Introduction
This is the 2nd guide showing how to dual boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux.
The reason there are two guides is that the instructions differ enough between machines with a UEFI bootloader and a standard BIOS.
The reason there are two guides is that the instructions differ enough between machines with a UEFI bootloader and a standard BIOS.
Related Articles
This guide focuses on computers with a standard BIOS. If your computer has a UEFI bootloader read this guide instead.
If you were using any version of Windows up to Windows 7 before upgrading to Windows 10 then it is likely this guide is for you.
Before going on however follow these simple instructions to find out whether your computer is UEFI or BIOS based.
Before going on however follow these simple instructions to find out whether your computer is UEFI or BIOS based.
In the search box at the bottom of the screen type "System Information" and when the icon appears at the top click on it.
Steps For Dual Booting Windows 10 And Ubuntu
The steps required for dual booting Windows 10 and Ubuntu are as follows:- Backup your Windows 10 operating system (optional but highly recommended)
- Create a Ubuntu USB drive
- Enable booting from a USB drive
- Shrink the Windows 10 partition to make space for Ubuntu
- Boot into Ubuntu live environment and install Ubuntu
- Amend the boot order to make sure Ubuntu can boot
Back Up Windows 10
Before doing any major work on your system you should take a backup as it can be time consuming and expensive to fix your operating system without a decent backup.
I have written a guide (linked below) which shows you how to backup all of your partitions using a tool called Macrium Reflect. There is a free version of the tool available and the most this tutorial will cost you is time and if you don't have one an external hard drive or a spindle of blank DVDs.
Click here for my guide showing how to backup Windows 10.
Create A Ubuntu USB Drive
I prefer to use the Win32 Disk Imager tool for creating Linux USB drives as it generally provides a good success rate compared to other tools.
Click here for a guide showing how to create a Ubuntu USB drive.
The linked article shows you how to do the following things:
- How to get Win32 Disk Imager,
- How to install Win32 Disk Imager.
- How to format a USB drive.
- How to create a Ubuntu USB drive
- How to boot into a Ubuntu live environment
If you would prefer to, you can buy a USB drive with Ubuntu already installed on it.
Shrink Windows To Make Space For Ubuntu
If your computer only has one hard drive you will need to shrink your Windows 10 partition in order to make space for Ubuntu.Click here for a guide showing how to shrink your Windows 10 partition.
Boot Into Ubuntu Live Environment
Make sure that the Ubuntu USB drive is plugged into the computer.
Booting into Ubuntu on a computer with a standard BIOS is a lot simpler than UEFI based machines.
Simply reboot Windows 10 and a screen will appear with two options:
(Thanks to Alexander Marsh who added this into the comments section)
Choose the "Try Ubuntu" option.
Simply reboot Windows 10 and a screen will appear with two options:
- Try Ubuntu
- Install Ubuntu
(Thanks to Alexander Marsh who added this into the comments section)
Choose the "Try Ubuntu" option.
Install Ubuntu
The main installation of Ubuntu is the same for BIOS and UEFI based machines.
To start the installation click on the “Install Ubuntu” icon on the desktop.
To start the installation click on the “Install Ubuntu” icon on the desktop.
After clicking on the “Install Ubuntu” option the following screen will appear:
This is the beginning of the installation process and you can select the language which is used to help you through the process.
Choose your language and click “Continue”.
Unless you have a wired connection to the internet, a list of wireless networks will appear an you will be given the option to connect to one of them.
My advice here is that if you have a good internet connection then you should connect to a wireless network by clicking on it and entering the security key.
If however you have a slow internet connection remain unconnected as any updates can be installed post installation.
Click “Continue”.
The next screen shows you a list of prerequisites for installing Ubuntu with ticks next to each one that has been satisfied.
Make sure that you are connected to a power source (battery with enough remaining energy to install Ubuntu or preferably mains power).
Being connected to the internet is an optional requirement and the disk space issue was resolved earlier on in this guide.
Being connected to the internet is an optional requirement and the disk space issue was resolved earlier on in this guide.
At the bottom of the screen is an option to tick a box for installing third party software which allows you to play MP3 audio and play Flash video. There is a better option which can be installed post installation so leave this box unchecked.
Click “Continue”.
The “Installation Type” screen lets you decide whether you want to install Ubuntu Alongside Windows or over the top.
Choose the “Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager” option.
Click “Install Now”.
A window will appear showing you what is going to happen to your disk. By default the Ubuntu installer will create an ext4 partition for Ubuntu and all of your personal files and a swap partition used for swapping idle processes when memory gets low.
Click “Continue”.
In order to set your clock correctly a map appears requiring you to choose your location.
Click where you live on the map or start typing it into the box provided and then click “Continue”.
Select your keyboard’s language in the left pane and then the actual physical layout in the right pane.
Alternatively click on the detect keyboard layout option and it will more than likely do it for you.
Test out the keyboard layout that you have chosen by typing into the box provided. Specifically try out symbols such as the dollar sign, pound symbol, hash tags, speech marks, slashes and other special characters as these are the keys that tend to move around on a keyboard.
Click “Continue”.
The final step is to create a default user.
Enter your name and give your computer a name.
Enter a username into the box provided and choose a password and repeat it.
Click on the “Require my password to log in” option. I don’t really recommend anyone letting their machine log in automatically unless it is a virtual machine used for test purposes.
Finally click “Continue”.
The files will now be copied to your computer.
When the process has finished you will have the options to continue test or to restart now.
Click the "Restart Now" option.
You will be asked to remove the USB drive and press enter.
Now when your computer reboots you will have options to boot into Windows 10 or Ubuntu.
Click the "Restart Now" option.
You will be asked to remove the USB drive and press enter.
Now when your computer reboots you will have options to boot into Windows 10 or Ubuntu.
Try them both out and hopefully you will have successfully installed Ubuntu alongside Windows 10.
