I'm looking to primarily use Linux on my new laptop, but I want to keep Windows as a backup through a dual-boot setup. I've already done a fresh installation of Windows and have my Linux Fedora ready on a USB stick. My SSD is 256GB with over 100GB of free space, and I haven't activated Bitlocker. However, when I try to install Linux, I get a message saying "Not enough space" during the installation process, which seems to be related to an encrypted drive. Linux prompts me for a password, but since Windows was freshly installed and Bitlocker isn't active, I don't have a password to enter. I already disabled the Quick-Boot feature in Windows, but that didn't help. I'm at a loss for what to do next since this is my first time using Linux.
2 Answers
You should try shrinking your Windows partition. This will create some unallocated space on your SSD where you can install Linux. Just make sure to leave enough space for Windows to operate properly; you don’t want to run out of room!
Check if your Windows installation enabled Bitlocker automatically. On some systems, it does so by default. If it is, you'll need to disable Bitlocker to move forward with the Linux installation.
So Windows is just like, "This space is mine; you can’t use any of it"? Also, can I access files on both OSes if I do this, or would it be better to use an external USB for storage?