Multi-boot systems

Content

 

Introductory

You may also need to use two or more operating systems on your computer. One reason for this may be that we need to work with platform-dependent applications that do not work on our system so far, but we may also want to install another or a third operating system for experimental purposes only to get to know the (cause) t. Whatever purpose we want to use multiple systems on our machine, installing dual-boot or multi-boot systems can be a great solution for most cases. The bottom line is that multiple operating systems are installed on your computer, and you can choose which one to boot when you boot your machine.

This category includes tutorials for installing two or more operating systems on a single machine (dual-boot / multi-boot).

 

 

versions

There are many variations of these installations, so let us decide which version is right for us according to our parameters and our own circumstances. It is important to consider these factors before embarking on any installation, because if we make a wrong decision, we may limit ourselves later to install the next system (e.g., few or no partitions left, unsupported partitioning scheme chosen earlier, etc.). Therefore, it is definitely worth considering in the long run which systems you want to use on your computer later and which installation is the most optimal choice for them - taking into account the hardware capabilities of your machine.

In my case, there are basically three important factors that determine how to install a dual-boot or multi-boot, the combination of which can result in quite a few variations. These are:

1. Operating system

The first thing to do is to think first about what operating systems you want to use on your computer. In this series of descriptions, I deal with the following (this list can of course be expanded if you need it):

  • Debian
    • Debian 9 (Stretch)
    • Debian 10 (Buster)
  • Windows
    • Windows 7
    • Windows 10
    • Windows 11
  • Ubuntu
    • Ubuntu LTS 18.04

So the composition, combination and order of these also matters, such as which one to install first, second, etc.

For Windows 7, it is worth noting that although this version has an expired lifespan, which means that it will no longer receive any support, including updates, as of January 2020, 14, it is still widely used and likely to be used will also be for a while, so it is still worth dealing with. Especially for a dual-boot installation, for example, where you need to install a Linux distribution, for example, alongside a Windows 7 that has been running for several years.

1. b. architecture

There is another important factor here, namely the architecture of the operating systems to be installed. These should be grouped as follows:

  • 32-bit
  • 64-bit

For example, 32-bit systems are more restrictive about the following aspect. However, in these dual-boot / multi-boot tutorials, I only deal with 64-bit systems, which have been commonplace for years. If there is an exception, I will of course indicate this separately in the description.

So the choice of operating systems already pretty much defines the following point:

2. Motherboard firmware type

Another important factor is the motherboard firmware type, which in some cases may already be decided by the choice of operating system above (since some combinations are mutually exclusive). These can be:

  • BIOS: On older machines, motherboards manufactured before 2010, but still widely used today. These are MBR partitioning scheme which can boot from up to 2 TiB disks and can handle up to 4 primary partitions on a hard disk drive.
  • UEFI and BIOS: approx for UEFI motherboards manufactured between 2010 and 2020 CSM aid. They handle both MBR and GPT partitioning schemes. The GPT partitioning scheme is able to boot from disks larger than the order of magnitude.
    For example, these motherboards can be used to create a dual-boot combo of older operating systems installed on an MBR and another of the newer operating systems installed on a GPT drive, if necessary.
  • UEFI only: And these are motherboards manufactured after 2020 that already have CSM support removed, so they can't boot an operating system in BIOS mode, so they can only boot from partitions with a GPT partitioning scheme.

So, as we can see, there is more to do here. So this is something to keep in mind when thinking about installing multiple operating systems. At this link we can see which operating systems are compatible with UEFI.

3. Number of used backups

And finally, this is an important factor in how many HDDs we want to install on the systems you want to install. These can come in many different designs:

  • Using a Hard Drive: Operating systems are installed on separate partitions on an HDD.
  • Using Multiple Hard Drives: The systems are installed on several separate HDDs.

The number of partitions should also take into account that each operating system not only uses one primary partition, but also creates different system, system recovery, swap, etc. partitions during installation. This gives you an average of 2 partitions per operating system.

So in the light of the above, it can be seen that, for example, an MBR-based hard disk on an older BIOS machine can have a maximum of 4 primary partitions, which limits the number of operating systems that can be installed. Let's say a laptop has only one hard disk drive.

Apart from these factors, there can of course be other influencing parameters, but I think if you chose them well at the very beginning of the dual-boot or multi-boot installation, you will be able to modify the rest on the go.

 

The installation examples VirtualBox on a machine I will show you what is capable of booting virtual machines in BIOS mode as well as UEFI mode, making them perfect for installation in a real machine environment.

Gradually, I make several versions (within reasonable limits, of course) so that they can be used as widely as possible. Hopefully, over time, there will be many variations of these, so in line with the above considerations, I will also include the components in that installation in the tutorial titles to create a more transparent system.

 

Making a bootable flash drive

To build dual-boot / multi-boot systems, you will need an efficient installation tool. The most efficient and convenient way to install operating systems, if you are installing them on a physical machine, is to create a bootable flash drive. Here are some ways to do this on both Linux and Windows:

So, once you have obtained the ISO files for the systems you want to install, you can use the above methods to burn it to any USB key.

Operating System Testing with Live Versions (Optional)

If you want to install a Linux distribution, there are Live installation kits available that load the machine into memory when you start it, so you can test your system to see if it handles all of your hardware properly. Fortunately, most distributions have such an installation kit, so it's a good idea to write this to your flash drive. After testing the live system, restarting the same machine, we can install the tested system on it.

Creating a recovery flash drive (optional)

If you have problems starting up your operating system during the installation process, you can go to the following link to get a repair tool:

Creating a recovery flash drive using GParted Live

 

 

List of dual-boot and multi-boot tutorials

The completed dual-boot and multi-boot tutorials are listed here. From these, select the situation closest to your circumstances and deployment intentions, and prepare the installation.

Category content:

 

(The following are coming soon!)