Windows is the most used OS in laptops but a growing number of people are increasingly turning to use Linux.
Linux (Which runs the famous Ubuntu, one of the Linux distributions) is an open-source OS, meaning that it’s free to download. Aside from that, it is also free to modify and distribute, and thus, there is no single Linux version built and maintained by a single company.
So, how do you install Linux on your PC?
Partition your Hard drive
If you want to dual boot your PC with both Linux and Windows, then you need to partition your main hard drive. Here is how to do it:
- Open the Windows Search Bar, which will be on the bottom-left of the corner (magnifying glass icon).
- Then type “MSC” and click enter.
- Then right-click on the main hard drive icon and select Shrink Volume. The main drive on computers with more than one will be labeled C: drive. Click on this one.
- Then choose the volume you want to shrink the drive by. Enter the volume in MBS. E.g., 50,000 MBs, which is 50 GB.
Downloading Linux
Then, the next step is to download the OS to your laptop. First, simply go to the Linux website and select the distribution you want to download. Let’s say you want Ubuntu. So, you will download an Ubuntu ISO file.
Once downloaded, don’t open it. Instead, first, download Rufus. Rufus is a free Windows program that helps you create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file. Ensure that your USB drive (It should be no less than 32 GB) is plugged in when you open Rufus. When you have Rufus and open it, you will get an option on where you want to download the Linux OS on either CD or USB. Click on USB.
Then, under Boot Selection, click the Select button and select the Linux ISO file that you downloaded.
Once done, click start, then wait as the drive is formatted and the ISO is installed. Rufus will mount the ISO file on the USB drive, and thus, it will take time, so be patient.
Installing Linux from USB
Once the Linux OS is on the USB, it is time to boot it on your laptop.
- Insert your bootable Linux USB drive.
- Open the Windows start menu.
- Then hold down the shift key as you click Restart. You will be taken to the blue Windows Recovery Screen.
- Select Use a Device
- Find your device on the list (Linux)
- Click on it, and your computer will now boot on Linux. Once it boots, you will get a prompt to Install Ubuntu.
- Then follow the installation process, which varies in different Linux distros.
- Then reboot your computer when you see a reboot prompt.
And there you have it. Now your computer is running both Windows 10 and Linux.