Linux Mint is one of the most popular Linux distributions. Optimal for beginners, convenient, beautiful and contains everything you need. This guide takes a detailed look at the Linux Mint installation process. We discuss how to install Linux Mint on a blank disk, how to create partitions, and also how to install Linux Mint next to Windows.
This guide can also be used to install other Linux distributions, since the installation of most Linux distributions is similar.
Linux Mint comes in three editions, which differ in their desktop environment:
- Linux Mint Cinnamon
- Linux Mint MATE
- Linux Mint Xfce
Installation of all editions is performed the same way. This guide covers installing Linux Mint Cinnamon. If you have never used Linux before, you can start with Linux Mint Cinnamon.
How to install Linux Mint
Installing Linux Mint is quite simple. You download the distribution image (a file with the .iso extension), write it to a flash drive or disk, and boot from the flash drive (disk) into the Live system. Inside the Live system, run the installer and follow the installer's instructions. Installation is relatively quick.
The most important step at the installation stage is disk partitioning or selecting a disk (disk partition) on which the system will be installed. If you are installing the system next to Windows, then you need to be careful not to accidentally format an existing disk partition (if there is one) on which important data is located. Below we walk you through the disk partitioning process step by step, so don't worry.
Download Linux Mint image
Download the ISO file containing the Linux Mint distribution image. To do this, go to https://linuxmint.com/download.php and at the bottom of the page from the table, select the version you want to download. Versions are available for 32 and 64 bit processors. 
When you click on the appropriate version, a new page will open on which you can select the server closest to you to download or use a torrent file to download. 
The image file has a name like: linuxmint-19.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso(may vary depending on version).
Burning an image to a CD/USB drive
After you have downloaded the ISO image, you need to burn it to a CD/DVD or USB drive (flash drive) in order to then use this bootable media to boot the Live system and run the installer.
To create a bootable USB flash drive, you can use the free and very simple program Etcher, which is available for Linux, Windows and MacOS. Instructions for creating a bootable USB flash drive in Etcher: How to create a bootable USB flash drive
If you already have Windows installed on your computer and you want to install Linux Mint next to it, then it is advisable to first allocate space on the disk that will be used for Linux Mint. This can be done using standard Windows tools. If you are not installing Linux Mint next to Windows, then proceed to the next step.
Before proceeding with the steps below, as well as further installation of Linux, it is highly recommended that you back up your important data. It is advisable to make a copy on removable media.
Let's look at how to allocate disk space in Windows for a future installation of Linux Mint. Via the menu Start find the utility Computer management.
A utility for setting up your computer will open. Select the item on the left in the list Disk management. A table will appear with a list of disk partitions. In the screenshot below (example for Windows 10) you can see that the main partition is a disk C. From this we will cut off the space that we will need to install Linux. Click on the disk C and right click on it. From the pop-up menu, select Shrink Volume 
In the window that opens, you need to enter the field Size of compressible space enter the size you want to cut from the disk. For Linux, it is advisable to allocate a minimum of 40-50Gb (although less is possible, depending on how you plan to use the system). I cut off only 20Gb, since this is a test system. Enter the desired size in the field and click the Shrink button. 
The result will be the following markup. We see that an unallocated (empty) area of ~20Gb has appeared on the disk. We will use this area to install Linux Mint. 
Loading LiveCD
Now you need to boot from the flash drive (disk) you created. To do this, you need to set the BIOS/UEFI settings of your computer to boot from external media. To do this, you need to restart your computer and open the BIOS. On different computers, you can access the BIOS in different ways.
On modern computers that use UEFI mode, to enter the BIOS/UEFI you need to hold down a special key when turning on the computer. The key may be different for different manufacturers. Usually this is: F2, Del, F10, Esc, F11 or F3.
Example of BIOS setup for booting from a USB flash drive: 
Save the BIOS settings and reboot the computer. Don't forget to connect the flash drive to your computer first.
The download from the flash drive will begin. A window with a timer will appear. You can press any key or wait until the timer ends. 
The boot menu will appear. You need to select the first item - Start Linux Mint to start loading the Live system. 
In some cases, the boot menu may look like this: 
Starting the installation
When the Live system boots, the desktop will appear in front of you. To start the installation, double click on the icon Install Linux Mint located in the upper left corner of the desktop. 
The installer will launch. The installer will require you to complete several steps.
Language selection
Select the language of the future system from the list and click the button Continue .
Selecting a keyboard layout
Select your keyboard layout. 
Installing additional components
At this step, you are asked to check a box so that video card drivers, WiFi, Flash support, MP3 and some other components are automatically installed during installation. I recommend installing them, so check the box and click Continue .
Disk selection and disk partitioning
Selecting a disk and partitioning the disk is the most important installation step, which usually causes difficulties for beginners. At this step, you need to choose which disk or disk partition to install Linux Mint on. And also, if required, partition the disk yourself, that is, create the necessary disk partitions on which the system will be installed.
A few words about disk partitions for Linux
Before we move on to disk partitioning, just a few words about why Linux needs any partitions at all.
Any disk can be divided into several partitions. Partitions can be of different sizes, have different file systems and different purposes. For example, when Windows and Linux are used on the same computer, different partitions are created for them on the disk.
If you already have Windows installed, then you already have several partitions created on the disk, or in the simplest case there may be only one partition. But usually this is at least three partitions: an EFI partition, a recovery partition of about 500Mb in size, and a partition that is allocated for the disk C.
Any Linux system (not just Linux Mint) has a certain directory structure. Linux can be installed not on one disk partition, but on several. In this case, each partition is used for specific purposes (for a specific system directory).
For example, a user can create the following partitions:
| EFI | EFI partition. This section must be created for computers running in UEFI mode. If you already have Windows installed on your computer (working in UEFI mode), then the EFI partition should already exist and you do not need to create it. |
| / | Root partition. This is the main partition, which contains all the system directories, except those located on other partitions. |
| /home | Home section. This is the section where user data is located. Exactly at /home section the user creates his personal files. If we draw a distant analogy with Windows, then /home a section is something like a directory Users (Users) on Windows. Each Linux user has his own personal directory in the /home directory, for example, /home/vasya in it he creates his files. |
| swap | Swap partition. Used by the system if there is not enough RAM. Previously, it was usually always created, but now, instead of a swap partition, a swap file is more often used, so we will not create it. |
| /boot | Boot section. This section houses the GRUB boot loader, which boots the system, and other components that are required to start the system. This section is usually used for more, let's say, advanced installations. When you plan to configure RAID, full disk encryption, and so on. |
For the simplest Linux installation, it is enough to create one root partition “/” (not counting the EFI partition).
But sometimes it is useful to create more /home chapter. If you are creating /home section, then in this case the user data will be placed on a separate section. And if, for example, you need to reinstall the system, then during the reinstallation you will be able to use the existing /home section with your data (but do not format it), and your data will remain intact (if you are not sure what you are doing, then create a backup copy anyway).
Below, when manually partitioning the disk, we will create partitions: root “/”, /home and for computers running in UEFI mode, also an EFI partition, if it has not yet been created.
- Installing the system on a “clean” disk (automatic creation of partitions). This option is worth choosing if you are dedicating a separate disk for Linux Mint and do not plan to create partitions yourself. In this case, the installer usually creates only one root partition and one EFI partition (for UEFI mode).
- Automatic installation of Linux Mint next to Windows. The Linux Mint installer will detect that you already have Windows installed and will offer to create disk partitions automatically.
- Independent disk partitioning (creating partitions), as well as disk partitioning when installing Linux Mint next to Windows. In this case, the user himself creates the desired sections.
Installation on a blank disk (full disk formatting)
This is the simplest case - for Linux Mint you allocate a separate disk, which will be automatically formatted, and on which the installer will automatically create the required partitions. For this installation option, select Erase disk and install Linux Mint and press the button Install now.
The following warning will appear. From this warning you can see that 2 partitions will be created on the disk: an ESP (EFI) partition and one root partition. 
For systems with a classic BIOS, the ESP (EFI) partition is not created, that is, only the root partition will be created.
Automatic installation of Linux Mint next to Windows
If you already have Windows installed, the installer will detect this and offer you to install Linux Mint next to Windows. In this case, the installer will automatically shrink the partition on which Windows is installed and create a root partition for Linux. Let's look at how to do this. Select an item Install Linux Mint next to Windows Boot Manager.
The following window will appear. In it you must indicate how much space you plan to cut off from the partition on which Windows is installed in order to use this space for Linux. To do this, move the separator left or right with the mouse. In my case, on a test system for Linux Mint, I allocate 15.1Gb. When everything is ready, press the button Install now.
The following warning will appear. Think again whether you did everything correctly and whether you backed up your data. If yes, then click Continue. 
Another warning will appear. It shows that the installer will create one root partition and format it with the ext4 file system. Click Continue. 
Self-partitioning of the disk (creating partitions)
Now let's look at how to create disk partitions ourselves. To do this, select the item Another option and click Continue.
A utility for creating disk partitions will open. It presents a table with disks and disk partitions.
If you have a blank disk with no partitions, you will see the following window. Your drive is indicated as /dev/sda, it is presented in the list of sections. If you have several disks connected to your computer, they will also be displayed in the list and will have the names /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, and so on. 
If you install Linux next to Windows, the list of partitions will look something like this. At the bottom of the list we see free place. This is the place to install Linux. You will also notice that an EFI partition has already been created (it is signed as Windows Boot Manager). 
If you have a completely empty disk, you must first create a partition table on it. Click the button Create partition table.
The partition table may already exist on the disk, in which case there is no need to create it. A warning will appear. Click Continue .
The partition table will be created. The installer creates a GPT partition table for computers running in UEFI mode. If UEFI is not used, then, as far as I know, an MBR table is created (for disks up to 3TB). Now we can see the free space on our disk.
We will create three sections:
- EFI partition. It only needs to be created for computers running in UEFI mode. This partition is formatted in the FAT32 file system. It is recommended to specify the EFI partition volume as 512Mb.
- Root "/". It is recommended to allocate at least 30-50Gb for the root partition. File system EXT4.
- /home chapter. For /home partition, you can use the rest of the remaining disk space. File system EXT4.
Let's create an EFI partition (if it doesn't exist).
This step needs to be completed only if you are using UEFI mode and if you have not already created an EFI partition. In the table, click on the line that says free space and click the button with the plus symbol “+”. A window with the settings of the new section will open. Specify the following settings:
- Size. Specify the partition size in megabytes - 512Mb.
- New partition type: Primary.
- Use as: EFI system partition.
If suddenly, during the process of creating partitions, a line of free space of 1Mb in size appears above or below any partition in the table, do not pay much attention to it. This is due to the alignment of partitions on the disk.
Now the partition table will look something like this (this is only if you previously had an empty disk): 
Let's create a root partition "/"
Again, click on the free space line in the table and press the “+” button. Specify the settings:
- Size. Specify the partition size in megabytes. A minimum of 30-50Gb is recommended. I specified only 10Gb, since I am installing a test system.
- Location of the new section: The beginning of this space.
- Mount point: /
Let's create /home chapter.
Click on the free space line and press “+”. Specify the settings:
- Size. Since under /home section we plan to use all the remaining free space, then we leave the size that is already specified.
- New partition type: Primary. If you have a disk with an MBR partition table, then it is better to select Logical.
- Location of the new section: The beginning of this space.
- Use as: Ext4 journaled file system.
- Mount point: /home
As a result, my list of sections looks like this.
Or like this if you install next to Windows. 
Also note that there is a drop-down list at the bottom of the window. This is the selection of the drive on which the GRUB boot loader will be installed. To install the bootloader, you specify not a disk partition, but the entire disk. In my case, the bootloader is installed on the /dev/sda drive, on which I install the system, and which is set as bootable in the BIOS.
Review the list of sections carefully again. If you need to change something, you can delete the sections and create them again. In fact, at this step no partitions are physically created on the disk; you are only specifying the settings for now. If everything is ready and you are sure that you did everything correctly, then press the button Install now.
A warning will appear indicating a list of partitions that will be created. Click the Continue button 
Selecting a time zone
A window will open asking you to select your time zone. Select your time zone. 
Creating a user
At this step, you need to specify the details of the user who will be created in the system and on whose behalf you will work, and also specify the computer name.
You need to fill in the following fields:
- Your name - enter your name in a free format.
- Your computer name— The computer name (hostname) is used to identify a computer on the network. You can specify something like mylaptop or vasyapc. I pointed pingvinushost.
- Username— The username under which you will work in the system. I recommend specifying a not very long name. You can simply enter your name, for example, vaysa, petya. I pointed pingvinus.
- Password and repeat password— You must specify a password that will be used to log into the system and perform administrative tasks. Be sure to remember or write it down.
Select the item below Login automatically, if only you plan to use the computer and do not want to enter a password to log in. But I recommend choosing the item Require password to login. You can also set the option Encrypt my home folder. For beginners and most users, this is not necessary. When all the settings are specified, press the button Continue .
Installation process
Now the installation process will finally begin. It may take several minutes. You don't need to do anything, just wait for it to complete.
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Installation completed
When the installation is complete, a warning will appear. Press the button Reboot, to restart your computer. 
Another warning will appear. Disconnect (remove) the flash drive or disk from the computer and press the Enter key. 
After installing Linux Mint
If everything goes well, you will be prompted to enter your user password. Enter the password you provided during installation and press Enter. 
The Linux Mint desktop will appear and the welcome window will open Welcome to Linux Mint.
To prevent this window from appearing every time you boot, uncheck the box in the lower right corner of this window. 
Switching the default keyboard layout is done using the combination Shift+Alt.
If you installed Linux next to Windows, then by default you will boot into Linux. To boot Windows, you need to select the item: Windows Boot Manager (may be called differently) in the Grub boot loader menu when booting your computer. 
Conclusion
We've covered in detail how to install Linux Mint. At first glance, it may seem that the process is very complicated and long, but this is not at all the case. Once you install Linux, you can install it much faster the next time.
This guide can also be used to install other Linux distributions. Many of them, especially those based on Ubuntu, install in a similar way.
Various situations may prompt a user to use operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Common reasons include security and free software for any need. For a beginner, Ubuntu OS will be the easiest to learn. Installing Ubuntu next to Windows 7 is not a difficult task if you follow the step-by-step instructions.
Features of installing Linux on a second system
Installing Linux as a second system involves dividing the hard drive into several partitions. There should be a minimum of 3 of them. This solution allows you to separate the storage of system files, user documents and settings in different places, which is convenient, for example, when reinstalling the system.
So, to install Ubuntu you will need the following partitions:
- Systemic. About 30-40 GB are allocated for it.
- Home. The size depends on the user's wishes.
- Swap partition. It is necessary when Linux does not have enough RAM, and it transfers part of the data to a file stored in this partition. Therefore, it is enough to allocate half the amount of RAM for it.
How to install Ubuntu along with Windows 7
Installing Linux on the same computer with Windows 7 is the easiest task of all possible OS combinations. The simplicity lies in using a regular bootloader, since the UEFI interface is not familiar to Windows 7.
Preparing a hard drive using Windows
Windows OS uses the entire disk. At this stage, it is necessary to allocate a certain amount of space for the new system without disrupting the current performance.
To solve the problem, you can resort to the Linux installation image, but under Windows this is easier and safer.
First you need to go to the “Disk Management” section, which can be accessed by clicking on the “Manage” item in the context menu of the “My Computer” shortcut.
Windows often has two partitions: C is where the system is installed, D stores game files, documents and other data. When dividing, it is better to touch the D drive. If it is not there, then on the only drive you can cut off memory only from the end. So, to reduce the partition, mark the desired volume and right-click to bring up the menu. Here you need to select the “Shrink volume” option.
Now you need to enter the volume of the volume to be created in the “Size of compressed space” field. In this case, you can set the value to no more than the free space of the partition.
Attention! It is advisable to allocate a total volume of at least 100 GB if you plan to use Linux as the main system. The indicated 22 GB in the picture is taken as an example.
The main events in Windows have been completed. Now you can proceed to installing Ubuntu using Linux itself.
Creating a bootable USB flash drive
The next step is to download the current version of the OS from the official Ubuntu website and write it to removable media, for example, a flash drive. On Windows, the simplest tool is the Rufus utility.
In the program, you need to specify the drive for recording and, opposite the “Create bootable disk” option, select “ISO image”. An explorer window will appear to search for the downloaded image. The recording will start after clicking on the “Start” button. When finished, you need to restart your computer.
Installation process of Ubuntu next to Windows 7
After the reboot, at the device checking stage, you must enter the BIOS and select the flash drive on which the Ubuntu installation image is stored to boot.
When Ubuntu starts, you need to immediately press any key to select the language. The next step is “Run Ubuntu without installation.” Now you can run the installer, and then step by step (after each step, click the “Continue” button):
After installation, every time you turn on the computer, you can change the system from Windows to Linux, and vice versa.
How to install Ubuntu along with Windows 10
The process itself is absolutely identical to that described above. The only difference is that the boot loader now requires a separate efi partition. It has already been created since Windows 10 was originally installed. Therefore, after partitioning the disk in step 3 of the above steps, you need to select it. Typically this partition takes up no more than 100 MB, and its file system is fat32.
If for some reason efi is missing, it can be easily created using the GParted utility for Linux. After launching Ubuntu without installation, a workspace will open where you need to enter Gparted in the Dash search.
In the program you need to open the Devices submenu, in it - “Create Partition Table”. In the window that opens, you must select the gpt parameter. Next, follow the usual principle of creating a partition, only now its label is Label, and the file system is FAT32.
Installing Ubuntu next to Windows XP
Windows XP is an even older system than Windows 7, so you can also forget about the EFI interface here. As for disk management, it is identical in all operating systems of the family. Therefore, to install Linux on a second system, you need to follow the same steps as described for Windows 7.
Possible difficulties
Sometimes it happens that after installing Linux, Windows still boots from the hard drive. This problem occurs for those who use versions of Windows 8 or 10, and is caused by the enabled Secure Boot feature in UEFI. This option prevents legacy boot devices from starting.
To restore the original BIOS settings, you must set the Secure Boot parameter to Disabled. Depending on the BIOS version, it may be located in different places. The reference point for searching is the System Configuration menu, and inside there are “Boot Options”. An alternative name for the option is Boot Devices Options.
After completing these steps, it is important to remember to save your changes.
Now, when you turn on the computer, the bootloader will prompt you to select an operating system.
Conclusion
Installing Ubuntu next to Windows 7 is a completely doable task. So if the need arises for a second system, do not be afraid to install it. Having two operating systems on your computer - Linux and Windows - you can differentiate between different tasks: use the first for office work, editing audio and video materials, and the second for entertainment.
Install Ubuntu and other versions Linux on computers with other operating systems or without them at all, it’s quite simple. The main thing is to know the correct sequence of all actions.
Linux is interesting in many ways. At least because it has access to tasks that Windows itself has never even dreamed of. Let's say you have a computer of an antediluvian model and, of course, new versions of Windows are not available for older units. In addition, by choosing free Linux, you save on OS installation.
You don't need any special skills to install Linux. However, you should initially decide on a specific version. Arch is not recommended for beginners because its installation is more complicated than other distributions. But most others install easily and quickly; even Windows cannot compare with the ease and speed of installing Linux.
Note! Before installing Linux, it is important to do backup important information on your computer. During installation, the hard drive may lose necessary files. Therefore, it would be useful to save data to a portable device. Although, if you strictly follow the instructions below, data loss should not occur. But insurance, in any case, will not hurt.
If operating systems such as Windows, macOS, or even a bare PC are installed on your computer, then you can safely install Linux. Linux is recorded as the main OS, as well as for parallel operation with another system. In general, it’s up to you to decide how to use it.
1. Download Linux version
You don't know which distribution is right for you? Read how to choose.
Once you have decided on the desired option, you should go to the official website of the selected distribution, where you go to the downloads section and select the version that is suitable for the bit size of your processor.
Typically, official Linux sources offer downloading according to two principles to choose from:
Of course, the last method is the fastest.
2. Burn the Linux version to a portable device
When downloading Linux in ISO format, it must be mounted on removable media (CD disk, flash drive). Transferring information to removable media is simple - regular recording. To do this, you need to right-click on the selected element and select the appropriate item in the window that opens, the function is “Burn disk image”.
To burn ISO to a flash drive, then for:
- Windows - Rufus;
The programs listed above are incredibly easy to understand.
3. Preparing the disk partition
This procedure is necessary if you want to use several systems simultaneously. But, if Linux is the only working system, then this step can be skipped.
Windows
- open the “Disk Management Tool”, where we select the disk or a separate partition where we plan to write the future operating system. 10 GB is a sufficient amount of memory. If your plans include downloading other files, then you need to select “Shrink Volume” with the same right mouse button, then “OK”;
- the process is very long. When finished, a void will appear on the media, highlighted in black. This is where Linux needs to be placed. If you ever get tired of Linux, you can replace it with another operating system in the same way that we suggested for Linux.
macOS
If you have macOS, you can find space for Linux using the Disk Utility function. We select our disk and click on “+”, thus creating a partition for Linux. As in the previous version, the process will be long.
4. Preparing the bootloader
Windows
Now the conversation concerns exclusively new PCs on which Windows of the following series is installed: 8; 8.1 or 10. The trick of these computers is that they use a UEFI boot loader, which does not load any operating system, with the exception of “native” Windows.
But we know how to outwit this principle. We go into BIOS, disable the Secure Boot function and reboot. All! The computer is now ready to download and install new operating systems. You can place these operating systems next to your Windows.
macOS
Here you will have to work a little harder, since macOS requires much more steps to install Linux paired with macOS.
The sequence of actions is as follows: turn off SIP, reboot the system, press Cmd + R. After which the Recovery menu will appear, in which you need to select “Terminal” and enter “csrutil” without quotes
disable". We reboot again. SIP is now disabled.
By default, you have built-in Boot Camp, which is designed exclusively for installing Windows. Therefore, we need to download and install rEFlnd. Thanks to this application, you can download the OS that you need, including Linux.
Then you need to unpack the downloaded file. To open it after unpacking, you need to open “Terminal” and enter “diskutil” without quotes
list". In the window that appears, you need to find the required EFI bootloader. Typically it is named /dev/disk0s1. Enter “mount /dev/disk0s1” and run rEFlnd by moving install.sh from the unpacked folder to the “Terminal” menu.
5. Booting Linux from media
First of all, you need to reboot. Next, select our Linux media. The steps depend on the type of operating system. If we are talking about Windows, then our main assistants are Esc, F9 or Bios. For Macintosh - long press Ortion.
6. Start installing Linux
Let's look at processes using Ubuntu as an example. It should be added that most versions of Linux (openSUSE, Mint, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro and many others) install in the same way as Ubuntu. Some versions require a pseudo-graphical installer. The difference in the installer’s actions is that with the pseudo-graphic version it is necessary to select functions using keys. Other manipulations are performed in a similar way.
So, select the system language and click “Install”. Then check “Install third-party software”, so our brand new Linux will be able to use proprietary drivers. Next, select “Download updates during installation”, which can be left enabled, but this does not apply to a fast Internet connection.
7. Disk partitioning
Now you need to be as careful as possible, since you can erase the disk on which the old operating system is saved. What happens next depends on whether Linux will be the only working system or an additional one.
Installing Linux instead of the current one
There are two ways to install Linux as your only operating system.
auto
creates new partitions and installs the system, deleting all previous data from the disk. The advantages of this method are obvious, because you don’t have to rack your brains over manual steps. For this method, you need to select “Erase disk and install Linux”. It is recommended to first save the information to another hard drive;
manual
This option is better than the previous one in that you independently determine the sizes for the partitions. To select manual installation mode, you must click “Other option”, then “Continue”.
Linux will show you all the partitions on your computer. They can be deleted and used at your own discretion. However, under no circumstances should you touch those sections where the information you need is stored.
To install Linux as the main operating system, select the partition with the installed OS and delete it using the “-” key. After that, in the vacant places we create the following sections:
- root - for storing system files of the operating system. Why choose – Ext4 and /;
- swap or paging is needed as additional RAM. You just need to select “Swap Partition” in the file systems menu;
- home – storage for your files. To select this particular partition, click on Ext4 and /home.
Upon completion, click “Continue” and confirm the actions. The program erases the partitions you specify and creates new ones in their place.
Installing Linux as a Second Operating System
Linux as a neighboring operating system with another OS, just like the previous version, is installed automatically and manually.
auto
As for automatic configuration, Linux installers almost always see systems loaded on the computer, of course, if they were created. If not created, then select “Install next to Windows”. Then everything happens automatically.
Manual
Manual installation is required in the case when you yourself want to allocate the number of places that you consider necessary. To do this, select “Other option”, then “Continue”. After which, the system will show the empty space you prepared for Linux. The root partition is immediately created. The Home section is not necessary in this situation.
Click “Continue”. The program does not touch your documents, leaving them in their original places. At the same time, it creates new ones in the vacated space. You decide which OS to boot at startup.
8. Final stage
A program to determine your time zone may ask about your location, and will also ask you to choose a language, give your name and come up with a password.
Now wait for the installation to finish. Once the installation process is complete, the system will prompt you to remove the installation disk and reboot. Be sure to disable BIOS if it was enabled.
After the reboot, you will see the desktop of the installed system. You can perform all the same actions as on another OS.
Windows and Linux are used for different purposes. The user decides which system is more convenient for him to work with. But why not choose both OSes at once? After all, each of them has its own advantages. It is quite possible to load them onto one machine. And you don’t even need virtualization technologies for this. The systems will be located next to each other. And you can switch between them. Installing Linux from Windows will allow you to work on both operating systems, even if you do not have a second computer.
Installing Linux from Windows will allow you to work on both operating systems simultaneously
To run both systems, you must have enough space on your PC. Different versions require different amounts of memory. On average it is 7–20 Gigabytes. But for stable operation you need to allocate 30–40 GB for each OS.
It is best to install two hard drives. Otherwise, you will have to cut up the disk space. Win and Linux must be on different logical drives. That is, one distribution is in the C:\ section, the other is in D:\. At the same time, you need to leave space for storing personal data: documents, images, music, videos, games, programs and other things. If it all ends up on the system disk, problems may arise.
As a result, you should have at least three partitions: two for Linux and Windows, the rest for personal use. Or better yet, two hard drives. The following utilities are suitable for dividing disk space:
- MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- Paragon Partition Manager.
- AOMEI Partition Assistant.
The OS changes the boot records in the MBR, which control the startup order. If you reinstall Win, you will no longer be able to access Linux. This is why it is not recommended to use one local disk for these systems. If you place them in different sections, they will not interfere with each other.
The installation proceeds in order: first Windows, then Linux. The Microsoft product erases important components of other operating systems and replaces them with its own.
Before installation, it is better to make a backup copy of your existing system. If problems arise, you can return your computer to normal. This copy must be saved to external media or to a local drive that does not have system files.
In Win, the following programs are suitable for this:
- Acronis True Image.
- Paragon Backup & Recovery 2013.
- Macrium Reflect Free.
Windows also has a built-in function:
- Go to Control Panel.
- Menu “Backup and Restore” (or “Data Archiving”). It is located in the "System" category.
- Button “ Configure backup".
- Select the drive to place the copy. Or you can send it to the network. But for this you need suitable online storage.
- To restore the system, go to the same menu.
In Linux, you can use the “Back In Time” utility for backup. It is Ubuntu's Software Center. Ubuntu's built-in tool, Deja Dub, is also suitable.
To work with it:
- Go to System - Backup (Options - Backups).
- Open the "Storage" tab.
- In “Folder”, specify the directory in which the copy of Linux will be stored. Don't place it near the OS. Select a directory on another drive.
- Instead of a folder, you can use network storage.
- Go to the "Overview" section. There will be options to create backups and restore from them.
In any case, the installation must start from Windows. If you have a computer with Linux, this system will have to be removed.
Save your personal files. It is not necessary to transfer them all to the drive. You can reserve only the data you need.
Partitioning a disk using MiniTool Partition Wizard
MiniTool Partition Wizard has a free version and a professional version. To cut a disk into partitions with the application, you do not need to buy it. This feature is also available in the Free package.
- Find it on the Internet, download and install the program on your computer. It is on the developer's website partitionwizard.com.
- Launch it.
- Local disks are displayed in the middle of the work area. Click on the one you want to cut.
- In the list on the left, click on “Split” (“Move/Resize”).
Click on “Split” (“Move/Resize”)
- In the next window there will be items “Original size” (“Partition Size”) - the one that will remain on the disk. And the “New Size” is the one that the new volume will have. Allocate memory and click OK.
- You can change the name of the newly created section. To do this, click on “Set label” and type the name. For example, "UbuntuDisk".
- If you are going to use the disk to boot a new OS, select it and select “Set as primary” in the list on the left.
- Click on the "Apply" button. She's on the top left. Next to it is a check mark icon.
- Restart your computer. Wait while the system cuts the partitions. In this case, you cannot turn off the PC. Otherwise, you will lose all the data that was stored on the disk being processed. You can see the changes after a restart.
Other programs for cutting sections have the same principle of operation. It won't be difficult to figure it out.
Acronis True Image can function not only on Windows, but also on Linux. But this program is paid. Unlike Partition Wizard.
Windows installation
Let's say you decide to start from scratch and remove all the old OS. Now you have a “clean” PC on which no distribution kit is installed. Launch Win from a disk or flash drive. To do this, change the boot order.
- Go to BIOS. It can be called up by pressing a certain key immediately after turning on the PC. It varies depending on the motherboard. F1, F2, F5, F7, DEL or Ctrl+Alt+Esc. Information about which button is needed will appear next to the line “PRESS TO ENTER SETUP”.
- In the BIOS, all controls are configured for the keyboard. Navigate through the menu using the arrows, enter using Enter. There is a small manual with instructions in the BIOS menu on the right.
- Open the "Boot" tab.
- Subsection “Boot Device Priority”.
- Put USB or CD-ROM first. Depends on what drive you use to boot Windows.
- Press F10 to save changes. The computer will restart.
- The message “Press any key to boot from CD” may appear. It means "Press any key to load data from the CD."
- Reading information from the source will begin. Don't interrupt the process.
- The installation wizard will open. Just follow his instructions.
- You will need to select the partition into which the system will boot. You can split it there if you haven’t done so before. Select the volume and click on "Disk Configuration". After that, click on “Create” and set the size in megabytes.
- Save all changes and click on the “Next” button. The installation will begin. Do not interrupt it, do not turn off the PC power. The computer may restart several times.
- After this, you need to configure Win: select a password and name for the account, time zone, indicate which update settings to use.
- Go into the BIOS and change the boot order again so that the PC starts from the hard drive.
Linux
Before booting Linux, you need to prepare the disk. This can be done in Win.
- Right-click on “My Computer”.
- Select "Manage".
- In the Storage Devices category, click on Disk Management.
- Right-click on the partition on which you plan to install the system. It cannot be loaded onto the same disk with Windows.
- Click on “Shrink Volume”.
- In the “Compressible space” field, specify how much space should be allocated for the OS (in megabytes). This memory will be reserved for the system.
- Click "Compress". “Unallocated space” will appear in the disk line-up.
- If you want to return the volume to its previous size, instead of “Shrink”, select the “Expand” command.
- Insert the operating system CD into the drive.
- Go into the BIOS and change the boot order so that the computer starts from the disk.
- When the installer opens, select the interface language.
- The Installation Type menu will offer installation options. Check "Others".
- Create OS partitions on the previously compressed volume. For the root directory, simply enter “/” (slash, forward slash). For the home directory - “/home”. And for the swap partition you don’t need to enter anything.
- Follow the installation wizard's instructions.
- A little setup is required: creating an account, entering a PC name, and the like.
- During installation, pictures will be shown describing the capabilities of the system.
- The installation will complete and a notification will appear on the screen prompting you to restart your computer.
- Go into BIOS and change the boot order.
Now, when you turn on your PC, you can choose whether to use Linux or Windows.
Linux has a multi-boot feature for operating systems. Ubuntu even supports collaboration with Win.
- Prepare the disk, allocate memory on it for the OS.
- Run the installer. It will automatically detect if there are other systems on the PC.
- The option “Install Linux alongside Windows” should appear. Select it.
- Follow the installer's instructions.
- Don't boot two OSes into one partition.
Installation on two hard drives
The simplest and most effective option is to download to different hard drives. This way the systems will work stably even without sharing space.
- You have hard drive 1 and hard drive 2.
- Disable hard drive-2, install Windows on hard drive-1.
- Disable hard drive-1, install Linux on hard drive-2.
- Connect both hard drives.
Now you can select the OS through the BIOS Boot menu. Just change the boot order to start from the desired HDD.
Installing completely different systems next to each other is not that difficult. This does not require software virtualization. You will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of operating systems. And work in the environment that is best suited to accomplish the assigned tasks.
In order for the installation of Linux and Windows on one computer to be successful, you need to allocate enough memory for each OS and upload them to different partitions.
Which of these systems do you think is better?
Almost every user today has heard about the free Linux operating system. The open platform for development and accessibility of the system made it very popular. But if you've never used it, installing it instead of Windows may be reckless. It is much more convenient to install any version of Linux as a second operating system on your device.
Reasons for installing Linux next to Windows 10
Windows 10 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. She is successful and multifunctional. Few users will be able to completely abandon its use in favor of installing Linux. In turn, Linux has a number of advantages over other operating systems:
- freedom and diversity - there are many Linux builds and each of them is distributed free of charge. Their download, installation, use and even modification are completely legal;
- low requirements - some Linux builds will work even on very old computers. The operating system takes up little space and consumes little RAM, which means more resources will be available for your programs;
- fewer viruses - virus programs for Linux, of course, exist, but the chance of stumbling upon them is much less than in the Microsoft operating system. As a result, it is easier to get rid of them;
- free software - there is a lot of free software on Linux to suit every taste. These can be either analogues of paid programs on Windows or completely new software. Finding the right program is very easy;
- good compatibility with other systems is an extremely important point. Linux installs easily and works with any operating system: both Windows and Mac.
The disadvantages, however, are also obvious:
- designed for experienced users - installing Linux is not at all difficult, but some actions in the system itself require great technical knowledge;
- problems with supporting programs and games of other operating systems - not all games or programs support Linux, and the launch method via wine does not always work correctly.
By installing Linux as a second operating system, you will not lose anything, and if you like it, you can completely switch to it.
Installing various Linux builds
Since Linux is open to user development, there are many different versions of this operating system.
- Linux Ubuntu is a common version of the operating system that is installed with various programs. It has both “easy” options and full-fledged complexes for working with media; Ubuntu is one of the most common versions of Linux
- Kali Linux is a version of the system with a greater emphasis on secure operation;
Kali Linux is known for its enhanced security - Linux Mint - this operating system is based on the Ubuntu version and is a development of its ideas for the better;
Mint Linux - an improved version of Ubuntu - Kubuntu is an official fork of the regular version of Ubuntu. Differs in a different graphical shell (KDE);
Kubuntu Linux - Ubuntu with a different graphical shell - Rosa Linux - Russian version of Linux with a number of its own developments;
Rosa Linux - Russian build with a number of innovations - Arch Linux is a very lightweight and optimized build, designed for experienced users.
Arch Linux - build for advanced users
Each user should choose an assembly to suit their needs before proceeding directly to installation.
Preparations before installation
Before you begin installing the version of Linux you've chosen, you should do some preparatory work on your hard drive. First, you should save all the necessary files to the drive, since there is a risk of losing them during installation. Then you should split the disk into partitions to correctly install the second operating system.
Partitioning a partition using the Disk Management system program
You can also split a partition directly during the Linux installation. But if you do this in advance, you can avoid some unnecessary risks during installation.
Partitioning a partition using the Linux installer
No matter what version of Linux you install, you will need to partition your disk. If you did not do this before installation, you can also do this during installation.
- To do this, when selecting the installation type, select “Other option”.
During installation, select the “Other option” line and click “Continue” - The required utility will be launched. Here you can see the partitions of your hard drive. For installation, it is better to divide a partition that is not system.
Linux has its own disk utility that can also be used to partition a volume - Select the non-system partition and press the "Edit" key.
Select a partition that has enough free space and click "Change" - Specify a different hard drive size. It is recommended to set the value to more than 20 thousand MB so that there is enough space for the system and for its normal operation. All “extra” space will be cut off and become an unallocated area. Of course, it is necessary that this space is not occupied by files.
In the "Edit Partition" window you can see the total amount of free space on the disk - Confirm the size change by clicking OK.
In the Edit Partition box, enter the weight of the space you want to partition and click OK - A warning will appear indicating that the process is irreversible. Agree to the changes again and select the “Continue” button.
Review and confirm changes when creating a partition in Linux - The division will be completed and you will see the line “free space”. Select it and click on the plus sign.
Select a new partition and click on the plus to create a partition - Fill out the section creation form. To install Linux, you will need to create a root partition, a swap partition, and a file storage partition. To create a root partition, specify a size of about 15 GB, set the partition type to “Logical” and in the “Mount Point” line, specify the “/” sign so that the partition is considered root.
Enter the required information to create a root partition and click OK - In the same way, create a partition for system swap, selecting the appropriate partition type. You should allocate as much space for it as you have RAM.
Enter the necessary information to create a swap partition and click OK - In the last section for storing files, allocate all the space that remains. Select "/home" as the mount point.
Enter the required information to create a home partition and click OK
The creation of partitions is complete and this means that you can continue with the installation.
Installing Linux Ubuntu next to Windows 10
You can download the latest version of the Linux Ubuntu system from its official website. After this, follow these steps:
- Write the system image to a USB flash drive. This can be done using any program convenient for you. For example, Rufus can help you. Download and run it.
- Select the recording device in the top line. This can be a writable disc or a flash drive.
Specify your drive in Rufus - Specify the partition scheme - “GPT for computers with UEFI”.
Select GPT as partition scheme - Then click on the image icon. In the explorer that opens, specify the path to your Linux image.
Click on the disk icon and select the Linux image that you downloaded from the official website - Make sure the “Create a boot disk” checkbox is checked and click “Start”.
- After the boot disk has been created, restart your computer and go to the Boot Menu. Select there to boot your drive.
Select your drive type in the Boot Menu - The startup window for installing Linux Ubuntu will appear. Set the required language in the left panel and begin the installation.
Select your system language and click "Install Ubuntu" - Since the partition was already created earlier, select “Install Ubuntu next to Windows 10.”
From all installation types, select "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10" - Then select a section. It will be a fat32 type if done correctly.
Select fat32 partition which should have enough space - If there is no partition, but there is an unallocated area, create it. To do this, in the devices tab, select Create Partition Table. Set the partition type to GPT.
- In the next window, specify the partition size, select fat32 as the file system and enter EFI in the Label line.
Specify the weight of the section at your discretion - After selecting a partition, the installation will be completely automatic. To do this, simply select Ubuntu the next time you boot your system.
After reboot, select Ubuntu as the operating system - After installation, indicate your time zone on the map.
Set the time zone in Ubuntu installation settings - Then select your language and keyboard layout.
Select the default keyboard layout for Ubuntu - Create and enter your new account information and click “Continue.”
Enter your new Ubuntu account details - The installation will complete the last steps and require a system reboot. Do it.
Agree to restart your computer by clicking "Restart"
Video: detailed installation of Linux Ubuntu on a computer with BIOS
Installing Linux Mint next to Windows 10
To install Linux Mint you need to do the following:
- Go to the official website of this build and select the version to download. You should choose based on the required options and system capacity.
Download the desired version of Linux Mint from the official website - Select torrent as the download method or download the client from one of the mirrors.
Download Linux Mint using any of the methods suggested on the site - Then burn the Linux Mint image to a bootable drive. You can do this using the Rufus program you are already familiar with.
Burn the Linux Mint image to a bootable drive - After the installation starts, you will see a window with a countdown.
Wait for the timer to expire to begin installing Linux Mint - If you press any key, an additional settings window will appear. It is not necessary to do this, but if you did, select the first item to start the installation. Or just wait until time runs out.
Select Start Linux Mint to login - After a short boot, you will see the desktop of the new operating system in front of you. But the installation is not complete yet. On your desktop, find the Install Linux Mint file and double-click it.
Run the Install Linux Mint file on your desktop - The language settings will open. Select the required language and continue with the installation.
Select your language for Linux Mint system - Check the box in the next window to automatically install the software.
Check the box to install additional programs and click “Continue” - Then select your installation type. If you partitioned the disk and separated the installation area in advance, select "Install Linux Mint next to Windows 10."
To install Linux Mint with Windows 10, select the appropriate option - After selecting the installation section, the time zone selection will open. Please indicate your region.
Select your region to set the time zone correctly - Then select your keyboard layout languages.
Select the keyboard layout you want to use on your new system - Create and set your account name and password, if required.
Enter your Linux Mint account login details and confirm them - Wait for the installation to complete. Progress can be tracked using the bar at the bottom of the screen.
Wait until the installation process completes to access the system - The installation is complete and after restarting the computer, you can start using the operating system.
Restart your computer when prompted
Video: installing Linux Mint on a computer with another OS
Installing Kali Linux next to Windows 10
Installing the Kali build is slightly different from previous ones.
- Download the image from the official build site, selecting the version that suits you.
Select Kali Linux version to download from the official website - Burn the image to the bootable drive using Rufus.
- After launching the boot program from the flash drive, you will see installation options. Installation with graphics (Graphical install) will be easiest, so we choose it.
Choose a graphical installation for a more visual process - A list of language configurations appears. Select the required language and confirm your choice.
Specify the language to install Kali Linux - If a window appears stating that it is impossible to mount the installation disk correctly, simply select “Yes”, having first connected the drive to another connector.
If there is an error, install the drive with the operating system in another slot and click “Yes” - Enter the password you created for your main account, and then repeat it in the line below.
Enter the Kali Linux password twice, which will be used when making changes to the system - Configure your time zone to properly synchronize the time on your computer.
Select the appropriate time zone from the list - The disk partitioning window will open. Specify that you want to manually select the partition.
Indicate that you want to select the area manually - Specify the unallocated area (“Free space”) that you created earlier.
Select the unallocated area: it is labeled “Free Space” - Then select "Automatically mark up free space."
Select the option “Automatically mark free space” - In the next menu, click on the “All files in one section” item.
Select "All files in one section" - Select the disk you were working on, click Finish and write changes to disk.
Select a section and click "Finish partitioning..." - The computer will detect your Windows 10 operating system. Select “Yes” to select one of the operating systems when you boot your computer and continue with the installation.
Select Yes to continue installation when Windows 10 is detected - Specify the system drive manually in the next window and the installation will be completed.
Manually point to the system drive to install the operating system boot loader
Video: how to install Kali Linux on a computer
Installing Kubuntu next to Windows 10
The installation process for Kubuntu Linux is similar to that of Ubuntu, which is not surprising. To install Kubuntu next to your Windows, follow these steps:
- Download the system from the official website and burn it to a bootable drive. Restart your computer, and by calling the Boot Menu by pressing F12 when the corresponding message appears, select the desired device to begin installation.
Download the Kubuntu image from the official website - Press any key while the icon is flashing to open options.
When the keyboard icon appears, press any key - Select Start Kubuntu to begin installing the OS.
Select Start Kubuntu to begin installing the operating system - Wait for the graphical installation shell to load.
Wait for the Kubuntu GUI to finish loading - In the next window, select your system language and click “Launch Kubuntu”. You must select this option so that the system is available for use during installation on your hard drive.
Select "Launch Kubuntu" to access the operating system -
It may take a while for the desktop to load without installation - Then start the installation by clicking on the installer shortcut.
Select the Install Kubuntu file to begin installation - The installation window will open. Select Russian to continue.
Specify the language you want to see during installation and in the system itself - It will check your internet connection and whether there is free space for installation. After it is finished, click “Continue”.
After checking the Internet, click the “Continue” button - A window will open to select a partition. If you want to install alongside another operating system, select Manual installation. Automatic partitioning can be used if the hard drive is completely free of files.
Since you need to keep Windows 10, select the installation type "Manual" - It is necessary to create four partitions one by one. The process itself is no different from creating partitions in Ubuntu. Create sections:
- Once the partitions are created, confirm the changes and the installation will begin.
Accept the changes to continue installing Kubuntu - While files are being copied to your hard drive, select your time zone settings.
Set the time zone of the new operating system by selecting your region - In the next window, select your keyboard language.
A clear keyboard layout will help you make sure you're choosing the right language - On the last settings screen, enter your account information.
Enter the details for the new account and click “Continue” - After this, wait until the system installation is completed.
Wait until the Kubuntu installation process is complete - When the installation is complete, restart your computer.
Restart when prompted
Installing Rosa Linux next to Windows 10
As is the case with other assemblies, to install Rosa Linux you need to download the necessary image and burn it to media.
- Go to the Boot Menu by pressing F12 after restarting your computer. Select your drive boot. A window will appear with various diagnostic actions. Select the line Install ROSA Desktop Fresh R6.
Select Install ROSA Desktop to begin installation - The language selection panel will open. Install the required one and continue installation.
Select your language when installing the system - Review and accept the Rosa Linux License Agreement.
Accept the terms of the license agreement to continue installation - Specify your keyboard layout.
Also select your keyboard layout language - In the next window, specify a convenient method for switching between layouts.
Specify the desired method for switching language layouts - Specify the time zone to correctly determine the time.
Enter your time zone in the list of regions - To finish setting the time, select the type of time display.
Select the time display method on your system - When selecting a partition, select “Use free space” if you want the system to create the necessary partitions in the unallocated area.
Select "Use free space" when installing rosa linux - Wait for the installation to complete.
Wait until the installation is finished, the slides will change during the process - Select the partition as the boot device and set a boot delay if necessary.
Specify the system disk for the operating system boot loader - Set a password for system changes.
Set any password you like, but remember it - Add a new user and enter their details.
Enter your account information in the new operating system - Provide a name for your computer.
Set any name for your device - Check the boxes for the services that should start when you turn on the computer.
Configure automatic startup of operating system services - When prompted that the installation is complete, restart your computer.
After completing the installation of the system, you need to restart the computer - The installation is complete - all that remains is to log in.
Sign in using your account password
Video: installing Rosa Linux on a Windows computer
Installing Arch Linux next to Windows 10
Installing Arch Linux will be significantly more complex than installing others. If you are not an advanced user, it is recommended to select a different build. Otherwise, complete the following steps to prepare for system installation:
- Download the system image from the official website.
Download the Arch Linux build from the official website - Burn the image to disk. This can be done using special programs or using Windows tools - through the context menu.
Burn Arch Linux to media in a way convenient for you - Connect the boot drive to your computer and restart your computer. During the reboot, go to the Boot Menu, the key for this will appear on the screen (usually F12).
Press F12 to enter Boot Menu - Set the boot priority to your storage device. So, if this is a boot drive, set the drive to boot before booting the hard drive.
Place your drive first in startup order - After that, when you restart your computer, you will see a choice of actions. Click on Boot Arch Linux to begin installation.
Select Boot Arch Linux - It will check to see if you are connected to the network. Enter the command “ping -c 3 www.google.com”.
Enter the command to check the network before installation - Then create system partitions from the free space. To run this utility, use the cgdisk /dev/sda command.
Select free space and create partitions for installation one by one - Create a root partition to store system files. It is recommended to allocate at least 20 GB of free space for it.
- From the space that is left, create a Home section. This is where your files will be stored. But you should leave about 1 GB for EFI space.
- Allocate the remaining space to EFI space. Then click "Burn" to begin installing Windows into the created partitions.
- Then format each of the partitions. To do this, use the following commands to format all three partitions one by one:
- Then bind the partitions to the directories using the following commands:
Directly installing Arch Linux will also require you to enter the following commands:
- Enter the command pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel. This will begin installing the operating system. Wait for this process to complete.
Enter the command to start installation and confirm your entry - Then type genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab. This is necessary for the system to detect the partition.
Enter the command to detect partitions during installation - Enter the query arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash to access the new OS.
Enter the last command to access the arch linux operating system - Set the currency format by entering nano /etc/locale.gen. Find the line with your country's entry and remove the hash icon next to it. Then enter the command locale-gen and, after confirmation, the command echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf, where instead of en_US.UTF-8 there should be a line where you removed the hash.
Using the above command, set the region for the currency - To accept the language settings, enter export LANG=en_US.UTF-8 also with the appropriate language instead of the specified one.
Also set the language zone using a special command - The next setting is to set the time zone. Type ls /usr/share/zoneinfo/ to display the available time zones, and then type ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/Zone/Subzone /etc/localtime, replacing Subzone with your region.
- To set the Greenwich Mean Time, enter the command hwclock -systohc –-utc.
Enter the command to synchronize the operating system time to GMT - Enter the command echo myhostname > /etc/hostname, where myhostname is the name of your computer for the network.
- Set a password for the computer to use using the passwd command. It can be anything, but it is important to remember it.
Set the password using the passwd command - And then all that remains is to set the system bootloader. For modern UEFI BIOS this is done with the commands:
- With a regular BIOS, the commands will be different:
- pacman -S grub;
- grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
- Exit the installation with exit and then type Reboot to restart your computer.
Complete the installation with exit and restart the system with reboot - After restarting, enter your password to log in. Installation completed.
Login to arch linux using password
Installing Ubuntu on VirtualBox Windows 10
Before installing the Ubuntu operating system on VirtualBox, you must complete the following steps:
After that, open VirtualBox and follow these steps:
- Click on the icon labeled New to open the virtual machine creation wizard.
Click on the New button of the VirtualBox panel - The name of the virtual machine can be anything, and in the “Type” field, select Linux.
Enter any name for the virtual machine and click Next - In the next window, confirm the amount of memory for the virtual machine. Depending on the installation type, the value will be set automatically. You can increase it if necessary.
You can leave the default value if it suits you - Make sure that the marker is set to create a new virtual machine and click on the Create button.
Select to create a new virtual machine and click the Create button - Select the "Dynamically allocated" virtual disk type and click "Next".
Set virtual machine disk size to dynamic - In the disk location and size menu, leave the default values or set the required size.
The virtual machine disk value can also be left at default - Finally, click Create again to finish creating the virtual machine.
When all the virtual disk settings are configured, click Create - Click on the virtual machine you created and go to its settings.
Select the virtual machine you created - In the Storage tab, add new media by clicking on the blue plus icon under the media field.
Click on the plus sign under the media overview - As the media, specify the image of your Ubuntu that you downloaded earlier.
Download the Ubuntu image to your virtual machine - Open this image by double clicking so that it is placed into the system.
After double clicking on the image, it should have loaded into the media menu - In the system settings section, make sure that in the Boot Order section, the CD/DVD drive is placed higher than the Hard Disk.
Specify CD/DVD as boot priority so that the image is mounted at system startup - Now proceed to launch and configure the operating system. To do this, select the virtual machine and click on the Start button.
Click Start to start the virtual system - Wait until the system boots.
Wait until the system loads for the first time - Select Install Ubuntu. You will be taken to the language settings window. Select the desired language and click Continue.
Select a language to install the system in a virtual machine - Check the box to download updates during system installation.
Check the box to download updates and click Continue - Since you are installing the operating system on a virtual machine, feel free to select the Erase disk and install Ubuntu option, which will erase all other files on the disk.
Select disk cleanup - since we are installing the system on a virtual machine, files will not be affected - Set the time zone to the one in which your region is located.
To set the time, select the region where you are located 
Wait until Ubuntu is installed on the virtual machine - Restart your computer after installation is complete by clicking Restart Now.
Reboot the virtual machine by clicking the Restart Now button - Enter your password and log in. The installation of Ubuntu on the virtual machine is complete.
Enter your password to login
Restoring Windows 10 boot after installing Ubuntu
If errors occur during system installation, the Windows boot loader may crash. This will make it impossible to start Windows 10. Fortunately, this is not difficult to fix. You'll need a Windows 10 installation disc, which you can prepare just like any other bootable drive. It is important that the version of Windows matches the one you have installed. Mount the image and then do the following:
Installing Linux as a second operating system is a good solution, but it is important to choose an assembly based on your goals and technical knowledge. If you have certain skills, you can install any of the assemblies without much difficulty. Using Linux with Windows 10 will help you maximize the potential of your computer.
