I'm considering installing Linux alongside Windows as my main operating system. I tried creating a second partition on my main drive for the Linux installation, but it didn't go smoothly. Do I really need a dedicated hard drive for this installation, or can it work on just a partition? If a separate drive is needed, how much storage would you recommend? I'm looking into Fedora 42 specifically, as I've already used it on my laptop and my friends' PCs. Thanks!
5 Answers
Honestly, just get your own drive for Linux. It avoids potential issues if you don’t want to deal with dual-boot headaches or system clashes.
I'd recommend getting an extra hard drive if you can. It reduces the risk of messing up your current setup, and if something goes wrong, you won't need to reinstall Windows. If a new drive isn't in the budget, a USB stick can work for Linux as well. It runs pretty okay from there!
Sometimes you just can't fit another drive in a laptop, but dual booting on the same disk is okay if you’re careful. Just be cautious with shrinking NTFS partitions; it can get tricky!
It's often best to resize your Windows partition using Windows itself before installing your Linux distro. Check out some guides online on dual booting with your specific Linux version. Just be careful when adjusting partitions! Good luck!
Going for a second M.2 drive sounds like a solid plan! Just so you know, if you have NTFS files from Windows on another drive, you can usually access them in Linux, but be aware that NTFS can sometimes be a bit finicky to work with.
Good to know! I want to keep Windows for some older programs and the occasional game.
You can dual boot on the same partition, but make sure you have enough space, and that your EFI partition is big enough. Many folks go the two-disk route to avoid complications, especially since Windows updates can occasionally mess with the Linux bootloader if they're sharing an EFI space.
Yeah, I was thinking of getting a 1TB M.2 drive since my motherboard has a free slot. It’ll be easier to swap out if there are issues!