Dual Boot Ubuntu and Windows: What I Did

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

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

Download the latest Ubuntu ISO from the official Ubuntu website.
Download and install Rufus or balenaEtcher to create a bootable USB.
Insert a USB drive (at least 8GB) into your computer.
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

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

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive

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

Step 4: Try or Install Ubuntu

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

Step 5: Select Keyboard Layout

Choose your preferred keyboard layout and language.
Click Continue.

Step 6: Connect to Wi-Fi (Optional)

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

Step 7: Choose Installation Type

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

Step 8: Choose Installation Method

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

Step 9: Create Partitions for Ubuntu

Ubuntu requires three main partitions:

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