I created a partition for Linux through Windows' Disk Management and installed CachyOS there without issues. It even set up its own bootloader, `rEFInd`, which made switching between operating systems easy. However, after my laptop crashed during a system update, I decided to install Arch instead.
When I boot into Arch and check my partitions using `fdisk -l`, I see my partition setup, including a 128GB partition for Linux. I attempted to manage partitions with `fdisk /dev/nvme0n1p5`, but it seems like I'm trying to partition an already existing partition, which isn't allowed.
The challenge I'm facing is setting up a dual-boot configuration with Windows and Linux. I want to know why I'm having trouble now compared to when I installed CachyOS, and if I need to change anything about the bootloaders for my Arch installation.
4 Answers
Remember, you can’t directly partition within a partition. If you’re looking to install Arch properly while dual-booting, it’s best to set your EFI correctly from the start. Make sure to follow installation guidelines closely to avoid this mess next time!
It sounds like you're trying to partition a partition, which isn’t going to work. Instead, you should be managing the entire drive. Run `fdisk /dev/nvme0n1` to correctly divide your drive among partitions. Also, switching to `gdisk` could help.
By the way, `rEFInd` is probably still active because it’s installed on your EFI partition (`/dev/nvme0n1p1`), which is separate from the Linux partitions. Don't worry, it's not broken yet!
You might want to set up a bootloader for Arch afterward if you plan to go back and forth. But, for now, focus on getting your Arch install and partitioning sorted!
Just a quick tip: When dual-booting, make sure you mount your EFI partition as `/boot/efi` during the Arch install and *don’t* format it; keep its contents intact. Then mount your 128GB partition as `/` and proceed from there. That should help!
Just FYI, it seems like your drive isn't entirely corrupted. If you face another power issue during updates, you can use a recovery USB to chroot into your system. Then clear the pacman lock and re-download any needed packages without losing your setup. A little advice: always back up regularly!
Got it, that makes total sense now! So, to clarify, CachyOS was using my EFI partition for Windows when it installed. But how might I change bootloaders now for Arch? Do I even need to worry about that?