Configure dual operating systems on identical storage device
Configure dual operating systems on identical storage device
Typically, when setting up a dual boot between Linux and Windows, the operating systems remain on separate drives to avoid conflicts. Since you only have one drive, you might be wondering if there’s a way to keep Windows from interfering with your Linux installation. I understand you’re curious about Ubuntu’s feature for installing alongside Windows, but it doesn’t apply to other distributions. Let me know if you’d like more details!
It's not limited to Ubuntu; actually, I usually set up Linux that way most of the time. Sure, they were mainly based on Debian, with a few RH-style variations. I tend to skip it now, but for instance, my laptop runs both Windows 10 and Linux Mint from the same storage: I reduced the OS partition, then added Mint to the leftover space and let GRUB handle the selection each time. I think newer Windows versions are more intelligent about pairing with Linux too, but I haven't tried it. Instead, I follow the classic method—create a partition, install Windows first, then add Linux. The installer will advise whether you need to completely remove Windows or not, and make sure you pick the right installation type carefully, avoiding any deletions you're unsure about.
Because I prefer sharing this with dual-boot users, configuring GRUB_DEFAULT to saved and GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT to true in grub.cfg (or /etc/default/grub) ensures GRUB recalls the last OS you booted and uses it as the default. This eliminates the need for manual updates every time you restart.