I'm pretty new to Linux, but since getting my Steam Deck two years ago, I've been keen to give it a shot! I've tried a live .iso of Bazzite on my desktop, and I'm curious about dual booting. Are there any real downsides? I'm worried about the risk of messing up my Windows 11 installation. Also, I have a 1TB NVME drive that's currently unused; I plan to use that for the Linux installation. Any advice?
4 Answers
There's a slight chance something could go wrong. Windows tends to mess with GRUB during updates, but Linux won't harm your Windows installation. Personally, I've been dual booting for years and haven't had major issues so far. I’d just recommend sticking to UEFI; it minimizes problems.
Dual booting with different drives is actually a smart move! It’s recommended to disconnect the Windows drive during installation to prevent any mishaps. After installing Linux on the correct drive, you can plug your Windows drive back in. While dual booting on the same drive works too, it’s a bit tricky to manage long-term if you want to make changes. Just be aware that splitting space between the two operating systems can sometimes be a hassle, especially if not managed well.
From my experience, it's better to keep Windows on your internal hard drive and install your Linux OS on an external hard drive. That way, you just boot from whichever one you want to use, making the process smoother.
If you create a manual partition for an EFI boot on the NVME drive, you're generally in a good place. The dual boot option in installers often uses the EFI partition on your main drive, which can lead to complications. It’s simpler and safer to keep separate drives for Windows and Linux.
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