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Is there anything I would still need a windows dual boot for?
(sh.itjust.works)
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this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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I have been dual booting for years now, even though I almost exclusively use Linux. I’ve been in the situation where I fucked up configuration and left my Linux in a not-so-good state. In these circumstances it was nice to know that I still had access a functioning computer while I figured out how to repair Linux. Sure, you can use your smart phone for basic digital necessities, but that’s not something I’d want to be forced to do.
Another thing you might need Windows for is helping family and friends troubleshoot their shit. I don’t know if that applies to you.
If disk space is not very constrained, then I’d always recommend dual booting. Shrink the Windows partition(s) to the bare minimum (add some head room) if need be.
Something I’ve never done personally, but which may be scary, is flashing the BIOS via Linux. Most vendors assume Windows in their software.
Helping friends and family troubleshoot is something I would still have to do. I always assumed that I would be able to fix any mistakes quickly enough with a live boot usb but having a working windows install to fall back on is a good idea.
Also, you can flash BIOS via an OS? I thought it could only be done from within the BIOS?
I have never had to manually flash a BIOS. Usually when I’ve seen it done, some program was executed in Windows that would prepare the flashing, then the computer would restart and flash the BIOS before restarting again.
I think what you saw was the usb getting flashed (like how you make an installable drive), rebooting to bios and flashing the bios from the usb. That's how I did it anyway.
Possible. I’m not proficient in the firmware realm. But since there was no external drive attached, that “installable drive” would have to have lived on the main drive.