The key to installing a dual system is to correctly partition and set up boot. Prepare Linux to install USB disk and back up data; use the Windows disk management tool to compress the volume to make room for Linux; select coexist with Windows or manually partition during installation, mount point/at least 20GB and boot to the hard disk correctly; after restarting, select the system through the GRUB menu, if there is any problem, you can use the repair tool to adjust it.

Installing a dual system is actually not that difficult, the key is not to make mistakes in partitioning and booting. If you are already using Windows and want to try Linux but don't want to give up the original system, then this article will help you.

Get ready for installation media and backup data

Before you start, make sure you have a Linux installation USB drive (such as common distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora), which can be made with Rufus or Ventoy.
More importantly, back up important data first . Many people think that there will be no problem with the partition, but once the operation error or the power is unexpectedly outage, the files in Windows may be gone. Especially if the laptop battery is not reliable, it is recommended to plug in the power supply to operate.

Allocate space to Linux (don't make a mistake)

The disk management tool that comes with Windows is enough. Open "This computer", right-click and select "Manage", and then enter "Disk Management". Find a partition with enough space (such as D disk or E disk), right-click to compress the volume, and free up dozens of GB for Linux. Remember: don't format the original partition , just make a vacant piece of land.

A common misunderstanding is to create a new partition directly, but it is not necessary. The Linux installer automatically identifies unallocated space and lets you install the system there. You just need to make sure the space you freed is "unallocated".

Pay attention to startup mode and boot settings when installing Linux

After plugging in the USB flash drive and restart, enter the BIOS settings to boot from the USB flash drive (usually F2, F12, or Del keys). After entering the Linux installation interface, select "Coexist with Windows" or manually partition.

If you choose manual partitioning, remember:

• Mounting point / at least 20GB
• The swap partition can be set to about twice the memory size (but now many distributions use swapfile)
• Install the boot program on the hard drive instead of the USB drive

This step is easy to make mistakes, especially when using multiple hard drives. If the boot is installed incorrectly, the startup may directly enter Windows and the Linux boot item cannot be seen.

Don’t panic when you start the computer, GRUB can usually be done

After the installation is completed, it will enter the GRUB menu under normal circumstances, allowing you to choose whether to enter Windows or Linux. Don't be nervous when you see this menu for the first time, just select the up and down buttons.

Occasionally, you can try directly into Windows.

• Repair GRUB with Linux system (many online tutorials)
• Or run the command prompt as an administrator in Windows and enter bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi

Of course, you can also use the grub-customizer tool to adjust the menu order and default startup items later.

Basically that's it. As long as the partition is correct and the boot is fine, the dual system is very stable. Many people are afraid of trouble because they don’t understand the process at the beginning. In fact, they are not complicated but are easy to ignore details.

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