How to Install Ubuntu and Windows 8 Through Windows 11 as a Dual Boot on your Dell Computer

Table of Contents:

1. You want to Dual Boot your computer with Ubuntu and a Windows OS?
2. Things to know and check before you start an install
3. Windows must be the First Boot on the Hard Drive
4. Setting up the Install Partitions
5. Installing Ubuntu as the Second Operating System
6. Configuring the Boot Order

You want to Dual Boot your computer with Ubuntu and a Windows operating system?

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 that 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 recent Windows Operating Systems. (Such as Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11.)

Have you checked that your computer type is one of those Canonical certified for Ubuntu?

• If not, then go to the Canonical site  and confirm that Canonical and Dell supports your model for Ubuntu.

• If you have and it is supported on this list, then carry on.

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Things to know and check before you start an install

There are three things that you must consider before you start an Ubuntu Install:

1. To check the type of hardware that you are trying to install to?
2. To check the type of BIOS settings that you need for your install?
3. To check what version of Ubuntu that you are looking to install?

What type of Hardware are you installing to and does it change how you go about your install?

The type or format of your storage media can affect how you would go about installing Ubuntu on your computer. You can install on one of the new M2 cards. You can install on a standard Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive. You can install on the same SATA hard disk drives set in an Intel Matrix RAID configuration. Check that the computers hardware allows you to make the install you need. Alternatively, read through the articles that are linked below to get an idea of how to change your installation method to accommodate your computer hardware:

• Installing Ubuntu on a Dell OptiPlex computer with RAID

What BIOS settings do you need for your Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) install?

The difference between Legacy and UEFI BIOS setups can be the difference between an install succeeding or failing. Follow the information below:

Press the F2 key on start up to enter the BIOS. Ensure that the BIOS is set to UEFI, and disable the Legacy option ROMS and disable the secure boot.

• Updating the Dell BIOS in Ubuntu Environments

Which version of Ubuntu are you looking to install?

Ubuntu as with any other operating system is constantly looking to improve and better its usage and performance. What is different with Ubuntu is that you have the option of two updates at any time:

The first is the most recent Long-Term Support (LTS) release.

This update is available every two years and Canonical supports it with updates for five years. It is considered a tested and stable build.

The second is the most recent Normal release.

This update is available every 6 months and Canonical supports updates for 9 months. These normal releases are considered to be cutting-edge but can have issues because of this. Testers and developers use this type of build.

If you are looking instead to upgrade to a new version of Ubuntu, then check out the article that is linked below:

• Upgrading Ubuntu to the latest version?

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Windows must be the First Boot on the Hard Drive

Windows must be installed first.

Where Windows is not already installed, use one of these guides on the link below. It shows the correct install guide for the Operating System that you are using:

• An online guide to reinstalling/restoring your Operating System on your Dell computer

Windows is already installed.

Most computers come with a version of Windows that is already installed and it takes up the whole hard drive. The Windows partition must be shrunk. This frees space for the Ubuntu partition. 

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Setting up the Install Partitions

1. It is best to do this step from within the windows operating system.

2. 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.

3. Ensure you are logged in as an Administrator and check if Fast Startup is disabled. (This can affect whether GRUB can pick up your Windows installation at a later stage.)

   1. Open the Control Panel. (The windows key + X is a shortcut on all recent versions.)

   2. Open the Power Options.

   3. Select Choose what the power button does.

   4. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

   5. Ensure that the box marked Turn on Fast Startup (Recommended) is disabled.

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Installing Ubuntu as the Second Operating System

Follow the steps indicated below to install Ubuntu on your Dell computer and configure the BIOS to use grubx64.efi (Required for normal operation):

1. 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. (You may want to use a third-party application like Rufus  to create the bootable USB drive.) If you have decided which version of Ubuntu you want to install, you can download the appropriate Ubuntu ISO from Canonical .

2. Tap rapidly on the F12 key at the Dell splash screen on startup. It brings up and Boot Once menu. Using the Cursor or Arrow Keys, select your method of boot and press the ENTER key.

3. When the setup boots, choose the Try Ubuntu option. This option checks that your hardware is seen OK by Ubuntu.

4. When you are ready to proceed, click the Install Ubuntu button. The install wizard appears and prompts you through some choices.

5. Select your install language and click Continue.

6. The Keyboard layout window appears. Select the correct keyboard layout for your computer and click Continue.

7. The Preparing to install Ubuntu window appears. Choose the applicable options and click Continue.

8. If you do not have a wired connection plugged in, the install takes you through setting up a wireless Wi-Fi connection.

9. The Installation Type window appears. Several options are available.

   1. 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.

   2. 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

        NOTE: As stated this erases all data and computers that are on the disk.

   3. If you want to manually set-up the various partitions on the Hard Drive, read the guide below before you select the Something Else option.

      • Creating multiple custom partitions during the Ubuntu Install

10. During installation you are asked How do you want to partition the disk?

11. In the setup, choose to install the operating system to either:

    1. The largest available free space

       1. Down as Resize IDE1 control, partition #1 (hda1) and use freed space

       2. Choose the size of the new partition as a percentage of the Hard Drive and click Forward.

       3. Go on with the Install.

    2. Select a partition that you have already created for Ubuntu.

       1. Marked down as Manually edit partition table.

       2. Select the partition that you want from the list that is provided and press Enter.

       3. Click Size then ENTER and Yes and ENTER again.

       4. Choose the size in Gigabytes and press ENTER.

12. You can create further partitions if you use the guide below.

    • Creating multiple custom partitions during the Ubuntu Install

13. Select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk.

14. Click Install Now. From this point, you cannot cancel the installation.

15. You must set up a few configuration settings. The Where are you? Window appears next.

16. Select the location closest to where you are on the map or enter it into the text box and click Continue.

17. The Who are you? Window appears. This is where you enter your information.

18. While the operating system installs, the screen scrolls through different screenshots. They give you further information about the Ubuntu revision you are installing on your computer.

19. When the install wizard finishes, you get the Installation is complete message window up. Click Restart Now to restart your computer.

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Configuring the Boot Order

The computer reboots into the GRUB menu and sits for 10 seconds while you choose which Operating System you want to boot with. (For example: Any Ubuntu version since Ubuntu 16.04, or Windows 8 through to Windows 11.)

Ubuntu is set as the default operating system to boot to. That means if you press the Enter key or wait out the 10 seconds, it boots straight to Ubuntu.

Once Ubuntu finishes loading, login in with the username and password you set. Since version 16.04, Ubuntu automatically provides NT File System (NTFS) support. That means you can access information and files from the Windows partitions by clicking the Windows Volume.

If you want to change to the windows installation, reboot the computer and choose the windows partition from the GRUB menu.

You can go to the guide below for some initial setup information:

• Configuring Ubuntu on your Dell computer

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Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

• How to Install Ubuntu Linux on your Dell Computer
• How to Install Ubuntu with Multiple Custom Partitions on Your Dell Computer
• How to configure Ubuntu Linux after it is first installed on your Dell Computer
• How to Install Ubuntu Developer Edition 14.04 on a Dell Computer Configured for the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS

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