Setting Up Dual-Boot Manjaro Linux and Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

Dual booting Manjaro Linux alongside Windows allows you to run both operating systems on the same computer. This guide provides detailed steps to help you achieve a seamless setup. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a casual user, this tutorial will walk you through the process.

Prerequisites and Preparation

Before diving into the setup, ensure you prepare adequately:

Backup Important Data

Before proceeding, make sure to back up any important data on your Windows system. This precaution will protect your valuable files from potential data loss.

Create a Live USB

Begin by downloading the Manjaro ISO from the official website. Once you have downloaded the ISO, use a tool like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher to create a bootable USB drive. This USB will serve as the installation media.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare Windows

The first step is to prepare your Windows installation to make space for Manjaro. Follow these detailed steps:

Disk Management

Open Disk Management by searching for its name in the Windows start menu.

Locate your main Windows partition (usually labeled C:).

Right-click on it and select Shrink Volume.... Decide how much space you want to allocate for Manjaro. At least 20 GB is recommended. This action will create unallocated space on your hard drive.

2. Boot from the Manjaro Live USB

Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive. You may need to press a specific key like F12, Esc, or Del during startup to access the boot menu.

Select the option to boot Manjaro from the USB.

3. Start the Installation

Once in the live environment, click on the Install Manjaro icon on the desktop. Follow the on-screen prompts until you reach the partitioning section.

4. Partitioning

Choose Manual Partitioning or a similar option when prompted. Here's what you'll do:

Create a Root Partition: Select the unallocated space, create a new partition with an ext4 filesystem, and mount it as /. Create a Swap Partition (Optional but Recommended): You can also create a swap partition, typically the size of your RAM, for better performance. Create a Home Partition (Optional): If desired, create an additional partition for /home to store user data separately.

Ensure the bootloader GRUB is installed on the same disk where Windows is installed (usually /dev/sda). The installer should automatically detect Windows and add it to the GRUB menu.

5. Complete the Installation

Continue with the installation process, setting your time zone, keyboard layout, and user account details. Once the installation is complete, reboot your system and remove the USB drive.

Booting into Manjaro or Windows

On reboot, you should see the GRUB menu. From here, you can choose to boot into either Manjaro or Windows.

Troubleshooting

Here are a couple of common issues and their solutions:

Windows Not Showing in GRUB

If Windows does not appear in the GRUB menu, boot into Manjaro and run the command:

bash
sudo update-grub

This command should detect Windows and update the GRUB configuration.

Secure Boot Issues

With Secure Boot enabled, Windows might prevent non-Windows operating systems from booting. In such cases, disable Secure Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings.

Conclusion

You should now have a functioning dual-boot system with Manjaro Linux and Windows. Always exercise caution when working with partitions and operating systems, and don't forget to back up important data regularly.