Move drive files without updating the operating system.
Move drive files without updating the operating system.
About a month ago I set up my Windows laptop with Fedora. I’m thinking about switching to a dual-boot configuration now, but I’m concerned about doing it without fully reformatting the drive and reinstalling everything. Is it feasible to achieve this without those steps?
You can achieve this using Gparted or other driver utilities on Linux.
ATM defines the partition layout. It seems optimal to reduce the size by roughly 60% in part3.
Usually you should set up Windows first, then install Linux. Otherwise, Windows might overwrite the bootloader, which can cause problems.
The bootloader restoration process isn’t overly complex, but it can feel daunting for someone new to Linux. It’s wise to learn the steps before switching to Windows, even if you’ll later check your work in Windows. You might need a Fedora install or a bootable USB drive. Some systems include a simple tool on their media, while others don’t (Fedora is an exception). In extreme scenarios, follow these actions: 1) start with the live USB, 2) enter chroot into your current setup, 3) execute the required command to recover the bootloader. The exact process depends on your configuration and bootloader type. If UEFI is active, you could simply pick the correct boot option in BIOS after Windows boots and restore it from there—either via the operating system or directly from BIOS, depending on your hardware. Yes, even with UEFI enabled, Windows can still treat itself as the primary boot point and erase other entries unless you disable it.
Alright, it seems like you installed Fedora with its default settings. Meaning, you'll have to do some more work to resize partition 3 since it is an LVM Physical Volume. Here's a guide to shrink that LVM PV for a windows install: https://centoshelp.org/resources/post-in...partition/ (Make sure you're on a linux live USB/CD when you do this) After following that guide, you have two options: 1. Grab/make a windows install USB with the Windows ISO+WoeUSB (On Linux) or using the Windows Media Creation Tool (Windows), boot into the windows installer and enter the command prompt. You'll need to setup windows to respect your existing EFI bootloader partition (Partition 1). (I found a guide that did this before, but forgot to save it/forgot right key words for a search.) 2. Install windows normally into that free space you created , letting it overwrite your existing EFI partition and then booting up to a <Insert Distro Here> live CD/USB to reinstall the distro's bootloader. Guide on the Arch Wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRUB