Setting Up a Dual-Boot System With

Windows & Linux

Understanding how to navigate through a UNIX/Linux-based operating system is a crucial
skill for most computer scientists. After using the same operating system for your
whole life the idea of switching to a new one can seem daunting. The goal of this
guide is to provide a beginner-friendly option for learning Linux while still having
access to their traditional Windows machine.

Getting Started

🧰 Materials 📖 Technical Terminology

To complete the steps in this Term Definition
guide, you will first need:
Partition A specific division of a
➢ A USB Flash Drive (~8 GB) harddrive’s storage.
➢ Stable Internet Connection Console A command-line interface
➢ Existing Storage Space (~32 providing advanced
GB) control of their PC.

Boot To start a computer or

processing unit into a
usable state.

Choosing a Linux Distribution

There are countless different variations of Linux known as

“distributions”. Each one is tailored to a certain type of user
and has its own advantages/disadvantages.

We will be installing the Linux Mint distribution in this guide as it

is a very user-friendly distribution with many similarities to Windows
that make it a great entry point. However, these steps are generic enough
to be followed along with any other distribution.

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 Warning!
Even if you successfully follow all of the instructions in this guide, it’s possible
for other issues (such as hardware failure) to disrupt/corrupt the process.

It is highly suggested that you create a backup of your data before continuing to
ensure that none of your information is lost.

Instructions

Part A) Creating a Bootable USB

1. Download The Linux Mint ISO File

The first step is to acquire a copy of the Linux distribution

that we want to install. Each distribution typically has its own
website associated with it.

The first result for “Linux Mint download” on the internet will
bring up the official website along with the ISO (a type of file that
stores what would typically be found on an operating system’s
installation disk) file download that we are looking for.

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2. Download A USB Writing Software

In order to set up your

USB flash drive, you must use a
special software to
“write/burn” the operating
system onto your flash drive,
allowing your computer to boot
directly through it.

For this guide, I suggest

using ‘balenaEtcher’. Download
the installer from the website
and follow the corresponding prompts.

3. Write the Linux Mint OS Onto the Flash Drive

Once both the Linux ISO and flash drive writing software have
been set up, we can finally set up the bootable drive that will
contain the tools we need to install Linux:

i. Begin by plugging in
your flash drive to your
computer.
ii. Click the ‘Flash from
file’ button within the
balenaEtcher tool and
select the Linux ISO file
you downloaded.
iii. Click the ‘Select
Target’ button and select
the device name of your
flash drive.
iv. Click the ‘Flash!’
button once both the ISO
file and target drive have
been selected to begin the
process.

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 Part B) Adjusting Your Harddrive Partition

4. Accessing The Windows Terminal

Before installing Linux, we must section out space on the

computer harddrive that will house the new OS. This type of advanced
configuration is typically done through computer terminal/console
windows.

To access the Windows console,

open the “Run Program” prompt (as
seen in the right image) by
pressing the following shortcut:
“Winkey + R”
Enter the text ‘cmd’ into the
box and press enter to finally
bring up the console window.

Part C) Installing Linux

5. Booting Your Flash Drive