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Best Partitioning Strategy for Dual Booting Windows and Linux

December 10, 2025 4 answers
Asked by TechWhizKid94
Hey everyone! I've been growing increasingly frustrated with the direction Windows has taken, especially regarding privacy and telemetry, ever since I switched from Windows 7. I ran Ubuntu about 15 years ago, but back then, it wasn't super compatible with all my needs. Now, I'm looking to primarily use Linux but still need Windows for a handful of software. I've got two 4TB NVMe drives in my system. Ideally, I want to avoid putting an OS on one of the drives unless absolutely necessary, as I like to keep it for files. What would be the best partition sizes for dual booting? Also, is it wise to run Windows from an external drive? I have an NVMe enclosure, but I've heard that can be tricky. I'm also considering using virtual machines, but I don't have much experience with them and I'm curious about the performance impacts. Finally, I want to play some games on the Windows side; how do kernel anti-cheat measures affect dual booting?
Bootloaders dual boot Linux NVMe partitioning System Operations Windows

Answers

GamerGuru202
Installing Windows on an external drive can be problematic since the installer typically doesn't allow it. You might find some workarounds, but they come with challenges. Personally, I'd suggest keeping one NVMe drive for Linux and the other for Windows. This way, you avoid mixing up the bootloaders, and it simplifies things a lot! Good luck with your setup!
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NerdyTechie
The best practice is to install Linux on its dedicated SSD. Just set the boot order in BIOS to prioritize the Linux SSD. It won't mess with the Windows boot manager, and during the Linux installation, GRUB will recognize the Windows SSD automatically. I'd recommend allocating about 500GB to 1TB for Linux, and for any leftover space, you can just use NTFS for files.
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SystemSage
While people often dual boot on different drives for better stability, it's totally feasible to install Linux alongside Windows on the same drive. Given that you have 4TB, there should be plenty of room! Just make sure to manage your partitions properly.
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FileFanatic99
I'd say it often works best to install Linux and Windows on separate drives. I’ve had a smooth experience this way. Just make sure your systems are booting separately; it minimizes the chances of boot issues. How many files are you planning to store? I found that switching between OSs is hassle-free with this method.
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