Dual-Boot Elementary & Windows

Set up this slick Linux OS alongside Windows.

- Nick Peers

Ever wanted to dip your toe into Linux, but felt put off by the user experience? It’s time to confront your fear. Linux isn’t as impenetrable as it looks, with Ubuntu providing a very user friendly approach to getting started.

Ubuntu is a great flavor of Linux, but one of its biggest achievements has been to pioneer a host of off-shoot distros that focus on providing a more welcoming environment for those wishing to switch from other OSes. One obvious example is Linux Mint, an Ubuntu-derivative that uses the Cinnamon desktop to provide a Windows 7-like experience for switchers. Another—as you’re about to discover—is Elementary OS.

Elementary is based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and is perfect for those who like their OSes to look sleek and modern. It’s particularly attractive to Mac switchers, but while we’ll touch on how you can install Elementary alongside OS X, our primary focus is configuring it in a dualboot setup with Windows.

First, we’ll show you how to repartition your hard drive to split off your data from Windows itself—this means you can access your personal files easily from either OS via a shared partition. You’ll then build your Elementary install media, and we’ll then step you through the install process. It’s usually straightforward, but we’ve got your back covered in case it proves trickier than it should be.

We’re not going to just abandon you at the Elementary login screen either— there’s time for a quick tour of the Elementary desktop, plus we’ll reveal how to get started with the Terminal, and even replace the boring GRUB boot loader with something a little more visually appealing (not to mention more practical).