dual-boot Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Should I install Linux to dual-boot with Windows or install it on a different drive?

Posted on August 15, 2020

Question from Jackie D.: Rick, I read your post about replacing Windows with Linux and I’d really like to give Ubuntu Linux a try. The thing is I don’t want to get rid of Windows.

I read that you have a choice of either installing Ubuntu to dual-boot with Windows or placing it on a separate hard drive. I’d like to know which way you think I should go.

My computer is a Gateway desktop PC with an Intel Core i3 CPU and 8 Gigs of RAM.

This machine originally had a 750 GB hard drive with Windows 7 on it, but a while back I installed a 240GB SSD as the boot drive and left the hard drive connected as a secondary drive. I have also upgraded the Windows 7 to Windows 10.

My question is should I install Ubuntu on the SSD to dual-boot with Windows 10 or install it on the hard drive? And if I install it on the hard drive how will I tell the machine whether I want to boot into Windows or Ubuntu?

I know this is a long, drawn out question and I really appreciate you taking the time to help me decide which way I should go with this. Thanks a bunch!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I remove the ‘Boot Menu’ from my computer?

Posted on January 9, 2017

Question from Kevin B.: When Windows 10 was released I installed it, but I also decided to also keep Windows 8.1 so I could boot into either version at any time.

I had been booting into Windows 8.1 every now and then to access some files I have on there, but I recently discovered that the Windows 8.1 installation is no longer activated because its product key was transferred to Windows 10.

I guess that means I won’t be using Windows 8.1 any longer.

How can I have my computer skip the Boot Menu and boot directly into Windows 10? I’d just delete the Window 8.1 partition but I have a bunch of files in there that I don’t want to lose.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Can I install Windows 7 on a second hard drive in my Windows 8 PC without losing any data?

Posted on July 6, 2013

Question from Antonio V.: I recently bought a Dell Inspiron 660s desktop PC from Amazon. It came with Windows 8 and I am very unhappy with it. I love the computer though.

I have installed a second hard drive and I was wondering if can install Windows 7 Pro (full retail version) on the second drive without losing any of my photos and other files that are on the Windows 8 drive?

After I transfer everything over I’ll remove Windows 8 and use Windows 7 exclusively. Thanks for your help in advance.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

How to change the boot order on a dual-boot Microsoft Windows/Ubuntu Linux system

Posted on January 25, 2013

change-boot-order If you have a dual-boot system which lets you boot your PC into either Microsoft Windows or Ubuntu Linux, odds are the default O.S. is Ubuntu.

If you boot the computer into Ubuntu most of the time, this works out great. You can just press the PC’s power button and go grab a snack or something, then return to an Ubuntu Desktop ready and waiting for you.

But if you boot into Windows more than Ubuntu, you have to sit at the computer and wait for the Boot Menu to appear so you can instruct the computer to boot into Windows instead of Ubuntu. If you find yourself having to do this on a regular basis you can easily change the boot order of the operating systems on your PC and make Windows the default. [Read more…]

How to install Windows 8…and keep Windows 7 too!

Posted on January 9, 2013

dual-boot Do you want to install Windows 8 and still keep your existing Windows 7 installation too? Well, you can by setting up a dual boot system. Here’s how:

1 – Purchase a copy of your preferred version of Windows 8. In order to set up a dual boot system you’ll need to spring for a full retail copy, not a Windows 8 upgrade package.

If you buy Windows 8 in a brick and mortar store (say from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.) you’ll be all set to proceed once you get home with it. But if you buy it online and download the Windows 8 ISO file you’ll need to burn it onto a blank DVD. Either way, once you have a Windows 8 installation disc at the ready, proceed to step 2. [Read more…]