Article Number: 000132108
This guide takes you through how to set up your computer to dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows.
Where Windows is already installed on your computer, or you install windows first before installing Ubuntu.
It is recommended a Windows operating system should be installed first. Windows does not include Non-Microsoft operating systems in its boot-menu. Installing windows can also affect any information already on your Hard Drive.
This article deals with legacy Windows Operating Systems such as Vista and 7.
If you want to install a recent Windows Operating System such as Windows 8 or 10, use the article that is linked below:
Have you checked that your computer model type is one of those certified by Canonical as being approved for Ubuntu?
If not, then go to the Canonical site and check if Canonical has certified your computer model.
If you have and it is supported on this list, then carry on.
There are three things that you must check before you start an Ubuntu Install:
The type or format of your storage media can affect how you would go about installing Ubuntu on your computer. That can be anything from installing on one of the new M2 cards. Installing on a standard SATA hard disk drive. Installing on the same SATA hard disk drives in an Intel Matrix RAID configuration. Check that the hardware of your computer allows you to make the kind of install you need. Or you can read through the articles that are linked below. These give you an idea of how to change your installation method to accommodate your system hardware:
The difference between Legacy and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS setups can be the difference between an install succeeding or failing. A Legacy Windows OS usually installs on a Legacy BIOS, while a recent Windows OS must install on a UEFI BIOS.
Ubuntu as with any other operating system is constantly looking to improve and better it is usage and performance. What is different with Ubuntu is that you have the option of two updates at any time:
This update is available every two years and Canonical fully supports it with updates for five years. It is considered a tested and stable build.
This update is available every 6 months and Canonical only supports it with updates for 9 months. These normal releases are considered to be cutting edge but can have issues because of this. Testers and developers use these builds.
If you are looking instead to upgrade to a new version of Ubuntu, then check out the article that is linked below:
If Windows is not already installed? Then go to one of the guides on the link below and select the correct install guide for the Operating System (OS) you use:
Most computers come with a version of Windows already installed, and it takes up the whole hard drive. The Windows partition must be shrunk. This frees space for the Ubuntu partition.
It is best to do this step from within the windows OS.
For Windows Vista and 7 - Legacy operating systems, you would use Disk Management:
Click the Start Button at the corner of your Taskbar and right-click My Computer and select Computer Management and go to Disk Management.
Press the Win+X keyboard shortcut and select Disk Management from the menu that appears.
Use the Windows Partition Manager to shrink the partitions.
Once you have sufficient Unallocated Space on the Hard Drive, then it is straightforward to install Ubuntu as the second operating system. You want to boot from your Ubuntu DVD or USB drive.
Have you got a copy of the latest DVD or USB installation media from Canonical? These include the latest updates and fixes for this operating system.
If you have decided which version of Ubuntu you want to install, you can download the appropriate Ubuntu ISO from Canonical .
Tap rapidly on the F12 key at the Dell splash screen on startup. It brings up and Boot Once menu. Using the Cursor/Arrow Keys, select your method of boot and press the ENTER key.
When the setup boots, choose the Try Ubuntu option. This option checks that your hardware is seen OK by Ubuntu.
When you are ready to proceed, click the Install Ubuntu button. The install wizard appears to prompt you through some choices.
Select your install language and click Continue.
The Keyboard layout window appears. Select the correct keyboard layout for your computer and click Continue.
The Preparing to install Ubuntu window appears. Choose the applicable options and click Continue.
If you do not have a wired connection plugged in, the install takes you through setting up a wireless Wi-Fi connection.
The Installation Type window appears. Several options are available.
If you want to Dual Boot install Ubuntu alongside other Operating Systems, read the guide below before you select the Install Ubuntu alongside Option. Go to step 14.
If you want to install Ubuntu over your entire hard drive, click Erase Disk and Install Ubuntu. Then select the Hard Drive that you want to install Ubuntu onto. You want to read the guide below for more information.
Installing Ubuntu on your Dell Computer
If you want to manually set-up various partitions on the Hard Drive, read the guide below before you select the Something Else option.
During installation you are asked How do you want to partition the disk?
In the setup, choose to install the OS to either:
The largest available free space
Marked as Resize IDE1 master, partition #1 (hda1) and use freed space.
Choose the size of the new partition as a percentage of the Hard Drive and click Forward.
Continue with the Install.
Select a partition that you have already created for Ubuntu.
Marked down as Manually edit partition table.
Select the partition that you want from the list that is provided and press Enter.
Click Size then ENTER and Yes and ENTER again.
Choose the size in Gigabytes and press ENTER.
You can create further partitions if you use the guide below.
Select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk.
Click Install Now. From this point, you cannot cancel the installation.
You must set up a few configuration settings. The Where are you? window appears next.
Select the location closest to where you are and click Continue
The Who are you? window appears. You want to enter your information at this point.
During the operating system install, the screen scrolls through screenshots of information about Ubuntu.
When the install wizard finishes, you see the Installation is complete message window appear. Click Restart Now to restart your computer.
GRUB2 is the default Ubuntu boot manager. This gives you two choices:
Ubuntu is independent, and this means you do not have to write to other operating systems. You must change a line of code in the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the Hard Drive. Which is booted by the BIOS.
The MBR code must be changed to point to the Ubuntu boot loader.
Once this is done, you see a list of operating systems when the computer starts and you can choose which one to boot. It will default boot to Ubuntu after a ten-second countdown.
If you select Windows, then it loads Windows for you at the Windows boot sector. Which is the first sector of the Windows partition.
If it goes wrong, you can run a repair from the install CD.
Do you have a problem changing the MBR code? You can install the code for pointing to GRUB to the first sector of your Ubuntu partition instead.
If you do that during the install process, Ubuntu does not boot, until you change windows boot manager to point to Ubuntu's boot sector.
Windows Vista and 7 no longer use boot.ini, ntdetect.com, and ntldr when booting. Instead, they ship with a command-line utility called bcdedit.exe. You can find more information from the Microsoft pages.
Ubuntu is now installed.
You can go to the guide below for some initial setup information:
Desktops & All-in-Ones, Laptops, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Fixed Workstations
07 Feb 2023
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