Why I Dual-Booted

I needed Windows for some things and Linux for everything else. Instead of picking one, I installed Ubuntu alongside Windows on the same machine. This is the process I followed.

Steps to Dual Boot Ubuntu with Windows

Step 1: Prepare a Bootable USB Drive

  1. Download the latest Ubuntu ISO from the official Ubuntu website.
  2. Download and install Rufus or balenaEtcher to create a bootable USB.
  3. Insert a USB drive (at least 8GB) into your computer.
  4. Open Rufus or balenaEtcher:
    • Select the Ubuntu ISO file.
    • Choose the USB drive.
    • Click “Start” to create the bootable drive.

Step 2: Configure BIOS/UEFI Settings

  1. Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing a specific key (usually F2, F12, Del, or Esc) during startup.
  2. Look for Boot Order/Boot Priority and set the USB drive as the first boot device.
  3. Disable Secure Boot (if enabled) under the Security tab.
  4. Enable UEFI mode (recommended) instead of Legacy mode.
  5. Save changes and exit BIOS.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive

  1. Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer.
  2. Restart the system and press the Boot Menu key (F12, F9, Esc, or as per your motherboard).
  3. Select the bootable USB drive from the list.
  4. Press Enter to boot into Ubuntu Live.

Step 4: Try or Install Ubuntu

  1. Once the Ubuntu installer loads, you will see two options:
    • Try Ubuntu – Runs Ubuntu without installing it.
    • Install Ubuntu – Proceeds with the installation.
  2. Click on Install Ubuntu to continue.

Step 5: Select Keyboard Layout

  1. Choose your preferred keyboard layout and language.
  2. Click Continue.

Step 6: Connect to Wi-Fi (Optional)

  1. Select your Wi-Fi network.
  2. Enter the password and click Continue.

Step 7: Choose Installation Type

  1. Select Normal Installation (recommended).
  2. Check the box Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware, Flash, MP3, and other media.
  3. Click Continue.

Step 8: Choose Installation Method

  1. Select Something else (for manual partitioning).
  2. Click Continue.

Step 9: Create Partitions for Ubuntu

Ubuntu requires three main partitions:

  1. Boot Loader Partition

    • Select Free Space and click Add.
    • Assign 512MB to 1GB for the boot partition.
    • Choose Ext4 as the filesystem type.
    • Set Mount Point as /boot.
    • Click OK.

  2. Swap Partition

    • Select Free Space and click Add.
    • Allocate swap size (equal to or twice your RAM size).
    • Choose Use as → Swap Area.
    • Click OK.

  3. Root Partition

    • Select Free Space and click Add.
    • Allocate remaining space for root (/).
    • Choose Ext4 as the filesystem type.
    • Set Mount Point as /.
    • Click OK.

Step 10: Begin Installation

  1. Verify all partitions.
  2. Click Install Now.
  3. A confirmation dialog will appear; click Continue.

Step 11: Select Timezone

  1. Choose your region/time zone.
  2. Click Continue.

Step 12: Create User Account

  1. Enter your name, username, and password.
  2. Click Continue.

Step 13: Installation Process

  1. The installation will begin.
  2. Wait for the process to complete (it may take 10-30 minutes).

Step 14: Restart the System

  1. Once the installation is completed, click Restart Now.
  2. Remove the bootable USB when prompted.
  3. Press Enter.

Step 15: Choose Ubuntu at Boot

  1. When your system reboots, you will see a GRUB menu.
  2. Select Ubuntu to boot into Ubuntu.
  3. If you want to boot into Windows, choose Windows Boot Manager.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully dual-booted Ubuntu alongside Windows. You can switch between Windows and Ubuntu anytime by selecting the option in the boot menu.