Tutorial: Setting Up a Dual Boot System (Windows & Linux) - Beginner's Guide

In the realm of operating systems, the fierce competition between Windows and Linux is hard to overlook. Interestingly, you don't necessarily have to choose between them. This tutorial guides you to run both the operating systems on your computer by setting up a dual boot system, a perfect solution if you can't decide which OS to use or simply want the best of both worlds.

Why Opt for a Dual Boot System?

A dual boot system allows you to install and run two different operating systems on the same machine without affecting each other. This way, you get to enjoy the advanced features of Linux for development purposes and the user-friendly interface of Windows for general tasks.

Prerequisites

Before beginning the setup process, ensure that you have the following in hand to have a swift and hussle-free installation:

1. A computer with Windows already installed

2. Internet connection

3. USB flash drive/DVD

4. Free hard drive space

5. Disk Image file (.ISO) of the Linux distribution you prefer - this tutorial uses Ubuntu.

Step 1: Backup Data

The first and the foremost step before making significant changes to your computer system is to back up all important data. This preempts data loss in case things go south.

Step 2: Create A Partition For Linux

In your existing Windows setup, you will need to create a hard drive partition exclusively for your Linux OS.

To do this:

- Right-click on 'This PC' and select 'Manage'.

- Choose 'Disk Management', right-click on your main drive, and select 'Shrink Volume'.

- Choose the amount of space for Linux (20-25GB is plenty for beginners).

- After shrinking, the space will appear as 'Unallocated'.

Step 3: Install The Linux Distro

Now, it's time to install the Linux distro on the unallocated space.

To install:

- Plug in the USB/DVD having the Linux .ISO file.

- Restart your computer, pressing the designated key (usually F12 or F2) to enter the Boot Menu.

- Choose 'boot from USB/DVD' and save changes.

- The computer will restart and enter the Linux installation screen.

- Follow the guided installation process, choosing 'Something else' when asked 'Installation Type'.

- Continue the installation, choosing the unallocated space for Linux. Make sure to set the 'Mount point' as '/'.

- Continue with the rest of the setup prompting user credentials etc.

Step 4: Restart and Choose Your OS

After the successful installation of Linux, every time your computer boots, it will provide you an option to choose between Windows and Linux. This signifies that you've successfully set up a dual boot system.

Conclusion

Setting up a dual boot system with Windows and Linux isn't as daunting as it looks. With this tutorial at hand, both pros and novices can exploit the top features of the two most powerful operating systems in the world, effortlessly.

Remember, practice makes perfect. So, don't hesitate to retry if your first attempt fumbles. As long as you’ve backed up your data, you're safe to experiment and learn.