I'm trying to set up a dual boot for Linux on my MSI gaming laptop, which currently runs Windows 11 Home. Here are my specs: 32GB RAM and an NVIDIA 5070 graphics card. I've followed various tutorials and even asked for help from various sources but still hit a roadblock. When I boot from the USB containing the Linux installer, I get to the part where I need to select the storage for Ubuntu installation, but the available space I shrunk from my C drive (200GB) doesn't show up. I want to make sure I don't lose any data or delete my Windows OS during this process. Can anyone provide me with a complete step-by-step guide?
2 Answers
First off, always remember to back up your important data before making any changes to your partitions—it can save you a lot of headaches later! Now, regarding your issue with the shrinked volume not appearing, it's a common problem. Make sure that the partition is formatted correctly (preferably to NTFS) and isn't set as a recovery partition. Also, ensure that you have disabled both Secure Boot and Fast Startup in your BIOS settings.
I had a similar issue when I first set up dual boot. When you boot into Ubuntu's installer, press 'Try Ubuntu' instead of 'Install Ubuntu' to enter the live environment. From there, open GParted (it's usually installed by default). You should be able to see your partitions and change the size or format of them if needed. After that, you can proceed with the installation. If everything looks good in GParted, it should show your available partition during installation.
I appreciate the guidance! I'll try the live environment approach and check GParted to see what's up.
Thanks for the tips! Can you explain how to format the partition correctly? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right.