I'm considering switching from Windows to Ubuntu on my laptop. I'm new to desktop Linux, although I've used it on a home server and enjoyed it. My main concern is university exams: they use ProctorU, which requires Chrome and extensions and does not support Linux. Virtual machines are explicitly prohibited, and I don't have another laptop or want to buy one for a single exam each year. The university has not been helpful.
Would dual-booting Linux and Windows be a sensible option if I only need Windows for one exam annually? Is dual-booting genuinely risky, or are there other practical solutions I should consider?
4 Answers
For an exam that affects your academic progress, use the officially supported setup rather than trying to disguise Linux or bypass the requirements. A virtual machine, compatibility layer, or user-agent change could be detected by the proctoring software and leave you unable to start the exam. Dual-booting lets you use Windows normally while keeping Linux as your everyday system.
Dual-booting is probably the most practical choice here. Install Windows and Linux on separate partitions or, even better, separate drives, then select Windows from the boot menu when you need to take the exam. It’s not inherently dangerous, but back up your files first and make sure Windows fast startup and hibernation are disabled. Windows updates can occasionally interfere with Linux’s bootloader, though that is usually recoverable with a live USB.
It’s also reasonable to stay with Windows until you finish university. Linux will still be available later, and avoiding an unsupported operating system during an important course may be worth more than switching immediately. Other possibilities include borrowing or renting a supported computer, or asking whether the university has an approved testing room, but I wouldn’t rely on an unofficial workaround.
Dual-boot systems can run reliably for years. Just boot into Windows periodically so it can install updates instead of waiting until exam day, and test the entire exam setup well in advance. Keep a backup of your important data and know how to select either operating system from the firmware boot menu.
If your laptop has room for a second SSD, putting Windows on its own drive makes the setup and recovery much simpler. An external SSD might also work, but Windows can be awkward to install and boot from external media.