I'm currently using Windows 11, but I've been eager to switch to Linux for a long time since many of my friends have made that move. However, there are some games I really want to keep playing that aren't available on Linux. Right now, my laptop has two SSDs: one SSD (SSD1) that I want to dedicate entirely to Linux, and a second SSD (SSD2) that I want to partition. My plan is to use 200GB on SSD2 for Windows 10 (which I need for specific games) and allocate the remaining 300GB for Linux storage.
My friends have advised me that Windows 10 should be installed first and that the 200GB Windows partition should be the first one created to avoid potential issues. I'm confused about the best approach to set this up. What steps should I take to make this dual boot configuration work?
4 Answers
In your case, I'd recommend setting up Windows 10 as planned with two partitions on SSD2 and then installing Linux on SSD1. If Windows takes up the full space, just shrink that partition first in Windows' Disk Management before you jump to Linux. After that, you can boot into Linux and create your filesystem in the remaining space.
Honestly, if you're looking to run both, I'd suggest just doing Windows on SSD1 and Linux on SSD2 as planned. You can keep your game files on the Windows SSD and share other data on the second SSD. BIOS can help you switch between the OSs easily.
You're on the right track! It's generally easier to install Linux alongside an existing Windows installation than the other way around. If Windows is already on SSD1, I'd suggest installing Linux on SSD1 too and letting the installer handle the partitioning for dual-booting. Just keep backups! After using it for a bit, you can always revisit the partitioning if you want a custom setup later.
Your friends are correct; when you're setting up dual boot, it's usually best to install Windows first. If you're already set up differently, you might need to adjust things. If both OSs are on separate SSDs, you can have them both without any issues regarding EFI partitions. Just remember that if you get into partitioning, it can get messy quickly.
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