I'm looking to set up a dual boot system with Windows 11 installed on my 1TB SSD, and I want to add Linux on a separate 2TB SSD that hasn't been formatted yet. I've seen a bunch of different tutorials with various methods, and I'm confused about the safest way to go about it. Can anyone provide a clear step-by-step guide or tips?
4 Answers
In your Linux installer, make sure to select the correct disk for the installation. I'd recommend going with a simpler distro like CachyOS if you're new to Linux; it's very user-friendly! Just follow the prompts and you should be good to go!
Honestly, the easiest way is to install Windows first on one drive and then boot your Linux installer. You’ll see both drives listed, and you just select the empty one for Linux. This way, each OS will have its own bootloader, allowing you to boot each independently if something goes wrong with one.
For the absolute safest approach, consider disconnecting the Windows drive during the Linux installation. This way, you won't risk overwriting anything by accident. After you install Linux, you can reconnect your Windows drive and manage your boot options from BIOS. It's a fool-proof method.
I totally understand the logic, but I really don’t want to disconnect anything. I’d have to remove my GPU and some fans, which sounds complicated!
Just a heads up, be careful during the installation process to select the right drive. It's pretty straightforward, but if you're not paying attention, it’s easy to make a mistake!
Is that really all? I've read some tutorials where they manually set up partitions. Should I be doing that to avoid messing up my Windows install?