Set up Mint and Ubuntu on a 4-partition drive while keeping W10 and W11 active.
Set up Mint and Ubuntu on a 4-partition drive while keeping W10 and W11 active.
I’m exploring Linux with an open attitude. My old W10 system has four partitions, each labeled after the OS I want—W10, W11, Mint, and Ubuntu. This setup helped avoid conflicts when installing new OSes. After switching to W11, I was able to see the partitions clearly and even dual-boot successfully. I also prepared flash drives for Mint and Ubuntu, which proved useful since my wireless keyboard worked fine in Linux mode. However, installing both Mint and Ubuntu felt uneven; one was easier than the other, and I had to manually check each partition for existing OSes. The process of creating partitions seemed confusing, especially when the labels didn’t match the actual names. My main worry is that overwriting Windows partitions could cause issues later. I’m hoping there’s a more reliable method to install these distros without damaging the existing system. My aim is to test all options and find the best fit for my needs. This comparison feels off, like expectations are shaped by corporate interests rather than pure testing. Booting into W11 was a relief—it didn’t damage anything.
I'm sorry that this is being more grumpy than you expected. I just tried booting my system from a mint live usb, and can confirm that this isn't the easiest screen to read. This screen will show you every drive and partition that is currently connected to the system. The entries that read "sd<some_letter>" without a number suffix are the drives themselves, not partitions. ( EDIT: and if you select one of these, it will wipe the existing partition table for that drive and start over.) The ones that read "sd<some_letter><some_number>" are your actual partitions. The usb stick that you are booting from will probably have at least 3 partitions of its own. (The boot image, a separate space for logging, and the remainder of the drive as free space) There are probably some (smaller) Windows System Recovery partitions in the list as well. I'm not sure why the installer doesn't show system volume names by default, but fortunately there is an easy way to see which partition identifier is which: Open a terminal window. On the mint live desktop, (Cinnamon edition at least. Other variants may have it placed elsewhere) this is a little black icon with a $ symbol, lower left on the taskbar thing. (not sure what Cinnamon technically calls it) NOTE: you can open a terminal while the installer window is active. Type lsblk -f and press enter. Note which drive designation corresponds to the volume label that you want to use. Edited March 26, 2023 by sailsman63 Addeed a detail
I tried Cinnamon, that’s the version I experimented with. I plan to try it again later. I promise there was a method to choose the drive. I hoped when I pick the SSD it would only display partitions on that specific drive. Yes, there are recovery partitions too. In Windows setups I can also see them, though they’re labeled clearly. Interestingly, every Windows user fears having to memorize obscure codes in Linux, but modern Linux is much more user-friendly—similar to Windows if you’re new to it. That’s exactly what I encountered.
Well, much like Windows users, Linux enthusiasts instinctively understand the tools they rely on daily. I had to look up the specific command I mentioned. The only relevant technical detail was that both Linux and Windows use "Volume Labels." I noted that quad-booting feels unusual even for dedicated nix fans, making the installation process somewhat unconventional rather than inherently better.
It functioned somewhat. I chose to concentrate on Mint initially and remove W10, opting for a dual boot setup between W11 and Mint. I removed the W10 and Ubuntu partition and combined them with W11 and the Mint partition. There are still many partitions, but thanks to your advice, I could identify them more easily—they should display the default volume label. In BIOS I need to adjust the boot settings between Windows Boot Manager and Ubuntu (Mint is built on Ubuntu), which is acceptable. Luckily, both sound and internet access work except for my wireless keyboard. It runs slowly compared to W11. Since it's a dual-core system, W11 performs better. They seem to make frequent updates. I searched for dual boot guides and found at least two very different methods. It worked even when I ignored those steps. I attempted to remove the password, but the instructions didn't match my login screen. I also tried command-line tools, but they couldn't recognize the autologin command. This is much simpler in Windows. It gets better with updates—it asks for the password again now. This reminds me of the iPad I use at work (and dislike). It needed some updates and required selecting certain sources. I’m not sure about the password-over-password method. I also want to access my Windows PC’s HDD from my Windows setup (which is configured for W11). I’ve read that I need to handle Samba, but sharing it prompts me to join a firewall group. I tried following those steps but gave up trying to figure out the folder path. So far, I’ve done straightforward tasks in Windows that are easy and don’t demand much effort. I now fully grasp why people who work with computers or just enjoy Linux often prefer it. However, if you mainly use software and the OS is meant for running that software, this isn’t ideal. You can probably accomplish many things, but it takes time and patience. I’m considering returning to W11. I tried to give it another shot, but I don’t see a clear benefit over W11 (especially after learning how to install it on non-TPM systems). I understand Windows ME or Vista were problematic... but W10/11 are excellent. My impression of W11 improved as I experimented with Linux.
It seems this topic isn't quite what you expected. Cinnamon is often considered a strong desktop option, which explains the slowness. I'm puzzled why W11 feels quicker. In Linux distributions, there are typically around 15 different approaches to accomplish tasks, and the best one depends largely on personal taste. This particular method would need some back-and-forth with screenshots, which relates to security concerns. Determining whether commands come from you or a running program under your username is quite challenging. In reality, most commands are just small programs performing specific actions. Certain filesystem areas will also need higher privileges to change. These instructions are mainly for sharing across networks. If you wish to experiment with files on both Windows and Linux sides, it's better to create a partition dedicated to shared data. You can format it from the Windows perspective—it's fairly straightforward for Linux to read NTFS partitions—but getting Windows to interpret Linux file systems is more complex. Unless you're experienced, avoid letting Windows interact directly with Linux OS files.
I hoped for a lightweight system with basic, reliable performance—something you can quickly use without hassle. I understand that advanced features will add complexity. Setting up a standard PC for streaming, watching videos, and occasional browsing should feel straightforward. I acknowledge network sharing could be tricky, and Windows sometimes has trouble handling devices without passwords (it forces me to adjust settings even when I don’t have one).
Getting things organized in W11 took some time, but cleaning up bloat, privacy concerns, and other tasks was pretty easy. Once the clutter is gone, Windows can run smoothly and quickly once you remove unnecessary elements. It’s a shame Microsoft doesn’t start with a clean installation. The main drawback seems to be the need for passwords, which can be frustrating if you’re in a hurry or need quick access.
In my home setup, I often worry about security—like someone interrupting me while logged in and changing commands. It reminds me of how Windows’ UAC felt back in Vista, but now it requires typing a password instead of just clicking.
On the speed side, switching to W11 feels instantaneous (no spinning wheel), whereas Mint lags with its rainbow interface. I’m not saying Linux is perfect, but for media use, it’s manageable if you have the bandwidth.
I appreciate trying Windows and learning what works, but if you’re already comfortable or need reliability, sticking to Linux might be better. Still, I hope my experience helps others who prefer a simpler path.
When setting up a dual boot between Linux and Windows, it's wise to start with Windows first. It generates an EFI/MBR partition that guides the CPU on which OS is installed. If you begin with Linux, Windows locates the existing EFI/MBR and replaces it, ensuring only Windows boots. (It’s not the end of the world—just use the live USB and run Boot Repair.) During Mint installation, when you choose "other," you'll see a display that helps identify the partitions. Even if they aren't labeled as specific Windows versions, the filesystem type should appear as NTFS. Another hint is that the partitions should be blank and unformatted. For example, a 1 TB drive split evenly by four should list 250,000 MB (250Gb) in size with zero used space. If you're still unsure, capture a screenshot of this setup in the Mint installer and we can point out which partitions might be the empty ones.
I initially set up W10 and W11. For everyday tasks, dual boot seems useful mainly for testing an operating system. In normal situations, I wouldn’t rely on Linux even if I have W11 installed. My setup will ultimately consist of either one OS or the other. Your perspective is accurate and useful. However, most people aren’t aware of concepts like NTFS or the need for ext4, and they just want to start using the PC and perform basic activities. Windows handles this effortlessly without requiring any steps. I’m not sure if Linux developers aim to exclude casual users who only need simple apps. Still, it definitely feels like Linux is meant for those who enjoy tinkering, researching, or participating in forums. If you prefer not to or lack the time for all that, Windows remains a better choice. Despite my preference for sticking with Microsoft’s approach—especially to avoid bloatware and privacy concerns—I still find Windows more straightforward overall. Linux could become more appealing if it offered a simpler installation process (perhaps with beginner and advanced options) and required minimal command-line interaction. Mint is trying to emulate XP, but making it even more user-friendly would help bridge the gap.
I accept this arrangement. Yes, typical Windows users usually don’t understand which file system their computer uses—be it NTFS, FAT, or others like EXT4, BTRFS, JFS. They purchase laptops from major retailers and simply turn them on to access basic functions such as email or gaming. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, setting up both Linux and Windows can be challenging. Most people who receive vague instructions like “install Linux” expect to change BIOS settings, then boot from a USB drive to format and partition storage for an OS. In short, installing an operating system for the first time can be tricky since every BIOS behaves differently. Options like F12, DEL, or F2 exist, but they vary widely. Once installed, both Windows and Linux become user-friendly enough for even older users. While some claim grandmas can use Linux, it’s unrealistic—similar goes for Windows 10 and 11 on the same machine. Windows 11 needs special setup in a virtual environment, whereas Windows 10 works well in a VM. Consider trying alternative desktop environments like Fedora Workstation, Mint, or Garuda KDE Dr160N instead of full distributions. You can experiment with these in VirtualBox or by booting from a USB drive to practice formatting and partitioning. Good luck and enjoy the process!