Windows 10 and Ubuntu are popular operating systems with distinct features.
Windows 10 and Ubuntu are popular operating systems with distinct features.
You're looking for a way to run both Windows 10 and Ubuntu side by side, but you want to ensure that one doesn't block the other. Since you previously had issues where Ubuntu would prevent Windows from booting, you're seeking a method that allows both operating systems to coexist without conflict. There are options like using a dual-boot setup with proper partitioning and boot order, or exploring live environments such as virtual machines or USB-based dual-boots. It's also worth checking if your system can be configured to prioritize one OS over the other during boot.
Does your setup use UEFI or BIOS? If BIOS is present, dual booting becomes tricky—installing Ubuntu will replace the existing bootloader with Linux’s GRUB2, and formatting the drive with Ubuntu removes Grub entirely, which affects the system’s ability to start. To restore Grub, you’ll need a Windows 10 installable media (DVD or USB) to rebuild the MBR. On the other hand, if you have UEFI enabled, adjusting settings in the UEFI interface can allow switching between bootloaders since it relies on file-based configurations.
The two bootloaders compete and try to take control. You have four different operating systems installed on separate SSDs. To prevent them from fighting, just disconnect all but the SSD you're installing first. Then use a single main bootloader to start the other OS bootloaders. This usually works well.
It's challenging to pinpoint because each operating system uses a unique method for handling bootloaders. Most of this discussion focuses on UEFI rather than BIOS. I understand that Linux will set GRUB2 as the default, but it doesn't take precedence over other EFI boot files. Regarding Windows, I'm uncertain but I recall it attempted to wipe my Linux installation at some point. After installing Windows 10, using it, rebooting into Linux, and encountering a corrupted filesystem, I permanently removed Windows 10 from my PC. In multiboot scenarios, it's difficult to say as you must have the SSD or HDD connected for the OS Prober to locate them and add them to its bootloader.
Windows' initialization process can replace or overwrite GRUB2. In my configuration, it adds extra hassle when I need to reinstall an operating system, particularly on non-Windows systems where I must detach the M.2 SSD for Windows. Instead of dealing with conflicting bootloaders, I prefer disconnecting the other OS's SATA cables and opt for a safer approach. I usually keep OS Prober disabled in my Linux installations since it doesn't fit my needs. For others, using GRUB2 alongside Windows and Ubuntu could work well. Alternatively, you might consider relying on the Windows bootloader and employing tools like EasyUEFI to install Ubuntu.
I still rely on GRUB2 for my Linux installations – it actually runs its own version of GRUB2. My configuration uses Clover as the primary bootloader, so after the POST it launches Clover which presents me with four operating systems. I pick one and let the OS bootloader handle the transition. With Ubuntu, it starts from Clover, then switches to Ubuntu's GRUB2 with its own entries before booting. This setup involves two bootloaders working together (except on Mac, where Clover is the sole bootloader). I can bypass this by choosing any OS with its own bootloader during POST, or I can switch to UEFI BIOS and adjust the boot order if needed (though pressing F11 during POST lets me select a bootloader).