Planning to set up Linux on a split SSD for dual-booting with Windows 10?
Planning to set up Linux on a split SSD for dual-booting with Windows 10?
Ubuntu and Debian already offer excellent drivers and support because they're widely used. Fedora could work too, though its content is more experimental. For a stable setup, consider a Debian-based distribution instead. Installing Linux without modifying the bootloader is tricky—I'm not sure how to proceed.
I don't believe the Windows bootloader would support choosing a Linux-based OS (maybe it's not). It seems like Grub is quite stubborn if you switch drives or operating systems. Have you looked into KDE Plasma or Linux Mint desktop? Just offering more choices to keep you thinking longer about this decision.
I've tried using the Windows bootloader to launch Linux before. The Windows bootloader should function. You might simply install Linux directly, let it replace the Windows bootloader, and then proceed with the instructions to reinstall the bootloader.
Might need to attempt using the Windows bootloader, since each time Grub boots one of my machines, it appears to cause issues consistently...
Previously I used Ubuntu 10 with Grub causing many MBR issues. On Windows 10 I upgraded for free since I was on Windows 8.1 and don’t want to risk it again! I also tried KDE, so the stack is KDE > Gnome > LXDE. My Debian chroot runs LXDE, while Fedora on VM uses GNOME because KDE doesn’t work well with VMware.
I set up a dual boot with Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16. I installed Windows first, then split your drive in half so you install Windows on the first part and Ubuntu on the second. The Windows bootloader will be detected automatically and added to the boot menu, defaulting to Ubuntu. Use the arrow keys to choose between them.
If you divide a drive without Windows, your limited 256GB boot drive can still work for basic tasks.
It's a bit delayed, but you can easily switch between Linux and Windows using GRand Unified Bootloader (GRUB). I'm almost certain that once you install Linux after Windows, GRUB will locate your Windows setup and include it in the options available at startup.
I hope I could try that. Windows 10 with all its updates and Visual Studio already uses 85% of my 256 SSD! Not a problem at all!! If I partition my second 500 GB SDD for Ubuntu (maybe around 256 GB) and set the boot order, will Grub still recognize Windows 10? What if one day I decide to switch back to Windows drive? Would the MBR remain intact after deleting Ubuntu?