Linux Mint is an exceptional Linux distribution for beginners, offering an effortless installation process and serving as the ideal operating system. It is renowned for its user-friendly interface, minimal resource consumption, and extensive software availability. The recently launched Linux Mint 21 introduces notable performance enhancements and incorporates several new features, further enhancing the overall user experience.
Before Beginning, Let me answer the Most Asked Question: Will dual booting Linux alongside Windows slow down the system?
No, dual booting Linux and Windows does not cause any slowdown on your system. The only delay you may experience is during the boot time, as you are given a 10-second buffer to select between Linux and Windows. However, once you have chosen either operating system and booted into it, the performance will be the same as if it were the only OS installed. Your system's usability will not be affected, and dual booting will not result in any slowdown.
Setting up a Dual Boot Configuration: Installing Linux Mint alongside Windows
Before we move forward with the steps for dual booting Linux Mint alongside Windows, let me provide you with some optional but highly recommended safety instructions:
| Safety Instructions | Description |
|---|---|
| Back up your data | It is essential to create a backup of your important files, documents, music, movies, etc., before proceeding. |
| Have a boot repair disk | Prepare a boot repair disk using an extra USB drive or CD. This will help in repairing boot-related issues. |
| Have a live or recovery disk of Windows ready | Keep a Windows installation disk or recovery disk available to reinstall Windows if the system becomes unbootable. |
PS:I am not trying to dissuade or demotivate you. I am simply urging you to be ready for the most unfavorable outcome.
Keep in mind that this information pertains to computers with an existing Windows operating system. You are installing Linux Mint on a system that already has Windows installed, rather than the reverse.
Step 1: Prepare live USB
Getting Linux Mint file:
Visit the Linux Mint website and acquire the ISO file, which serves as a disk image that can be transferred to a USB or DVD. Linux Mint offers various versions, with Cinnamon being the default. If your computer is compatible with 64-bit systems, it is advisable to select the 64-bit Linux Mint 19.3 Cinnamon. If you are familiar with alternative desktop environments, you have the freedom to opt for any Mint version of your preference.
After obtaining the Linux Mint ISO, you require a software tool to transfer the image onto a disk. I suggest utilizing a cost-free application called Universal USB Installer specifically designed for Windows operating systems.
The file is an executable with the extension ".exe". Simply double-click on it to initiate the software and navigate to the ISO file. Ensure that you have inserted your USB key.
Step 2: Create a new partition for Linux Mint installation
This is a crucial point to be mindful of. If you have multiple partitions, excluding the recovery ones, you have two options. You can either utilize one of the existing partitions or create a new partition from an already existing one. Your current data will remain intact as long as you have sufficient free space. Typically, the installation of Linux requires less than 10 GB of disk space. However, if disk space is not a concern for you, I recommend allocating at least 30-40 GB. This way, you will have more available space for downloading and storing various files.
To perform this task in Windows, you can follow these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and type "partition."
2. Select the "Disk Management" utility from the search results.
3. Carefully choose the disk where you want to create free space by shrinking its volume.
In my situation, I had only one drive, which was the C Drive, and it had a total space of 223GB. However, I needed to create a separate partition with more free space. To achieve this, I resized the C Drive and reduced its size to 110GB, thereby creating a new partition with that amount of free space.
Step 3: Initiate Live USB Boot
1. Connect the live USB or disk to your computer and then restart the computer.
2. During the boot process, press either the F10 or F12 key (depending on your computer) to access the boot menu.
3. From the boot menu, select the option to boot from the USB or removable media.
Note: If your computer originally had Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and you later upgraded to Windows 10, you might need to disable secure boot. However, this step is usually not necessary for most modern Windows 10 systems, especially when using Linux Mint or Ubuntu.
Step 4: Start the installation
Booting from the live USB or disk may require a bit of time. Please be patient during this process. After the booting is complete and you are in the live disk environment, you will be given the option to either Try Linux Mint or Install Linux Mint. Even if you select the "Try" option, you can still locate the installation option on the desktop.
Screenshots:
Step 5: Time to Prepare the partition
This segment holds utmost significance within the entire installation process. Where should Linux Mint be installed?
If you come across the choice to Install Linux Mint alongside Windows, feel free to opt for it. Linux Mint will autonomously handle the necessary arrangements. If you don't want un-necessary hassle then this is the right step for you.
Step 6: Almost Done
You will now go through several screens where you can choose options such as keyboard layout and login credentials. It doesn't require exceptional intelligence to understand what to do next in these screens. I have included screenshots for your reference.
Screenshots:
That concludes the process. Upon the next startup, you will be presented with the choice of Linux Mint in the grub menu. From there, you can experience the aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly Linux distribution. I trust that you have found this tutorial on dual booting Linux Mint with Windows to be informative and beneficial.
Step7:Things to do After Installation
Here are a few common troubleshooting steps you may need to take after installing Linux Mint alongside another operating system:
1. Resolving Grub Not Appearing in Windows 10 Linux Dual Boot:
- This issue can be fixed by configuring the Grub bootloader to display the option to boot into Windows 10 alongside Linux Mint.
2. Fixing "No Bootable Device Found" Error After Installing Ubuntu:
- After installing Ubuntu alongside another operating system, you may encounter an error message indicating that no bootable device is found. This problem can be resolved by adjusting the boot order or repairing the bootloader.
3. Resolving "error: no such partition grub rescue" in Ubuntu Linux:
- If you receive this error message, it means that the Grub bootloader cannot locate the partition where the operating system is installed. You can fix this by manually specifying the correct partition in the Grub configuration.
4. Fixing "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported GRUB" Error in Linux:
- This error message usually appears when the Grub configuration is incorrect or when the bootloader cannot find the necessary files. You can resolve this issue by repairing or reinstalling the Grub bootloader.
I highly recommend reading a guide on what to do after installing Linux Mint to ensure a smooth start with your new operating system.
If you wish to uninstall Linux Mint from a dual-boot setup with Windows , you can follow a guide specifically tailored for that purpose.