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Velvet Digest

How configure dual boot Windows and Linux OS?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on June 16, 2026

Setting Up a Dual-Boot System Dual Boot Windows and Linux: Install Windows first if there's no operating system installed on your PC. Create Linux installation media, boot into the Linux installer, and select the option to install Linux alongside Windows. Read more about setting up a dual-boot Linux system.

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Beside this, should I dual boot Linux?

Thus, dual booting means more access to hardware components, and in general it's faster than utilizing a VM. Virtual machines typically are more system-intensive, so running Linux or Windows inside a VM requires pretty beefy specs for decent performance.

One may also ask, how do I enable dual boot in BIOS? Navigate to the "Boot" menu of your BIOS, using the arrow keys. Scroll to the option for "First Boot Device" by using the arrow keys. Press "Enter" to bring up a list of available options. Choose the option for your "HDD" (hard drive) and press "Enter" to confirm.

Beside this, how do I setup a dual boot system in Windows 10?

  1. Install a new hard drive, or create a new partition on the existing one using the Windows Disk Management Utility.
  2. Plug in the USB stick containing the new version of Windows, then reboot the PC.
  3. Install Windows 10, being sure to select the Custom option.

Is dual boot safe?

Once you have an effective dual boot of Windows and Linux, you will be rather pleased with yourself and you get to enjoy the benefits of both operating systems. Also, a dual boot is much faster and more efficient than a virtual machine. Enjoy a safe dual boot.

Related Question Answers

Can I have 2 hard drives with different operating systems?

Most computers ship with a single operating system, but you can have multiple operating systems installed on a single PC. Having two operating systems installed — and choosing between them at boot time — is known as “dual-booting.”

Is Linux safe for online banking?

A safe, simple way to run Linux is to put it on a CD and boot from it. Malware can't be installed and passwords can't be saved (to be stolen later). The operating system remains the same, usage after usage after usage. Also, there is no need to have a dedicated computer for either online banking or Linux.

Does dual boot slow down PC?

1 slow my computer down? No, Dual booting will not damage your windows OS or it has no impact on PC's performance. When you dual boot any OS, then they don't know about each others and they will work completely as separate OS. They don't touch other OS files or folder.

Which is better dual boot or virtual machine?

On older computers and laptops, dual booting is really your only option. When you dual boot, you can switch between operating systems and dedicate all your hardware to one at a time. The more powerful your hardware, the more viable a virtual machine becomes. In that case, a virtual machine is usually preferable.

How do I select dual boot OS?

You should try holding down the Shift key after you would hit F12, example, don't hit F12 just hold down Shift and it should bring up the grub menu. This should allow you to choose which option to boot into, if that works you should boot into Ubuntu and run the Startup Manager to change the timeout.

Which Linux OS is best?

Best Linux Distros for Beginners
  1. Ubuntu. If you've researched Linux on the internet, it's highly probable that you have come across Ubuntu.
  2. Linux Mint Cinnamon. For years, Linux Mint has been the number one Linux distribution on Distrowatch.
  3. Zorin OS.
  4. Elementary OS.
  5. Linux Mint Mate.
  6. Manjaro Linux.

Why is dual boot not recommended?

Disadvantages: Dual Boot can give hard times if grub of Linux get issues in updates or sometimes if it goes wrong then it will become unusable and will require a new install. A hard disk is divided between both the operating systems.

Is dual boot a good option?

If your system does not quite have the resources to effectively run a virtual machine (which can be very taxing), and you have a need to work between the two systems, then dual booting is probably a good option for you. “The take-away from this however, and generally good advice for most things, would be to plan ahead.

Does dual boot affect RAM?

11 Answers. Dual boot installation just places the other OS on free space on your hard disk, so it will use hard disk space (you may need/be-asked-to to create new partitions), but since in a dual boot only one OS will run at any given time, then no memory or CPU is being used by the other OS.

Is Ubuntu dual boot worth?

Otherwise Ubuntu (plus variants) also let you easily set up dual boot in their installer. If you're paranoid about Windows (or nonfree programs on Windows) tempering with your Linux system, you may want to do a full partition encryption before install. No. Dual booting isn't worth.

Can I dual boot Windows 10 and Linux?

Windows 10 isn't the only (kind of) free operating system you can install on your computer. Installing a Linux distribution alongside Windows as a “dual boot” system will give you a choice of either operating system each time you start your PC.

How do I uninstall Linux and install Windows?

To remove Linux from your computer and install Windows:
  1. Remove native, swap, and boot partitions used by Linux: Start your computer with the Linux setup floppy disk, type fdisk at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
  2. Install Windows.

Should I install Ubuntu on SSD or HDD?

Ubuntu is faster than Windows but the big difference is speed and durability. SSD has a faster read-write speed no matter the OS. It has no moving parts either so it won't have a head crash, etc. HDD is slower but it won't burn out sections over time lime an SSD can (though they are getting better about that).

How do I install operating system?

Method 2 Installing Your New Operating System
  1. Common Setup keys include F2, F10, F12, and Del/Delete.
  2. Once you are in the Setup menu, navigate to the Boot section. Set your DVD/CD drive as the first boot device.
  3. Once you've selected the correct drive, save your changes and exit Setup. Your computer will reboot.

Why do people use Linux?

Linux makes very efficient use of the system's resources. Linux runs on a range of hardware, right from supercomputers to watches. You can give new life to your old and slow Windows system by installing a lightweight Linux system, or even run a NAS or media streamer using a particular distribution of Linux.

How do I switch between Windows operating systems?

To switch between Windows 7/8/8.1 and Windows 10, just restart your computer and choose again. Go to “Change a default operating system” or “Choose other options” in order to choose which operating system you want to boot by default, and how much time will pass before the computer automatically boots the default one.

How do I choose which OS to boot?

Yes, go to Start > Control Panel > Advanced System Settings then under Startup and Recovery click Settings. At the top, under System Startup, you can change the Default Operating System on the drop-down and set it to display and change how long it displays the list of operating systems at boot up.

What does UEFI mean?

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a specification for a software program that connects a computer's firmware to its operating system (OS). UEFI is expected to eventually replace BIOS. Like BIOS, UEFI is installed at the time of manufacturing and is the first program that runs when a computer is turned on.

Can you run two versions of Windows on the same computer?

Computers normally have a single operating system installed on them, but you can dual-boot multiple operating systems. You can have two (or more) versions of Windows installed side-by-side on the same PC and choose between them at boot time. Typically, you should install the newer operating system last.