I'm currently using a PC with Windows 10 installed and I'm looking to dual boot with Linux. My plan is to free up about 50GB from my 256GB SSD C drive and install Linux there. The key things I want are:
1. I want the Windows 10 operating system to remain untouched.
2. When starting the PC, it should boot into Windows 10 by default unless I press a specific key to select Linux manually.
3. I need both operating systems to run independently without interfering with each other.
Is this feasible? If so, could you provide some guidance on how to proceed? Also, I'm open to suggestions for a Linux distribution that works well right out of the box. I haven't used Linux in over seven years!
5 Answers
To make things easier, I recommend using a live USB with your chosen Linux distro to repartition your disk using tools like GParted. Once you have your new partition set up, install Linux there and make sure the bootloader (GRUB) is set up on the same drive. This way, you can easily switch between the two operating systems.
If you want to ensure Windows and Linux don't interfere with each other, the safest option is to get a second SSD. Windows updates have been known to disrupt Linux bootloaders, which can make booting into Linux tricky sometimes.
Yes, you can dual boot! Start by disabling hibernation on Windows using the command: `powercfg /H off`. Then, you should configure Windows to use UTC time. It's crucial to shrink your Windows partition while being careful, as you'll be altering your disk. Use a live USB to set up the partitions and ensure that you install GRUB correctly so it allows you to select your OS at boot up.
Another option is to install Linux on a separate SSD. This way, you can just swap the SSD when you want to switch operating systems. This eliminates any potential issues with bootloaders.
If you're looking for an easy Linux experience, I'd suggest starting with Linux Mint or Zorin OS. They both work pretty well out of the box and shouldn’t require much tweaking.
What's your backup plan in case something goes wrong with partitioning? Repartitioning can be risky without a backup!