How To Dual Boot Windows 10 And Linux

Running Windows 10 and Linux on the same figurer is easier than ever. Hither'south how to do it.

A figurer that boots both Windows 10 and Linux can easily exist the best of both worlds. Having easy access to either of the operating systems lets yous enjoy the benefits of both. Yous can hone your Linux skills and savour the costless software only available for Linux platforms. Or, you tin can switch back to Windows 10 to use apps similar Photoshop, AutoCAD or Microsoft Office. The dazzler of dual booting is that it lets each operating system take full advantage of the hardware resource of your calculator. While virtual machines and the Windows Subsystem for Linux can give y'all a gustation of the Linux feel, dual booting lets you tap its full potential.

The skilful news is that Windows x and Linux alive in harmony meliorate than e'er these days. Dual booting Windows ten and Linux used to exist a precarious process that could wreck your Windows installation, your Linux installation or both. While the process isn't quite a smooth as dual booting macOS and Windows with Kicking Camp, it comes close. In this article, we'll show you lot how to safely install Windows 10 and Linux on the same difficult bulldoze. Information technology doesn't thing if y'all're starting with Linux or starting with Windows—dual booting is easy to prepare either manner.

Dual Boot Linux with Windows ten – Linux Installed First

Let'due south commencement with the (slightly) harder way first; you already have a re-create Linux installed and you want to install Windows on a partition. The first step is to create the partition where Windows x will exist installed. We have covered how to create partitions in Linux, so, start by reviewing our article on how to do that.

Once you have your segmentation set upwards, yous will demand to purchase Windows 10, download the ISO file then create a bootable copy. Creating a bootable copy of Windows 10 on Linux can be done using the free Unetbootin (USB pollex drive) or Brasero software if yous are installing from a DVD.

Create Bootable Windows ten Install Media Using Unetbootin

Unetbootin can be downloaded from the Software Center in Ubuntu. In one case you take it upwards and running, launch it. Make sure yous are using a thumb drive with at to the lowest degree 8 GBs of free space.

Select the Disk Image radio box, click the browse button (represented by an ellipsis …), browse to the ISO file and then click Open. Chose the medium from the Type listing box—in this case, your USB drive. Click on the drive list box so select your USB thumb drive.

Note: If you lot are not offered the option to select your thumb bulldoze, you need to format it using the FAT32 file system. Open up the file director, correct-click the thumb bulldoze then click Format.

Click OK, so expect while the bootable copy is created.

When complete, click Exit.

Create Bootable Windows x Install Media Using Brasero

If yous already made a bootable USB with Unetbootin, you can skip this role. If you are still using an old school organisation with a DVD bulldoze, you tin can apply the Brasero DVD Called-for software, which you tin download from the Software Center also. Delight continue in heed, Windows ten ISO files are getting larger beyond the standard iv.7 GB DVDs. Then, in some cases, information technology's best you use viii.5 GB dual-layer DVDs if supported by your bulldoze. If you can't, then information technology'southward best you utilise a USB thumb drive.

In Brasero, click Burn Image.

Select your disc image, make sure a bare DVD disc is inserted so click Burn.

Afterwards preparing your install media, insert it or connect information technology. Reboot your reckoner, then configure your BIOS to boot from the drive. Windows ten will boot into setup as it commonly does. Later on you arrive at the setup screen, click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

Make sure you select the right partition; don't wipe out your Linux installation. Click Next and then expect while Windows 10 Setup copies files to the bulldoze. Your computer will be rebooted several times.

When setup is complete, follow the instructions to complete the out of box experience.

Later on that'due south complete, you lot might discover the obvious—there is no way to boot into Linux anymore. Here is how y'all fix that. Download a free utility called EasyBCD from Neosmart Technologies. Go along to install EasyBCD then launch information technology. Select the Linux/BSD tab. Click in the type list box, select Ubuntu; enter the proper name of the Linux distribution, cull automatically locate and load so click Add Entry. Reboot your computer.

You will now see a boot entry for Linux on the Windows graphical boot director.

Dual Boot Linux with Windows 10 – Windows Installed First

For many users, Windows 10 installed commencement will be the likely configuration. In fact, this is the platonic way to dual kick Windows and Linux. Again, I will be using the Ubuntu Linux distribution. Yous can download the Ubuntu Linux ISO image from Canonical's web folio and so create a bootable copy using Unetbootin for Windows or burn to a bare DVD using disc prototype in Windows x.

After creating your install media, configure your BIOS to boot from information technology. Ubuntu's installation sorcerer intelligently detects existing Windows installations. Information technology volition enquire yous if y'all would similar to install Ubuntu aslope Windows.

At the Ubuntu install screen, click Install Ubuntu.

Choose whether you want to download and install updates and third-party drivers and codecs then click Continue.

Select the option Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10 then click Continue.

Ubuntu's installer volition set a default resource allotment of space for the installation. If you accept enough space, you can resize the sectionalization past placing your mouse between the divider and then elevate information technology left or right to make adjustments. Once you are satisfied with the allocated amount for your Ubuntu installation, click Install Now.

Click Keep to confirm changes.

Click Continue once more.

Enter your time zone then click Continue.

Select your keyboard layout, click Continue.

Create your user account by providing your full name, computer proper noun, login name, and password. Choose whether you want to log in automatically or be prompted for a password. You tin can too encrypt your home folder for extra security. Click Continue.

Wait while Ubuntu copies files.

When complete, click Restart At present.

Ubuntu volition add a kicking entry for Windows 10 to the GRUB boot manager, which you tin select using the up or down arrow then hitting Enter.

That'due south it, Windows 10 and Ubuntu is now prepare up on your computer.

Let united states know what you recall. If y'all have done this before, share some of your tips with us. By the way, what'south your favorite distro?