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Easy Dual Boot Method to Give Family Offramp from Windows (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 2 days ago by Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hi! Thanks for reading.

I'm sure all of us Linux users revel in the countless articles coming out about the enshittification of Windows, reporting on how Microslop is utilizing more and more vibe coding, transforming PCs into rental clients, and more.

While I'm happy to call myself a Kubuntu-ist, many of my family members still daily drive Windows 11 on their PCs. I can only imagine how their UX is declining day over day.

This makes me want them to witness the freedom of Linux!

So, what are your easiest ways to set up dual boot between W11 and your favorite distro?

Seems like a GUI would be best for non-tech savvy people. Something like rEFInd or Clover (I come from the Steam Deck dual boot world, and am somewhat familiar with this one).

Are there any risks with changing the default Windows Boot Manager? I've heard that Windows updates can mess things up, but that if you install Windows first, that can save some headache down the road.

Bonus if you have a favorite distro for non-tech savvy people that needs minimal configuration!

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[-] darkan15@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If you go with dual booting this is what worked for me when I have done dual boot, so windows doesn't mess with boot options:

  1. Window have to be installed first or already there.
  2. With a Live ISO use a tool like gparted and shrink windows main partition from the right.
  3. During installation, choose custom partitioning to manage the free space
  • Make a secondary /boot/efi partition so linux boot is installed there.
  • Make the / root partition for linux and optional make a partition for /home.
  • Finish the installation.
  1. Boot into UEFI and change boot order to that secondary /boot/efi.
  2. Reboot and profit.

That way grub will be running from the secondary /boot/efi, and it will detect and add windows and the primary /boot/efi

Windows only sees and care about the first /boot/efi and will only mess with that, so even if it does change something it doesn't matter.

[-] Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Honestly based!!!

I'll have to try this out on my Steam Deck first to get the gist.

Thanks!

this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2026
27 points (86.5% liked)

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