Dual Booting Ubuntu with Windows

For official reference, see: Ubuntu Community Help: Dual Boot

1. Prerequisites

A computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
A bootable Ubuntu USB installer (provided by FOSSCell).
At least 30 GB of free disk space.
Internet connection (optional, for updates).
Backup of all important files.

2. Prepare Windows

Before installing Ubuntu, perform the following steps from within Windows.

2.1 Disable Fast Startup and Hibernation

Open *Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do*.
Click *Change settings that are currently unavailable*.
Uncheck **Turn on fast startup (recommended)**.

2.2 Free Up Space for Ubuntu

Press **Windows + X → Disk Management**.
Right-click on the main Windows partition (usually C:) and select *Shrink Volume*.
Shrink the partition by at least **30 GB** (recommended: 50 GB or more).
Leave the newly freed space as **Unallocated** (do not create or format a partition).

2.3 Optional: Suspend BitLocker or Encryption

If your system uses BitLocker, suspend or disable it temporarily to prevent boot conflicts.

3. Boot from the Ubuntu USB

Insert the Ubuntu USB stick.
Restart the computer.
Open the Boot Menu by pressing the appropriate key during startup:

 * Dell: F12
 * HP: Esc or F9
 * Lenovo: F12 or Novo Button
 * ASUS: F8 or Esc
 * Acer: F12

Select your USB drive from the list.
In the Ubuntu startup menu, choose **Try or Install Ubuntu**.

Make sure you boot the USB in the same mode (UEFI or Legacy/BIOS) as your existing Windows installation.

4. Install Ubuntu

Start the installer by clicking *Install Ubuntu* on the desktop.
Choose your preferred language, keyboard layout, and network.
When asked about installation type:

 * Select **Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager** (recommended).
 * If this option is unavailable, select **Something else** and manually choose the unallocated space.

Adjust the partition slider to allocate space for Ubuntu.
Proceed with timezone and user setup.
Review the installation summary carefully and click *Install Now*.
Once installation is complete, remove the USB when prompted and restart the computer.

5. Boot Options

After installation, the system should display the **GRUB bootloader** on startup.

From GRUB, you can choose:

**Ubuntu** – to start your new Linux system.
**Windows Boot Manager** – to boot into Windows.

Popular Linux Distributions

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the most beginner-friendly Linux. It looks modern, works on almost all laptops, and is easy to install. It gets updates every few years and has long-term support (LTS).

- Good for:** Students, general users, and first-time Linux users.

Debian

Debian is the parent of Ubuntu. It is very stable and trusted, but not as beginner-focused. Best for those who like learning how Linux works deeply.

- Good for:** Advanced learners and servers.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu but looks more like Windows. It’s simple, smooth, and works well on old laptops too.

- Good for:** New users switching from Windows.

Arch Linux

Arch is for users who want to build their system from scratch. It doesn’t come ready-made — you install everything yourself.

- Good for:** Power users who love customization.

Fedora

Fedora is made by Red Hat. It always includes the newest Linux features and software.

- Good for:** Developers and tech enthusiasts.