I currently have Windows 10 installed on my PC and I'm interested in dual booting Linux. My plan is to allocate 50GB from the existing 256GB SSD to install Linux while keeping my Windows setup completely untouched. I want Windows to automatically boot unless I manually select Linux during startup. Additionally, I'm looking for a Linux distribution that works right out of the box since I haven't used Linux in over seven years. Is this feasible? If so, I'd appreciate guidance on how to achieve this!
4 Answers
If you want to dual boot, here's a straightforward approach:
1. Use a live USB with a Linux distro to shrink your Windows partition (I'd recommend freeing up about 60-70 GB).
2. Create an ext4 partition in the available space.
3. Install Linux on that partition and ensure the installer puts GRUB on the same disk as Windows.
4. Once Linux is installed, try using grub-customizer to customize your boot options.
Keep in mind that changing your partition size does modify your current setup, so what's your backup strategy? As for distributions that work seamlessly, Linux Mint is often recommended for new users—though your experience may depend on your specific hardware. Another option that works great is Trisquel, but it might be less forgiving on some systems.
Check out the Arch Wiki for dual boot tips! First, disable hibernation by running `powercfg /H off` in PowerShell as admin. For a smoother experience, configure Windows to use UTC with a registry edit. After setting that up, you can adjust the bootloader (GRUB) to have Windows boot by default, so you'll only have to select Linux when you want to use it.
If you want to avoid any potential conflicts between Windows and Linux, you might want to consider getting a second SSD. Windows updates can sometimes mess with Linux’s bootloader, which could lead to boot issues. Having separate drives can really simplify things.
For ease of use, consider trying Zorin Lite, Zorin Core, or Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition. They’re all beginner-friendly. You can test them out using live USB mode to see which one suits your hardware and preferences best!