The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →You can install Linux alongside Windows and keep both operating systems available at startup. This walkthrough uses Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS, whose installer has a guided “Install Ubuntu alongside” option. Back up your files first, check for BitLocker, and make sure the installer starts in the same firmware mode as Windows. If the installer’s choices differ from those described here, stop and consult the current guide for your Linux distribution rather than guessing.
Before you install: check compatibility, encryption, and backups
Confirm that your PC can boot the Linux distribution you plan to install and that you can access your Windows files and recovery information. Ubuntu recommends checking whether the PC is Ubuntu certified or booting its “Try Ubuntu” preview to see whether its hardware works. That preview can reveal compatibility issues, but it does not guarantee that every component will work after installation.
- Back up important files to another storage device before changing partitions. Ubuntu recommends moving files elsewhere before installing; resizing partitions is not risk-free.
- Check Windows device encryption or BitLocker before starting the installer. If Ubuntu reports that BitLocker prevents it from mapping the Windows disk, stop. Ubuntu warns it cannot safely install alongside an encrypted Windows installation, and some manufacturer-configured disks may report BitLocker before encryption is complete. Follow current guidance for your Windows edition and Linux distribution. Disabling BitLocker may not be reversible on some Windows versions, so confirm your recovery details and the consequences first.
- Keep the backup USB separate from the installer USB. Creating installation media erases the selected USB stick.
Create a Linux installation USB
Download the installation image from the distribution’s official site, then use an image-writing utility to write it to a USB stick. Ubuntu’s Windows instructions use Rufus. Writing the image erases the USB stick, so copy off anything you need and carefully confirm that the selected destination is the USB device—not an internal or backup drive.
Prepare disk space and boot the installer in the right mode
Leave Windows installed and make room for Linux
Keep Windows on the PC and provide unallocated disk space for Linux. Ubuntu’s guided alongside installer lets you choose a target drive and the space for Ubuntu. Its manual partitioning option gives more control but is intended for experienced users; exact partition choices depend on the distribution and setup, so use that distribution’s current documentation rather than applying a universal size recipe.
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Match Windows’ UEFI or Legacy boot mode
Use the PC’s one-time boot menu to start the USB installer in the same firmware mode that Windows uses. Debian’s Bookworm installation manual warns that starting an installer in a different mode can install a bootloader that does not match the existing operating system, complicating multi-boot startup. Ubuntu’s community UEFI guidance likewise explains that an existing UEFI installation should be matched with UEFI, and an existing Legacy installation with Legacy mode.
If manually partitioning on a UEFI system, Ubuntu guidance says an EFI System Partition must be present. When reusing Windows’ existing EFI partition, do not format it. If you are unsure which mode Windows uses or which partition is which, pause before making changes.
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Choose Ubuntu’s guided alongside installation
- Start the Ubuntu installer from the USB in the boot mode that matches Windows.
- When offered an installation type, choose Install Ubuntu alongside if you want to keep Windows. Select the intended drive and review the proposed Linux space.
- Read the installation summary before committing. Check that it identifies the intended target and Linux partitions, and that it is not proposing to erase the disk or remove Windows.
- Proceed only when the summary matches your plan. If the alongside choice is missing, BitLocker is reported, or the screen differs materially from the current Ubuntu guide, stop and investigate rather than choosing an unfamiliar option.
Do not choose Erase disk and install Ubuntu when you intend to keep Windows: Ubuntu explains that this option uses the entire selected disk. The guided alongside path is designed to preserve existing files, but that is not a substitute for a backup or a reason to skip reviewing the target and summary.
Fast Startup and Secure Boot
Turn off Windows Fast Startup
Disable Windows Fast Startup for a dual-boot setup. Debian’s Bookworm manual explains that Fast Startup is a partial hibernation-like shutdown; Windows can leave shared filesystems in a state where another operating system’s access risks corruption. If that issue returns after a Windows update, check the setting again: Debian notes that Windows Update has sometimes re-enabled it.
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Do not disable Secure Boot by default
Secure Boot is not automatically a reason to turn off the feature. Debian’s Bookworm manual says its Microsoft-signed shim should work with Secure Boot enabled, and Ubuntu documents signed shim and GRUB components. If the installer or a driver raises a Secure Boot warning, follow current guidance for your distribution and PC; some hardware or third-party drivers may require additional enrollment steps.
Restart and verify that both operating systems start
When installation finishes, remove the USB when prompted and restart. Confirm that Linux starts, then use the firmware boot menu or the distribution’s boot menu to select Windows and confirm it starts too. Menu names and boot-repair steps differ by PC vendor, firmware mode, and distribution; there is no one repair command that is safe for every setup. If startup fails, note the PC model, Windows boot mode, Linux distribution and version, and exact error before changing boot settings or partitions.
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How the two installation methods differ
| Method | What it offers | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Guided “Install Ubuntu alongside” | Ubuntu’s installer guides drive and Linux-space selection and says it preserves existing files. | Review the target and proposed changes in the summary before proceeding. The option may be unavailable, including when BitLocker prevents safe disk mapping. |
| Manual partitioning | More control over partition choices. | Ubuntu positions this for advanced users. Follow the current distribution instructions; on a UEFI manual install, an EFI System Partition must be present, and a reused Windows EFI partition should not be formatted. |
A separate drive may change disk targeting and recovery considerations, but it is not automatically safer on every PC. Whatever layout you choose, identify the intended target carefully and use the distribution’s current instructions for that setup.
When to pause instead of proceeding
- The installer reports BitLocker or cannot identify the Windows disk safely.
- You cannot tell whether the USB installer started in UEFI or Legacy mode, or which mode Windows uses.
- The installer proposes erasing a disk, formatting a partition you intended to keep, or does not show the expected alongside option.
- You do not have a backup of files you cannot afford to lose, or cannot identify the target disk and proposed Linux space.
In these cases, do not improvise with erase or manual-partitioning options. Check the current documentation for the chosen distribution and Windows edition, and resolve the uncertainty before proceeding.
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