Installing Two Operating Systems on Your PC: Dual Boot Guide

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Set up two different OSes on the same desktop or laptop
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It can be useful to have two operating systems installed on your computer. Maybe you want to run both Windows 10 and Linux, or Windows 11 and an older version of Windows. No matter which OS you want to install, it will be easy to set up a dual boot scenario on any PC. This wikiHow article will teach you how to install two operating systems on one computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Make sure to back up important data before starting the partitioning process.
  • To start, you’ll need to install Windows and create a bootable drive.
  • Install the second operating system on the unallocated partition space.
Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Create a Bootable Drive

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  1. Install Windows . If you haven't already done so, you should install Windows before installing any other operating systems. Other operating systems, such as Linux are designed so they can work alongside Windows. If you have not installed an operating system on your PC, make sure you install Windows first. [1]
  2. Navigate to https://rufus.ie/ in a web browser. This is the web page to download Rufus which is a tool used to create a USB install drive that you can use to install an operating system on your computer.
    • You can also use an official install CD or DVD.
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  3. Use the following steps to download and install Rufus from the download page.
    • Scroll down and click Rufus 3.8
    • Run the "Rufus-3.8.exe" from within your web browser or Downloads folder.
  4. A disk image is data that goes on an install disk, DVD, or USB drive. You will need to go to the website of the operating system you want to download and download the ISO file from that website. The following links contain operating system ISO images you can download:
  5. Make sure the USB drive has enough space for the operating system you want to install. Also, make sure the USB drive you use doesn't have any important data that you don't want to lose. Insert the USB drive into an open USB port on your computer.
  6. It has an icon that resembles a USB flash drive. Click the Rufus icon in your Windows Start menu to open Rufus.
  7. Use the drop-down menu below "Devices" to select your USB flash drive.
  8. It's the button to the right of "Boot Selection" in Rufus. This opens a file browser you can use to select the ISO file for the operating system you want to install.
  9. This loads the ISO file into Rufus.
  10. It's at the bottom of Rufus on the right. This starts the process of righting the ISO file to the USB drive. This may take a while to complete.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Create a New Partition

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  1. Make a backup of any important data files. You can usually partition a disk drive and install a new operating system without losing any important data. However, it's a good idea to back up any important data on your disk drive before you start partitioning and installing a new operating system just in case something goes wrong.
  2. It's the icon with the Windows logo. By default, it's in the lower-left corner in the taskbar.
  3. It's in the menu that appears when you right-click on the Windows Start menu. This opens the Disk Management window.
  4. This is the drive that Windows is installed on. Usually, this is the "C:" drive.
  5. It's in the window the menu that pops up when you right-click on a disk drive in Disk Management.
  6. Type the number of megabytes (MB) you want to partition from the disk drive in the field next to "Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB". Make sure you enter the minimum space required to install the new operating system. [2]
    • To convert GB to MB, simply multiply by 1000. For example, 40 GB is equivalent to 40,000 MB.
  7. This creates a new partition of unallocated space on your hard drive.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Prepare Your PC

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  1. The following steps allow you to turn off Fast Boot on Windows.
    • Click the Windows Start menu.
    • Type Control Panel and click the Control Panel icon
    • Type Power Options in the search bar in the upper-right corner.
    • Click "Choose what the power button does".
    • Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable".
    • Make sure the box that says "Turn on fast startup (Recommended)" at the bottom is not checked.
    • Click Save changes .
  2. Enter your computer BIOS . You'll need to make some changes to the BIOS in order to install a second operating system. The method for entering the BIOS is different from one computer's make and model to the next. On some computers, you can enter the BIOS by pressing one of the functions keys (F1, F2, F9, F12), Esc, or Delete while your computer boots up. You can also use the following steps to reboot into the BIOS from within Windows:
    • Click the Windows Start menu.
    • Click the Power icon.
    • Hold "Shift" and click Restart .
    • Click Troubleshoot .
    • Click Advanced Options: UEFI Firmware Settings
    • Click Restart .
  3. The BIOS menu is different from one computer make and model to the next. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate the BIOS menu. Secure Boot is usually found in the Security, Boot, or Authentication menu. Locate Secure Boot and set it to "Disabled".
  4. Set the Boot order to boot from a USB drive first . This is usually found in the Boot menu. Locate the boot order menu and set it so it boots from a USB drive first.
    • If you are using an install CD or DVD, set it to install from the CD/DVD-Rom first.
  5. After making the necessary changes to your BIOS system, locate the option to save your settings. Select the option to save and exit the BIOS to save and reboot your computer.
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Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Install the Operating System

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  1. If you used Rufus to create a USB install disk, insert the USB flash drive into an open USB port on your computer. If you are using a CD or DVD install disk, insert it into your CD/DVD-Rom drive.
  2. If your computer is powered on, go ahead and restart it. Otherwise, press the power button on your computer so that it boots from the install disk.
  3. If your computer properly boots from the Install disk, you should see the setup program for the operating system.
  4. The setup program for each operating system is a little different. Generally, you will start by selecting your language and keyboard layout.
  5. Some operating systems, such as Ubuntu are free to install. Other operating systems, such as Windows, require you to purchase a CD key or serial number. If asked to enter a serial number or CD key, enter the numbers in the space provided.
  6. When selecting the installation type, select "Custom", "Other", "Something Else" or similar. Selecting a standard installation may overwrite your current operating system.
  7. When installing a new operating system, you will be asked to select which drive you want to install it on and format the drive. Select the unallocated space you partitioned earlier.
    • If you are installing Linux you will need to format the drive as Ext4
    • If you are installing Ubuntu, you will also need to format a section of the unallocated space as a swap area. This area should be equivalent to the amount of RAM you have installed on your computer.
  8. You will most likely be asked to create a username and password for your new operating system as well as set your time & date settings. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
  9. Once you install two or more operating systems on your computer, you will see a menu asking which operating system you want to load when you boot up your PC. Restart your computer to switch between operating systems.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I run two operating systems on Windows 10?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you have 10 total partitions. Windows 10 needs 5 partitions to run a single operating system—therefore, you'll need 10 partitions to run 2 operating systems on your hard drive.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 51 Helpful 9
  • Question
    How can I use two operating systems at once?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you're mapping out your partitions correctly. In some cases, people will set up partitions and install their first operating system, but then realize that there's not enough space for a second one.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 4
  • Question
    Why would I need two operating systems?
    Community Answer
    You may need two operating systems for reasons of compatibility, features, recovering your computer in case of errors and file corruptions, and running programs for different systems. For example, your computer may run Windows 7 x64 and Windows XP Professional (x32) -- one for modern programs and one for older DOS/Windows programs. Having two operating systems can also help if one of the operating systems fail -- you can boot into the functioning operating system(s) and try to diagnose the problem.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • It's easiest to install a new operating system on a new computer since there is little to back up/reinstall. However, some new computers that ship with preinstalled operating systems don't include all the required drivers. You'll want to make sure you have the required drivers before installing a new operating system.
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      • Some pairs of operating systems can coexist on the same partition, while others can't. Either check their documentation or make a separate partition for each operating system.
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      • If installing multiple versions of Windows, it's generally recommended to install the older version first.
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      • A USB Flash Drive or install disk for a second operating system.
      • A computer with enough hard drive space to install a second operating system.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.pcworld.com/article/2955460/dual-booting-linux-with-windows-what-you-need-to-know.html
      2. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 March 2021

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Download and install Rufus from https://rufus.ie/ .
      2. Download the ISO file for the operating system you want to install.
      3. Use Rufus to create a USB install disk from the ISO file.
      4. Create a partition for the new operating system in Disk Management.
      5. Disable Fast Boot in the Windows Control Panel.
      6. Boot into the computer BIOS and disable Secure Boot.
      7. Set the Boot order to boot from the USB drive first.
      8. Boot your computer from the USB Install disk.
      9. Select your language and keyboard layout.
      10. Select the "Custom" or "Other" install option while installing the new operating system.
      11. Select the new disk partition and format it.
      12. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

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