Guide to Setting Up Ubuntu Dual Boot with Windows on a Desktop with 64 GB SSD and 2 TB HDD

Setting up a dual boot of Ubuntu with Windows on a desktop computer with a 64 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD involves several steps. This comprehensive guide will help you through the process, ensuring a smooth installation and a well-configured dual boot setup.

Prerequisites

To avoid any potential data loss, it is crucial to back up your important data before modifying partitions or installing new operating systems. Additionally, you will need installation media for both Windows and Ubuntu.

Preparation

Backup Data: Always back up your important data to a safe location, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Installation Media: Create a bootable USB drive for both Windows (if needed for installation or repair) and Ubuntu. Tools like Rufus for Windows or Startup Disk Creator for Ubuntu can be used to create these bootable USB drives.

Steps to Set Up Dual Boot

1. Prepare the System

Check Current Partitioning: Boot into Windows and check how your disks are partitioned. You can do this by searching for ‘Disk Management’ in the Start menu or using third-party tools like GParted Live.

2. Create Space for Ubuntu

Free Up Space: If you have unallocated space on the 2 TB HDD, you can use it for Ubuntu. If not, you can shrink an existing partition:

Right-click on the partition you want to shrink in Disk Management. Select ‘Shrink Volume’ to free up space.

3. Install Ubuntu

Boot from USB: Insert the bootable USB drive for Ubuntu and reboot your computer. Access the boot menu by pressing the F12, Esc, or a similar key, and select the USB drive.

Start Installation: Choose ‘Try Ubuntu’ or ‘Install Ubuntu’ from the menu.

Installation Type: When prompted, select the appropriate installation type. If you don’t see this option, choose ‘Something else’ to manually partition the drive.

Create Partitions:

Root Partition: ext4 filesystem – at least 20 GB, mount point / Swap Partition: optional but recommended – size equal to your RAM or up to 8 GB. Home Partition: ext4 filesystem – optional but recommended for user files, use the remaining space.

Install GRUB: Ensure that the boot loader is installed on the SSD or the primary boot drive.

4. Complete the Installation

Follow the prompts to complete the installation. Once done, the system will prompt you to restart.

5. Booting into Ubuntu and Windows

After rebooting, you should see the GRUB menu, which allows you to choose between Ubuntu and Windows.

Post-Installation

Update Ubuntu: Once logged into Ubuntu, open a terminal and run the following commands to ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install Additional Drivers: If necessary, check for additional drivers in the ‘Software Updates’ application.

Troubleshooting

If you don’t see the GRUB menu or can’t boot into one of the operating systems, you may need to repair the GRUB bootloader using a live USB session of Ubuntu.

Conclusion

With these steps, you should have a functional dual boot setup with Ubuntu and Windows. Make sure to regularly back up your data from both operating systems, especially before making significant changes.