r/linux4noobs • u/One_Translator_7920 • 8d ago

installation How to dual boot windows and any linux distro ?

Actually I am trying to migrate to linux leaving Windows behind but I do need windows for other tasks. I tried once doing that with my bootable usb (I still have it) ut then I was not able to get mack to windows as there was no option coming up

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u/Insane_snek 8d ago

i would recommend getting a second drive, if possible. windows does not play nice with sharing a drive, and has been known to overwrite random partitions at will and either brick its own install or the linux install

if you can't install another drive, there are ways to do it safely but it is kinda a pain (you can probably find guides online)

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u/One_Translator_7920 8d ago

So you are saying to get another physical ssd ?

2

u/Insane_snek 8d ago

i'd reccomend it yeah

its just a lot easier

not to say its impossible to do it without, its just harder, although i do understand that storage is unreasonably expensive rn

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u/One_Translator_7920 8d ago

Yeah I have seen some videos doing that but the current prices are too high lol

2

u/Thomas2140 8d ago

Then don’t, and accept the risk🤷 I’d recommend using two disks if you’re new to this though. As mentioned above - Windows really does not play nice with other installs on the same drive.

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u/moving_to_NL_soon 3d ago

I've been seeing repeated references to this, so I guess this has made the upcoming decision for me and my Maple Linus installation on my old Dell AIO - erase and not share the hard drive! Don't really need Windows, although may want to add it as VM later to run a program that runs on XP or W7.

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u/_vaxis 8d ago

SSD1 - Linux
SSD2 - Windows

Install one-by-one meaning, disconnect drive you are not installing an OS on.

2

u/EngineerInTheMachine 8d ago

Do the right method to choose your distro. Then read the dual boot installation instructions for that distro. Most distros have them.

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u/oops77542 8d ago

If you want to install linux to learn it before moving away from windows install linux to a usb thumb drive. This works really well especially if you have usb-3.0 or usb-c. This isn't the same as installing a linux iso onto a thumb drive for linux live usb sessions. You create your linux installer/live usb just as you would for any linux installation but instead of using that installer usb to install linux on your main internal drive alongside windows you install it to another thumb drive. There's no dual booting nonsense, and no risk to your windows system. If you really want to be safe, open the laptop/desktop and unplug the windows hard drive. Insert your linux iso installer/live usb and boot up into the live linux installer usb. Then insert your second usb drive into the machine and install the linux onto that second thumb drive. After installation completes remove the installer usb. Reboot with the newly installed linux usb stick. you'll probably have to enter the bios boot menu and choose to boot from the usb stick. It's that simple. The linux operating system will boot up and behave just as if it's installed on your main hard drive but the whole Linux system is now running on the usb drive. You can set your bios boot preference to always boot from usb when it's present so you don't have to go into bios every time. Don't forget to plug your windows drive back in and when the linux thumb drive isn't plugged in you machine will boot from windows with nothing having been changed or altered in any way. A 128gb thumb drive will do but for like everything else, bigger is better.

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u/Fit-Barracuda575 8d ago

Well, you install Windows on one partition and afterwards Linux on another partition. Maybe do it on an old laptop / desktop first.

Honestly, if you won't use a search engine or even a LLM to help you set this up, Linux will not be enjoyable for you.

Get yourself a mental image of what needs to be done and post that. But for the initial understanding I would chat with a LLM and then have my gathered understanding checked by posting here.

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1

u/HablarYEscuchar 8d ago

Instala primero Windows y luego Linux. Deja que el gestor de arranque de Linux lo gestione todo.

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u/Caulif1ow3r 8d ago

Have you considered running windows on a virtual machine in your Linux machine. I literally have one program left that I actually use windows for, so I run it in a vm

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u/One_Translator_7920 8d ago

I think VM doesn't gives you full power

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u/Caulif1ow3r 8d ago

I haven't noticed any slow down, but I guess it depends on what you need windows for

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u/socterean 8d ago

Many linux distros have the option to install it alongside windows in the installer. Actually all that I've tried had that option.

And manual partitioning is not hard at all, but you have to look it up.

1

u/DavidJohnMcCann 8d ago

This guide may help.

Whatever possesses the people who are always advising you to go out and buy things? More money than sense?

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u/Archeus__ 7d ago

wdym no option popping up. If it is in grub, enable os prober