Hey everyone, I'm gearing up to dual boot Windows 11 and Linux Mint on the same drive, and I have a few questions before I dive in! I've played around with Linux on my laptop and was impressed by the performance compared to Windows 10, so I'm excited about this setup. However, I'm not super tech-savvy, so I wanted to verify some details and get your advice. Here are my main queries:
1. Is it safe to install both OS on the same drive as long as I partition it? I've seen mixed opinions about this.
2. How does NTFS work on Linux Mint? Can I access files from a drive formatted as NTFS on both operating systems? What's the role of exFAT in this scenario?
3. If I install applications like OBS on a separate drive from the OS, will I be able to use them from both systems?
4. Can I customize (or 'rice') Linux Mint the same way as with other distributions?
5. Is it possible to access my Steam library from both OS effectively, or should I have separate partitions for that?
6. What's the deal with NVIDIA support on Linux? Are the drivers up to par now?
7. Is VR gaming generally manageable on Linux?
8. Do I need to run all multiplayer games on Proton for compatibility, and what exactly is Proton?
9. How do partitions work on Windows? If I partition my drive, will they show as separate drives?
10. Finally, is there a task manager equivalent for Linux Mint?
Any help would be super appreciated since I'm juggling uni and don't have much time to search. Thanks!
3 Answers
1. It's perfectly fine to dual boot Windows and Linux on the same SSD, just make sure to be cautious with updates since sometimes a Windows update can mess with the Linux boot loader.
2. NTFS works great on Linux Mint! You'll definitely be able to access the drive from both OSs. ExFAT can be useful for drives that you want to share between them too, especially flash drives.
3. If you install programs on a separate drive, they typically can’t be used across both OSs, as they install to specific directories. You’d need to install them separately on each OS.
4. Yes! You can customize Linux Mint just as much as other distributions, but some may have more tools available to make it easier.
5. You should be able to access your Steam library from both OSs without reinstalling! Just point Steam to your game folder and it should recognize everything.
6. NVIDIA support has improved, but they're still not as seamless as AMD. You may need to install drivers manually through Mint's driver manager, which should make the process pretty smooth for you.
7. VR gaming can be tricky on Linux, but some setups can work. Just make sure to check compatibility before diving deep.
8. Most multiplayer games need Proton if they're not Linux-native, as it helps run Windows games on Linux. Just enable it in your Steam settings and you're good to go!
9. Partitions work like separate containers. If you create multiple partitions, Windows will see them as separate drives, and you can control access as needed.
10. Yes, Linux Mint has System Monitor which serves as the task manager equivalent, along with some terminal commands for more in-depth checks!
Hope that clears up your concerns! Just take it step by step, and you'll be fine!
If you can manage it, I highly recommend getting a second drive for Linux Mint. It can save you a ton of hassle and keep things tidy, especially if you ever run into boot issues. Just keep backups of important data, and you should be golden!
Most of your questions have been answered in older threads, but your concerns are valid! Just remember to partition carefully during setup. It's pretty straightforward, but always double-check before hitting those buttons!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely search through the archives for more details. Always better to be safe!
Thanks a lot for the insights! I appreciate the simple explanations. Looks like I need to do a bit more prep work for the dual boot.