (Select boot media from the menu) F10 
HP Pavilion Elite e9000, e9120y, e9150t, e9220y, e9280t Esc, F9 F10 
HP Pavilion g4, g6 and g7, Probook 4520s, 4525s, 4540s, 4545s, 5220m, 5310m, 5330m, 5660b, 5670b Esc F10 
HP Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c, Pavilion PC, p6 2317c, Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb, TouchSmart 520 PC, ENVY x2, m4, m4-1015dx, m4-1115dx, sleekbook m6, m6-1105dx, m6-1205dx, m6-k015dx, m6-k025dx, touchsmart m7, Envy, dv6 and dv7 PC, dv9700, Spectre 14, Spectre 13, 2000 - 2a20nr, 2a53ca, 2b16nr, 2b89wm, 2c29wm, 2d29wm Esc (Then F9 for "Boot Menu") Esc 
HP 2000 Esc (Then F9 for "Boot Menu". Select "Patriot Memory" on the Boot Option Menu) Esc
HP Pavilion a410n Esc F1

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Intel F10

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Lenovo Desktops F12, F8, F10 F1, F2 
Lenovo Laptops F12 F1, F2 
Lenovo ThinkPad edge, e431, e531, e545, helix, l440, l540, s431, t440s, t540p, twist, w510, w520, w530, w540, x140, x220, x230, x240, X1 carbon F12 F1 
Lenovo IdeaPad s300, u110, u310 Touch, u410, u510, y500, y510, yoga 11, yoga 13, z500 Novo Button (Next to power button), F12 Novo Button 
Lenovo IdeaPad P500 F12 or Fn + F11 F2 
Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3, g460, g470, g475, g480, g485 F12 F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Microsoft Surface Pro 1-3 Volume-Down Button 
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 & Book Volume-Up Button

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
NEC F5 F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Packard Bell F8 F1, Delete

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Samsung F12, Esc F2, F10 
Samsung NC10, np300e5c, np300e5e, np350v5c, np355v5c, np365e5c, np550p5c Esc F2
Samsung Series 5 Ultra, Series 7 Chronos, Series 9 Ultrabook Esc (Must disable "Fast Boot" in BIOS) F2 
Samsung Ativ Book 2, 8, 9 F2 (Must disable "Fast Boot" in BIOS) F10

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Sharp F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Sony VAIO Duo, Pro, Flip, Tap, Fit Assist Button (Use the Assist Button when the computer is off, not when it is booting) Assist Button (Use the Assist Button when the computer is off, not when it is booting) 
Sony VAIO, PCG, VGN F11 F1, F2, F3 
Sony VGN Esc, F10 F2

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
Toshiba Kira, Kirabook 13, Ultrabook, Qosmio g30, g35, g40, g50, Qosmio x70, x75, x500, x505, x870, x875, x880 F12 F2 
Toshiba Protege, Satellite, Tecra F12 F1, Esc 
Toshiba Equium F12 F12

Manufacturer Models Boot Menu Key BIOS Key 
ASUS F8 DEL 
Gigabyte F12 DEL 
MSI F11 DEL 
Intel F10 F2 
Asrock F11 F2, DEL 
EVGA F7 DEL

^*F12 Boot Menu must be enabled in BIOS.
^**Select USB Flash Drive.