I'm considering trying out Linux Mint Cinnamon alongside Windows 11, mainly for casual browsing and note-taking. I have no coding experience, and I've done a bit of testing using a live USB, but now I'm ready to install it. My laptop has a 237 GB SSD with about 132 GB free. I have a few questions: 1. Is dual booting safe on a single SSD? Some people warn that Windows updates could mess with Linux. 2. Is there a risk of losing data on both operating systems? I'm not planning on doing anything risky in the terminal. 3. The Mint site suggests a 100 GB partition for Linux, but I'm thinking of starting with a 70 GB one and possibly expanding later. I've read that using GParted for this can be complicated, so should I just partition 100 GB from the start?
1 Answer
Dual booting on a single SSD can be a hassle. While it’s doable, Windows can sometimes cause issues with GRUB, the boot loader for Linux. If you follow a good tutorial during installation, you should be okay, though. About the 70 GB partition—it's a bit tight, but it can work if you’re not planning to install a lot of software. Just keep in mind that managing partitions later can be tricky, so if you can, starting with 100 GB might save you some headaches.
Should I avoid dual booting then, or just be prepared for the GRUB setup you mentioned?