Brief: This detailed article shows you how to dual boot Ubuntu with Windows 10, step-by-step, accompanied with proper screenshots. Previously I had written about dual booting Ubuntu Linux with Windows 7 and 8, but those tutorials did not cover systems that come with Windows 10 pre-installed. The latest version of the Ubuntu operating system for desktop PCs and laptops, Ubuntu 19.04 comes with nine months, until January 2020, of security and maintenance updates. Ubuntu 19.04 release notes. Recommended system requirements are the same as for Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS. Here is How to install Ubuntu from USB in Windows 10 which can work for both Windows and Linux.So without wasting time lets discuss USB boot guide for your installing Ubuntu by using Windows 10. Get access to the unrivalled power of the Ubuntu terminal, including tools such as SSH, apt and vim, directly on your Windows 10 computer. Ubuntu on Windows allows one to use Ubuntu Terminal and run Ubuntu command line utilities including bash, ssh, git, apt and many more. Note that Windows 10 S does not support running this app. Before installing Ubuntu on Windows or before the first run please open the Control Panel, visit Programs and Features' submenu Turn Windows features on. This tutorial will guide you on how you can perform the installation of Ubuntu 19.04, Ubuntu 18.10, or Ubuntu 18.04 in dual-boot with a Microsoft Operating System on machines that come pre-installed with Windows 10. This guide assumes that your machine comes pre-installed with Windows 10 OS or an.
Active6 months ago
My laptop is filled with viruses and Windows XP is just becoming impossible to work with.
I've been interested in Ubuntu for a while, so, would I be able to use something like Debian to clear my HDD and OS and then install Ubuntu and start fresh?
Download Ubuntu, create a bootable CD/DVD or a bootable USB flash drive. Boot form whichever one you create, and once you get to the installation type screen, choose replace Windows with Ubuntu.
If you're comfortable with dealing with partitions, then you can choose something else, delete any existing partitions, and then create a Ext4 partition mounted at / and a swap partition. Download 3dmark without steam.
For more information on how to install Ubuntu see Install Ubuntu
During the Ubuntu installation, you are given three options:
Install Ubuntu alongside your existing Operating System(s)
Erase disk and install Ubuntu
Something else
In your case, you could simply select option 2, above. This would be a good option if this is your first install. It will wipe Windows and delete your data.
The third option, Something else, allows you to delete existing partitions, create new partitions, and format partitions. This could be a choice for you as well, if you want a little more control over your disk.
If you're unsure about partitioning, go with option 2.
Also, be ready for a learning curve, as with any new operating system. However, you will really appreciate being able to use your computer without the viruses.
You are now in the place that I was in about a year ago! It can be a bit tough at times but stick with it - it's worth it. But start with a plan, even if it's just a simple one in your head. List what you need from your Windows disk, for example:
Your CV
All business letters/spreadsheets/databases/ebooks/manuals/downloads
All photos & music
Important emails that are not also with the email service provider
Next, decide where are you going to put them. Depending on the space required, you could use a free account with dropbox - 2+GB. Another 15GB with Google drive; 1TB (yes, that's 1000GB or 1000000MB) for your photos with flickr. If required/preferred, use an external USB drive, as they are cheap enough now. Boot from a Linux DVD and do the copying under Linux. You will be able to scan the files for viruses under Linux later. Then follow Mitch's instructions to Replace Windows.
You will experience niggles and doubts but stick with an LTS (Long Term Support) release of Ubuntu so you don't get the recently-added-but-not-thoroughly-tested enhancements and additions. Find alternative programs to allow you to what you do with Windows. There's a lot to choose from sometimes but you can ask advice on the forums like these. Good luck!
If you have the space on your hard drive, I would recommend keeping your Windows installation and creating new swap and ext4 partitions for your new Ubuntu installatio.
In other words, choose Install Ubuntu alongside Windows when asked, since you surely have some documents, music, photos &c. in your Windows install that you'd like to save. Once you have successfully installed Ubuntu, you can copy over anything you want to save from your Windows partition into your ext4 partition. (Ext4 is the filesystem used by Ubuntu; Windows uses NTFS, a proprietary Microsoft filesystem.)
After you've finished moving the files you want to save, you can remove your Windows partition and enlarge the ext4 space by booting from a live USB or DVD and using the gParted tool, which comes with the Ubuntu live system by default.
You may need to update your GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) after resizing your ext4 partition. I've used instructions for doing so from this post on Ubuntu forums with unqualified success. I also migrated to Ubuntu 12.04 after having used Windows exclusively my entire life, and I cannot express how much more satisfied I am with Ubuntu's performance.
Thank you for your interest in this question. Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count). Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged system-installation or ask your own question.
Brief: This detailed article shows you how to dual boot Ubuntu with Windows 10, step-by-step, accompanied with proper screenshots.
Previously I had written about dual booting Ubuntu Linux with Windows 7 and 8, but those tutorials did not cover systems that come with Windows 10 pre-installed. The newer systems that come with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, have UEFI instead of BIOS. This makes thing a little different from the conventional way of dual booting.
In this tutorial, we shall see how to install Ubuntu with Windows 10 already installed.
This tutorial is performed on a newly bought Dell Inspiron 7437 that has Core i7 fourth generation processor, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM and built in 1 GB Intel graphics. I’ll cover all the steps you need to do in order to successfully dual boot Linux with Windows 10 UEFI. If you have already done some of these steps, just skip to the next one. If you have a fresh system, even better.
The steps mentioned here are applicable to other Ubuntu based Linux distributions such as Linux Mint, Elementary OS etc. Cutting the chit-chat, let’s see how to dual boot Linux on a UEFI secure boot enabled Windows 10 system.
Dual boot Ubuntu with Windows 10 and Windows 8.1:
Though I have used Ubuntu 14.04 here, it is applicable to all versions of Ubuntu, be it Ubuntu 15.10 or Ubuntu 16.04. There are various prerequisites to install Ubuntu on a UEFI system. I’ll list them for easier read here:
Ubuntu ISO burned to a USB or DVD (we’ll see it)
Windows backup (optional)
Windows 10 bootable USB (optional yet recommended as it will save your day if anything goes wrong)
Let’s see the steps of installing Ubuntu along side Windows 10.
Step 1: Make a backup [optional]
It is always nice to make a back up, just in case if you mess up with the system. There are numerous articles on the web to show you how to backup your system. You can follow this tutorial here.
Step 2: Create a live USB/disk of Ubuntu
The next thing you need to do is to create a live USB or disk. I recommend Universal USB Installer to create a live USB of Linux OS in Windows.
Read this screenshot tutorial to learn how to create a live USB of Ubuntu Linux in Windows.
Step 3: Make a partition where Ubuntu will be installed
Assuming tat you have a fresh system, the first thing we need to do is to make a partition to install Linux. The 256 GB in my system was already had several partitions from manufacturer but mainly for backup and other purposes. Main partition was C drive, of around 220 GB, where Windows 8.1 was installed.
If you have just one partition like this, you need to make some free space out of it for Linux. If you have several partitions of considerable size, use any of them except C drive because it may erase the data.
To make a partition in Windows 8, go to Disk Management tool. You can find disk management tool by searching for ‘disk’ in Control Panel.
In the Disk Management tool, right click on the drive which you want to partition and select shrink volume. In my case, I shrank the C drive to make some free space:
You can leave the free space as it is. We shall use it while installing Ubuntu.
How To Install Ubuntu On Windows 7 Step By Step
Step 4: Disable fast startup in Windows [optional]
Windows 8 introduced a new feature called “fast startup” for quick boot. While it is not mandatory, it would be better to have it disabled.
Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > System Settings > Choose what the power buttons do and uncheck the Turn on fast startup box.
If you need more hints, follow this screenshot tutorial to disable fast startup in Windows.
Step 5: Disable secureboot in Windows 10 and 8.1
This is the most important step. The new secure boot feature of Windows 8, originally intended for security feature for rootkit viruses, prevents dual booting of Windows with Linux. To dual boot Windows 8 with Linux, we must disable secure boot in UEFI.
It is better that you follow this screenshot guide to disable secure boot in Windows 10 Windows 8.1.
Step 6: Installing Ubuntu along with Windows 10, 8.1
Once you have disabled secure boot, it’s time to install Ubuntu. I hope you already created the live USB as mentioned in step 2. Plug in the USB and boot the system from it.
To boot from USB, will have to choose boot from USB option from within Windows itself. Either with PC Setting (like for UEFI) or pressing shift key while clicking on Restart.
Once you have booted in the live USB, you will be presented with option to try or install Ubuntu. Click on install. You will be presented with few screen options to choose the language. It will then do some checks on available space, power and internet connection etc. Just click on Continue.
The main screen which you should pay attention to is Installation Type. Choose Something else here:
Remember we had created some free space beforehand? We shall use the free space to create Root, Swap and Home. Select the free space and click on the + sign.
How To Replace Windows With Linux
It will provide you with option to create Linux partition. We are creating the Root partition. Any thing above 20 GB is more than sufficient for it. Choose the size, select Ext 4 as file type and / (means root) as the mount point.
Clicking on OK in previous step will bring you to the partition screen. Next we will create swap. Like previously, click on the + sign again. This time use the file type as Swap area. Suggestible swap size is double of RAM.
In similar fashion, create a Home partition. Allocate it maximum space (in fact allocate it rest of the free space) because this is where you’ll save music, pictures and downloaded files.
Once you are ready with Root, Swap and Home, click on Install Now:
Well, you have almost won the battle. You can smell victory now. Next you will be asked to set username password etc. Basically, you just need to click next now.
Once the installation is completed, restart the computer, you should be welcomed by a purple grub screen. Enjoy Ubuntu along with Windows 10 in dual boot mode.
How To Run Ubuntu On Windows 10
Note: If after installing Ubuntu, you boot directly in Windows, check in UEFI settings for changing the boot order. If you see no option to set the boot to Ubuntu, you need to fix it from within Windows. When you are in Windows desktop, hover the mouse in left corner, right click and select administrator’s command prompt. Then run the following command:
This should make the Grub default and hence you can access both Ubuntu and Windows from it.
I hope this guide helped you to dual boot Ubuntu with Windows 10 UEFI. If you want to reverse the process, follow this guide to remove Ubuntu from dual boot with Windows. Though this article is written for Ubuntu, it should be helpful for other Linux OS as well. Any questions or suggestions are always welcomed.