Setup a dual operating system by combining Linux Mint with another distribution.
Setup a dual operating system by combining Linux Mint with another distribution.
I’m not very pleased with how MS manages privacy. Noticing that I only really need Windows for certain games and MS Office, I’m considering dual booting with Linux Mint. My current setup includes an i5 3570K, 16 GB DDR3 RAM, an AMD HD 7950, a 256 GB Samsung 830 SSD, and a 2x1TB Seagate HDD on an MSI motherboard with dual 1080p monitors. Here’s the problem: I have dual monitors and have been using Display Fusion. I’d like to experience something similar in Linux, just like I do with Windows 10 and Fusion. Also, it’s been a while since I last used Linux—Ubuntu on an XP machine. Do you still support separate swap partitions in Linux? I’m thinking about reinstalling Windows. How should I handle partitioning between Windows and Linux? Remember, my Steam library is stored on one of my hard drives. Should I convert one of them to EXT format or keep everything as NTFS? Also, I mainly plan to use Linux for online video streaming (YouTube, Kodi) and chatting via Hangouts. If Hangouts works in Linux, that would be great. Mostly, I’m not a heavy gamer anymore, so I can stick with Windows for gaming.
The recommended approach is to check your disk, manually create half of it (or any size you prefer for Windows), and format it as NTFS. Then install Windows on that partition. After that, use Mint on the remaining unallocated space. The installation tool will handle all the necessary partitions automatically. A swap isn't required since you have ample system memory. You can delete the swap later and resize the main drive with gparted if needed. Dual monitors should function properly after adjusting settings in the display manager.
You can select a dual-boot setup during the installation of Ubuntu. I don’t know if Mint offers this option out of the box.
Mint is derived from Ubuntu and functions identically in dual-boot scenarios.
Additionally, I’m looking for software recommendations. Even though Linux has a low risk of viruses, I’d still need reliable antivirus and firewall tools. Avast is what I pay for, but I feel it mainly covers business needs. I’m seeking a solid AV solution. Since I have a router, I think extra protection is important. I also want a user-friendly firewall program to keep things simple.
ClamAV exists but might not match closed-source performance. On Windows (or possibly Mac), only AVs from trusted sources are available. Another choice is to restrict installations to default repos or reputable companies. It's simpler to verify safe software on Linux compared to Windows.
Canonical's Unity stands out as an excellent multi-monitor setup, though it’s no longer supported officially on Ubuntu. The transition back to GNOME is understandable but represents a bittersweet chapter that others have covered elsewhere. You’re in the non-Windows community now—please explain further. I’m unfamiliar with Windows beyond basic use on a budget laptop or VM. With at least 8GB RAM, swap isn’t necessary unless you rely on suspend. The proprietary Nvidia drivers on Ubuntu and Debian can interfere with suspend, so I avoid using swap on my desktop. On my laptop with an integrated GPU, I manage swap freely in any location, whether a dedicated partition or a random file—this flexibility suits the Unix-POSIX environment perfectly. Start with Windows first, then install Linux with a custom partition; Linux requires less than 20GB. Don’t hesitate if your RAM and storage are modest—it’s not as demanding as running a low-end P4 with just 512MB of RAM! You could easily try a live USB or boot Ubuntu onto a roughly 20GB partition instead.
Commercial AV solutions often include software for Linux, so check online if your purchased version supports a Linux app. For firewall management, apt install ufw works well and is quite useful. A notable feature of ClamAV or other Linux AVs is the ability to scan Windows partitions even when offline. If you're into advanced scanning, tools like Snort can be run on Linux. You might find more tailored guidance by searching in Ubuntu or Arch Linux forums rather than relying solely on general advice.