Installing Linux alongside Windows

By Tom Nonmacher

The world of computing is vast, and there is an array of operating systems to choose from, tailored to different needs and preferences. Some users prefer the user-friendly interface of Windows, while others value the open-source flexibility of Linux. However, have you ever considered you might not need to choose between the two? Yes, it's possible to have both systems running on your computer. This blog will guide you on how to install Linux alongside Windows.

Before we begin, it's essential to understand a concept known as "dual booting". Dual booting involves installing two operating systems on one computer and choosing which one to run when the computer boots up. This is what we will be doing with Linux and Windows. The first step is to create space for Linux on your hard drive.

To create space for Linux, you will need to shrink the Windows volume from your hard drive. This is done via the Disk Management tool on Windows. You can access this by right-clicking on the Windows start button and selecting 'Disk Management'. Right-click on the main volume, typically labelled as "C:", and select 'Shrink Volume'. This will create an unallocated space on your hard drive, which will be used for Linux.

After creating the space, the next step is to install Linux. There are several distributions of Linux, but for this guide, we will use Ubuntu, one of the most popular choices. You will need to download the ISO file for Ubuntu from the official website and create a bootable USB stick. This can be done using software such as Rufus or Universal USB Installer.

With your bootable Ubuntu USB stick, restart your computer and enter the BIOS (this is usually done by pressing a specific key such as F2, F10, or Del shortly after powering on your computer, but it can vary depending on your computer's manufacturer). In the BIOS, change the boot order to start from the USB stick, save and exit. This will boot your computer from the USB, and you will see the Ubuntu installation screen.

During the Ubuntu installation process, you will be asked where to install the operating system. Choose 'Something else' and select the unallocated space you created earlier for Linux. You can then create a root partition and a swap partition within this space. After completing the installation process, you will be able to choose which operating system to boot when you start your computer. Congratulations, you now have a dual boot system with Linux and Windows!

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