Should i dual boot ubuntu

Making sure you have equivalent applications in Linux if you have switched from Windows is important. Similarly, you should ensure suitable options are available if switching the other way. Dual booting should really be for experiencingand enjoyingthe whole alternative operating system environment. Then again, you might not even need to switch.

Running Windows in a virtual machine on Linux is a great solution. Ultimately, it's important to make sure you're using the best operating system for the task at hand. Perhaps one of the biggest pitfalls of dual booting is being unable to access your data.

Most of the time, this shouldn't be a problem. If you have organized things effectively, your vital personal files will be available via whatever operating systems you're using. This is possible using cloud storage, for example, or using a HDD partition specifically for personal files. However, problems can occur. If you're using Windows and the system shuts down unexpectedly, any dedicated partition used for personal files will be locked.

This means that trying to access the drive from your Linux partition will fail. You'll see a message like this:. Fortunately, it can be fixed, but it might take a few minutes depending on how quickly your Windows installation boots. You have two options:. Linux-based operating systems are robust, they remain largely untroubled by viruses and other malware. While there are some exceptions, this is largely thanks to the relatively small userbase.

The many Linux operating systems collectively command only a fraction of the operating system market. Clearly, scammers target Windows computers because it's more efficient for them to get results. However, many websites are attacked or even taken offline due to viruses and malware, and most web servers run on Linux. If you're running a dual boot computer, therefore, the likelihood of malware affecting the Linux environment increases.

As such, it is wise to maintain an internet security suite when running Windows. Pick one at boot time via a menu. I can already run Unix programs on Windows via Cygwin. Running natively is always better. As any who plays games on Wine will tell you.

Reasons to have Linux Programming apps. Might not apply before you, but apart from Visual Studio, all the best tools are Linux first, Windows second. Virtual Desktops. You can have multiple usually 4, but you can change it screens of apps at once. It's like having 4 monitors without the expense and space problems of having 4 screens.

Most Linux programs are free. A lot of the best free server and programming software doesn't even have Windows versions. Linux itself is also free, which is an obvious plus. Reasons not to have Linux As you can see, most of the reasons people like Linux apart from being free are for advanced users, and nerds.

If you feel Windows does all you need, and you've already paid for it, and you're not interested in broadening your skills, there isn't a huge need to install Linux. Some people myself for one are good at picking up new things, and get the basics of Linux in a day or so. Others have more difficulty. Command Line. The Linux command line isn't the object of abject horror some Windows fanboys make it out to be mainly because cmd. Neither is it nessecary for day to day use.

Improve this answer. Macha Macha 5, 16 16 gold badges 57 57 silver badges 90 90 bronze badges. RE: "Not hugely. Macha: Imho, a main reason to have linux is so you have an alternative for the things Windows does terribly, mainly online security. My main reason not to have Linux?

The none too stellar support for peripherals. MiffTheFox My distro did everything by itself when i plugged in a second monitor. Virtual desktops isn't even remotely like having 4 monitors. It sure is. In my opinion VMs are the way of the future. It's amazing for trying out new distributions, building one of web servers for small projects, etc. Telemachus Telemachus 6, 1 1 gold badge 24 24 silver badges 31 31 bronze badges.

Ubuntu Linux was the worst operating system I have ever used. Linux usually provides ease of access to Windows files, but accessing the Linux file system via Windows is a bit trickier. Although installation might be fairly simple, uninstalling can create a mess.

Overall, a dual boot set up is nowhere near as challenging as many tech tasks, but it will require a dash of patience and a side of ingenuity. If you're not up to some mild troubleshooting, maybe skip the dual boot setup. As discussed earlier, a virtual machine is a great solution for running an operating system within an operating system. This method may be used to run Linux on a VM within another operating system, or vice versa.

Plus, installation and uninstallation are pretty easy as it's like removing a program and doesn't affect anything with boot loaders. Opting for the VM solution does take up more hard drive space, and resource allocation is much more than running just a Linux distro. Older hardware may not be suited to running a virtual machine, whether from lack of hard drive space or low system specs. Further, an operating system within a VM might not have full access to the host PC.

Running Ubuntu natively on my hard drive that is, installing it alleviated this issue. There's no shortage of reasons to use Linux and Windows or Mac. Dual booting vs. Plus, it's incredibly rewarding, especially for those making the foray into the Linux ecosystem. What's reassuring is that if you're not satisfied with your new Linux experience, you can safely switch back to a Windows-only setup.

It's not hard to make Windows 10 faster. Here are several methods to improve the speed and performance of Windows Moe Long is a writer and editor covering everything from tech to entertainment.

In the Disk Management tool, right-click on the drive which you want to partition and select shrink volume. 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.

The GB in my system was already had several partitions from the manufacturer but mainly for backup and other purposes. The main partition was C drive, of around GB, where Windows 10 is installed. In my case, I shrank the C drive to make some free space for Linux installation. This depends on how much total disk space you have. These days, you should have at least GB of disk.

In that case, go for GB of disk for Linux. If you have GB disk, allocate it GB or even more. If you have more disk space, allocate it even more free space, if you want. This is a common confusion for many people as they think Ubuntu can only be installed on the C driver.

You see, I had only one C drive, so I shrank it. If you have D, E or F drive, you may shrink one of those drives. You may also choose to delete the D, E or F drive.

You created a live Ubuntu USB in the step 3. Plug it in the system. Thankfully, Ubuntu and many other Linux distributions support secure boot very well these days.

Normally, you should not need to do anything about it. However, some people find it difficult. Go to the Advanced startup option and click on Restart now button. Recognize the USB disk with its name and size. Now it will power off your system and reboot into the disk you chose which should be the live USB disk. You should see a screen like this after a few seconds:. The option to install Ubuntu can be found on the desktop.

Start the installation procedure. The first few steps are simple. You choose the language and keyboard layout. On the next screen, choose Normal installation. No need to download updates or install third-party software just yet. You may do it after installation completes. Note : Some people try to download updates and install media codes while installing.

In my experience, it sometimes creates issues during installation and may also cause the installation to fail. For this reason, I advise against them. You can select this method and hit continue. The next screen will give you the option to create a partition for Ubuntu by dragging the divider. You can allocate appropriate disk space to Linux here.