Advice Request Linux mint alongside Windows

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anirbandutta01

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Jun 18, 2022
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I have Windows 10 Pro X64 installed on my desktop. Now if I want to install Linux Mint Mate X64 ( Dual boot ) can I get ' Install alongside Windows ' option in Mint Installer with drag to resize partition option? I don't want to create manual partition. ( I found this option when I tried to install Ubuntu )

If such type of option is not available then please help me with manual partition options. I know that first I have to shrink partion. By the way I have SSD with installed Windows ( UEFI ) and want to install Mint on SSD.


Awaiting for your kind help 🙏

Thanks in advance 👍

Love and respect you all ❤️
 
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Apr 21, 2016
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Yes, Linux Mint installer does offer an "Install alongside Windows" option similar to Ubuntu. It will automatically resize your partition. However, make sure to back up your data before proceeding, as there's always a risk of data loss during partition resizing. If this option doesn't appear, you'll need to manually partition your SSD. In this case, shrink your Windows partition from within Windows, then use the free space to create partitions for Linux Mint during the installation process.
 
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simmerskool

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Apr 16, 2017
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I have Windows 10 Pro X64 installed on my desktop. Now if I want to install Linux Mint Mate X64 ( Dual boot ) can I get ' Install alongside Windows ' option in Mint Installer with drag to resize partition option? I don't want to create manual partition. ( I found this option when I tried to install Ubuntu )

If such type of option is not available then please help me with manual partition options. I know that first I have to shrink partion. By the way I have SSD with installed Windows ( UEFI ) and want to install Mint on SSD.


Awaiting for your kind help 🙏

Thanks in advance 👍

Love and respect you all ❤️
Instead, consider VMware workstation, which is now FREE! it used to $200. You can install Mint in VM, and have other VMs too... :unsure:
 

Victor M

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I second @simmerskool 's view. Use a virtual machine, it is better than dual boot. a) if using Oracle VirtualBox, you can setup dynamically sized vm hd, it will start out small and grow as you put more things into that vm. b) as @simmerskool said, you can add many more Linux vm's as you go along. You will want to try other distro's, but dual boot will limit you depending if you pre-allocate spare empty partitions to allow for more distro's . The only thing about using vm's is that your Linux cannot use all of your ram, the vm hypervisor and host OS ( windows) will need to use 2gb. But any Linux will be happy with 6gb ( assuming you have 8 gb total )
 
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anirbandutta01

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Instead, consider VMware workstation, which is now FREE!
Does free workstation allow multiple OS or any limitations ?
dual boot will limit you depending if you pre-allocate spare empty partitions to allow for more distro's
So should I select VM location to C drive ( SSD ) or D drive ( HDD ). If I select C drive for VM location then after installation of multiple OS will it reduce SSD lifespan and performance?
 

SeriousHoax

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I haven't tried dual booting Linux Mint but I've been dual booting Windows and Linux for a while. The distros I have tried are openSUSE Tumbleweed, Fedora, Arch and some other arch based distros. AFAIK, Linux Mint similar to Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE works with secure boot out of the box. On your windows system just allocated some empty space where you want to install Linux by using Disk Management's shrink volume feature and while installing make Mint's installer choose that empty unallocated space and it should install in on that location.
Search, how to dual boot windows and linux mint on YouTube to understand the process better.
Or go with the VM way of VirtualBox/VMware as suggested above but the system performance won't be the same as a dedicated installation.
 

simmerskool

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Well if you want to pro-long your SSD lifespan, then put the vm's onto your HDD.
I'll defer to Victor M on SSD lifespan question. So far I haven't had SSD fail. my c:\ & VM drives are both (all) SSD. I put the VMware app on c:\ but installed linux VM Guest(s) on physical L:\ or physical M:\ SSD but nothing optimal about that, just how I did it. I am not aware of any slowdowns with this config.
 

anirbandutta01

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Jun 18, 2022
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On your windows system just allocated some empty space where you want to install Linux by using Disk Management's shrink volume feature and while installing make Mint's installer choose that empty unallocated space and it should install in on that location
So manual partition is required or it'll automatically adjust and create partition on that unallocated space?
I'll defer to Victor M on SSD lifespan question. So far I haven't had SSD fail. my c:\ & VM drives are both (all) SSD. I put the VMware app on c:\ but installed linux VM Guest(s) on physical L:\ or physical M:\ SSD but nothing optimal about that, just how I did it. I am not aware of any slowdowns with this config.
You meant that install VMWare or VirtualBox on C drive (SSD) and put VM guests on D drive (HDD) ?
 
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anirbandutta01

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Jun 18, 2022
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It will do that automatically. Since you were looking for that drag to resize partition option while installing Mint, looks like it has that too.

Is this option ( drag to resize partition ) available only Cinnamon edition or Mate edition also?
Exactly as @SeriousHoax said, but I want to add that if you want to remove it after that you need to do it manually, so check videos on how to remove it too before you install it.
I understand that I've to shrink unallocated partion and install Linux on it or Mint drag to resize partition feature will do that automatically. But I didn't understand how to remove Linux from dual boot and fix Windows Boot manager. Is there any way to set Windows boot manager as 1st boot ?
 
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lokamoka820

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Mar 1, 2024
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I understand that I've to shrink unallocated partion and install Linux on it or Mint drag to resize partition feature will do that automatically. But I didn't understand how to remove Linux from dual boot and fix Windows Boot manager. Is there any way to set Windows boot manager as 1st boot ?
Here is a detailed video explain how to remove it from your partition and boot manager:
 

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