Step-by-step installation instructions with screenshots

Feb 19, 2016 04:40 GMT  ·  By

It is a long time since we've shown you guys how to dual boot a GNU/Linux distribution and the latest Microsoft Windows operating system on your personal computer.

There have been numerous requested recently for a tutorial that presents easy-to-read-and-follow instructions, with screenshots, on how to install the latest Ubuntu Linux operating system alongside Microsoft's recently released Windows 10 OS, which most of you know as dual booting.

Many users do not find it dropping their gaming station for a Linux OS tempting, despite the fact that the latter is receiving much attention from game developers lately. So, a dual boot system is something everyone is willing to try, but it was quite difficult to accomplish this task because of Microsoft's latest operating system.

We all know that Microsoft Windows is not Linux friendly, in the way that it does not recognize a Linux formatted disk drive or partition, nor it provides a proper bootloader that lets users boot a Linux kernel-based operating system, such as Ubuntu in our case. Above all that, many PCs that come preinstalled with Windows 10 have Secure Boot enabled by default.

So the first thing you want to do before attempting to install Ubuntu or any other Linux OS alongside Windows 10 is to enter your computer's BIOS/UEFI and disable the Secure Boot option (read the manual if you do not know where it is because there are different types of BIOSes). Make sure you read the update at the end of the article on the Secure Boot matter.

Partitioning your Windows 10 disk drive

Before installing Ubuntu, you need to partition the Windows 10 disk drive. There are two scenarios at this point, but first heck to see if you have a single partition dedicated to Windows 10 or multiple ones. In the first scenario you have a single partition that you need to shrink, but make sure you have enough free space to do that.

In the second scenario, you have two or multiple partitions, and you need to decide which one to erase for your new Ubuntu OS. In both cases, right-click on the Windows Start Menu, and choose the "Disk Management" entry from the context menu. In the first scenario, right-click on the (C:) drive and select the "Shrink Volume" option.

Set the size of the new partition for Ubuntu, which depends on how big the disk drive is and how much free space is available, so it is your decision, but keep in mind that you need at least 10GB for the installation of Ubuntu (20GB is recommended). Now close the Disk Management application and continue with the guide.

In the second scenario, choose the partition you want to erase, let's say (D:) if you only have two, and in the Disk Management application, right-click on the respective partition and select the "Delete Volume" option and you should have one of those "Unallocated" partitions, just like in the first scenario.

Opening Disk Management
Opening Disk Management
Skrinking the partition
Skrinking the partition

Getting Ubuntu and installing it

The latest Ubuntu release is available for download from the ubuntu.com website, make sure you download the 64-bit ISO image, which you need to write on a USB flash drive of 2GB or higher capacity using the instructions provided on the page where you have downloaded the Ubuntu ISO.

Once the USB installation is complete, insert the USB stick with Ubuntu on a free USB port on your computer, reboot the system, and immediately access the built-in boot menu to choose the USB drive and boot from it. Do not select UEFI USB (it won't recognize Windows 10)! - read the update below for details. Once you do that, you need to follow the instructions provided by us on how to install the latest Ubuntu Linux OS.

The only difference will be that when you arrive the screen where you have to choose where you want to install Ubuntu, you need to select the first option, "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10." Once the installation is complete, restart the computer. Choose between Ubuntu and Windows 10 via Ubuntu's bootloader (accessible with the Esc key).

Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10
Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10

Update: According to some users, there's no need to disable Secure Boot or not select UEFI boot for the Ubuntu OS when installing. Unfortunately, we were not able to make UEFI boot recognize our Windows 10 partition on our hardware, so if it works for you just ignore the Secure Boot and UEFI warning in the article. More details can be found at http://askubuntu.com/questions/221835/installing-ubuntu-on-a-pre-installed-windows-with-uefi/.

Photo Gallery (3 Images)

Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10
Opening Disk ManagementSkrinking the partition
Open gallery