Dual boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu 18.04
Overview
We will cover the steps how to dual boot Windows 10 and Ubuntu 18.04. In this scenario Windows 10 is pre-installed and we will load the Ubuntu installation using the bootable USB. Entire process will be installed on a single HDD. Because of the scenario we have, please before proceeding with this process, make sure to backup everything. Also, check you PC how it boots(UEFI or Legacy) and make sure both OS are installed in the same mode.
Requirements for the process:
- Ubuntu bootable USB
- Free space on HDD
Bellow you can find the video tutorial as well:
Creating a partition for Ubuntu installation
First we need to start with creating a new partition. Windows has a disk management tool with which we can use to create a new partition. You can use another tool and there are a lot of them which are good and free. For this example we’ll stick with tool from Windows.
We need to start the Disk management tool. Right click on the start menu and click disk management.
Disk management will list all your hard drives and partitions. On the bottom of the disk management window, we need to find our partition, in this example, this is Disk 0 and C: partition. That’s our primary partition with Windows 10 installed. We will use that partition and split it in order to create a new partition. That’s why it’s important that you have enough of free space on it(minimum 20GB or more). Also, it is extremely important that you backup everything before you proceed. Now then, on the C: partition, right click on it and select option shrink volume.
We will get a prompt where we need to enter how much our new partition will have disk space. In the field – enter the amount of space to shrink in MB: we need to enter the space amount of our new partition in megabytes. If you have 20 GB or more enter 20 000 or 30 000 for 30 gb as an example. After that, click on the Shrink button. Once the process is finished, we can format the newly created partition(optional).
Select the new partition, right click on it and select the option - New Simple Volume. Follow the dialog box and finish formatting the partition. Once the process is finished, you can close the disk management tool, insert the Ubuntu bootable USB, restart the PC and load the ISO.
Ubuntu installation
The first screen we will get at the start of the installation is a prompt where we need to choose do we want to start Live CD mode or start the installation. We’ll start the installation. Click Install Ubuntu.
This is the screen where we need to setup our keyboard layout and language.
On this screen, the installation is offering to download updates while the Ubuntu is installing and also to download and install additional drivers. This is usually a recommended step. It is not necessary but if we need to install the updates and the drivers, we’ll need to do it afterwards after the installation is done. Also, for this to work, we need to have our PC connected to the internet via ethernet cable.
Formatting Ubuntu partitions and dual boot setup
Now here starts an important step. Ubuntu installation is offering us a couple of choices to choose from how to install Ubuntu. First option is the simplest and easiest - Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10. This means that the Ubuntu installation has already detected Windows 10 per-installed on the PC. In this post we will cover the process using that option, but you can check it how to use it on this link
This time we will go with the last option - Something else. Where we’ll partition the disk for Ubuntu and setup the dual boot manually.
Here we have the partition edit screen. On the bottom of the screen is a drop-down field - Device for boot loader installation. This is important as we need to choose the location for the GRUB bootloader to install, since the bootloader will allow us to dual boot Windows and Ubuntu. In the dropdown field, all HDDs and partitions will be listed. Our primary HDD must be selected on the list, since that way we will the installation to install GRUB bootloader before Windows, meaning that GRUB bootloader needs to start before Windows starts to boot in order to have dual boot options.
In the middle of the window, all our partitions are listed. We will use the last partition in the list. We know that is our newly created partition since it has almost no used up space. Double click on the partition in order to open the format options prompt.
On this prompt we must make couple of changes. First, for the option - Use as, select the option Ext4 journaling file system. Check the option - format the partition. In the mount point select the / character. The forward slash character / is representation for system partition and that we tell the installation to install Ubuntu in that partition.
When you get this prompt, click continue.
We will return again to edit partition screen. We see now the new changes applied to our new partition. Before continuing, make sure the partition is correct according to your setup and bootloader installation has the right location as well. Select the new partition and click install now.
The next screen will ask to choose our location.
User account creation
On this screen we need to setup our user account with password and enter the computer name. After this screen, installation will start and it will take a while to complete.
FInishing up
Once the installation has been completed, remove the bootable USB and restart the PC.
We will know that we have successfully installed Ubuntu with dual boot if we get this screen. This is the GRUB bootloader menu. This menu will allow us to dual boot Ubuntu and Windows . As you can see in the picture above, the GRUB has detected both operating systems and are listed in the menu.
Summary
We managed successfully to dual boot windows 10 and Ubuntu. But we took a longer way to do it. It’s not difficult, you just need to know the layout of your partitions. But if it still feels intimidating and you run the installation for the first time, you can install Ubuntu with option install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10, where the installation will do everything instead of you. Including the dual boot setup as well. Using this option, you just need to allocate the free HDD space for your Ubuntu system(you’ll have a slider to allocate HDD space).
I hope you found the post useful and easy to follow. Thank your for your time.