Interested In Linux, But Not Ready To Abandon Windows? Try Dual-booting - Here's How

ZDNET

With Windows 10 support owed to extremity soon, galore users are looking for an replacement OS, truthful they don't person to acquisition yet different computer. One of nan champion options for astir group is Linux. Modern Linux distributions are user-friendly, rock-solid, and free.

If you person zero acquisition pinch Linux, you mightiness deliberation it's supra your skills, truthful you person yet to find nan courageousness to usage it. Back successful 1997, erstwhile I discovered Linux, I was clueless astir really it worked. When I yet installed nan open-source OS, I didn't cognize that it overwrote Windows, which meant I had nary prime but to study Linux.

Also: Thinking astir switching to Linux? 10 things you request to know

However, location was different option: dual-booting. 

What is dual-booting?

Essentially, dual-booting intends you'll person entree to 2 (or more, if necessary) operating systems. 

For example, let's opportunity your machine is moving Windows 10 and you want to instal Linux alongside it. You would instal Linux, making judge to group it up decently during nan installation (more connected that successful a bit), specified that you would person entree to some operating systems (although not simultaneously).

Also: 5 ways to prevention your Windows 10 PC successful 2025 - and astir are free

Once you've group up dual-booting, erstwhile you commencement (or restart) your computer, you get to prime which operating strategy you want to use. If you person some Linux and Windows installed, you'll beryllium presented pinch those 2 options. Even better, erstwhile utilizing Linux, you tin besides equine nan Windows partitions and entree nan files housed wrong that OS.

So, why would you want this option? It's a awesome measurement to trial Linux while still having Windows disposable to you. Another awesome logic to return this attack is that you tin usage Linux while still having entree to nan Windows apps you dangle on. You could footwear into Linux, usage it for immoderate you need, and past reboot nan computer, prime Windows, and usage immoderate apps you request (if nan devices aren't disposable for Linux). Dual-booting is simply a measurement to get nan champion of some worlds.

I will adhd that, from my perspective, nan champion action for testing Linux, while retaining Windows, is to usage a virtual instrumentality head (such arsenic VirtualBox). However, not everyone is comfortable utilizing virtual machines (they tin beryllium a spot intimidating). If dealing pinch virtual machines sounds excessively analyzable for you, past dual-booting mightiness beryllium nan champion option.

How do you group up dual-booting?

A connection of warning: I would highly urge you trial this attack connected a spare machine, successful lawsuit thing goes sideways. You wouldn't want to swipe your Windows partition and extremity up only having Linux astatine your disposal.

Another connection of warning: earlier you moreover deliberation astir taking this approach, make judge you backmost up each of your important files to an outer drive. You wouldn't want to upwind up losing each your data.

How you group up dual-booting will dangle connected a mates of things: your hardware (you request to person capable disposable difficult thrust abstraction for a 2nd operating system) and nan OSes you person chosen. 

Also: Sparky Linux is simply a blazing-fast distro that tin support your older machines moving for years 

Some Linux distributions (such arsenic Ubuntu) do a amended occupation of handling dual-booting. Even so, nan process is typically nan same. Here's really it works:

1. Create a bootable ISO for nan Linux distribution you've chosen.
2. Insert nan USB thrust that contains nan recently burned Linux distribution.
3. When prompted, prime either nan Try aliases Install option.
4. Click nan installer icon recovered connected nan Linux desktop.
5. Walk done nan first steps of nan installer until you get to nan Installation Type (which whitethorn beryllium branded arsenic thing different, depending connected nan Linux distribution you're installing. For example, immoderate distributions will telephone this "Disk setup", and ZorinOS labels it "Something else".)
6. When prompted, you'll want to prime nan action for installing nan caller OS alongside nan existent OS. Again, this measurement will dangle connected nan Linux distribution you're installing. For instance, pinch Ubuntu, you'll spot an action for Install Ubuntu Alongside Windows Boot Manager.
7. Install Linux.

Setting up dual-booting pinch Ubuntu is astir apt nan easiest of each Linux distributions.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Once Linux is installed, reboot and take either Linux aliases Windows from nan footwear manager.

Dual-booting isn't for everyone, but if you request to usage some Linux and Windows (especially for transitioning distant from Windows 10), this attack is an option. Again, I would urge utilizing a instrumentality for illustration VirtualBox, but not everyone is comfortable utilizing virtual machines because they tin beryllium complicated. If that sounds for illustration you, springiness dual-booting a effort and spot what you think.

Also: Why I usage nan Linux character bid regular - and what it tin do for you

Just usage a modicum of be aware erstwhile taking this approach, arsenic you wouldn't want to find yourself without your Windows partition, which would mean each of your information is lost.