Advice wanted: setting up a PC with Linux and Windows

QuasiUnaFantasia

Okay, so this is not explicitly related to piano's or pianism, and it is also not implicitly related to either. Yet, it is an issue I am facing right now, and if anyone can help shed some light on it, I would appreciate it. 🙂

In the not too distant future I'll buy a new main PC. Windows on it will be a necessity, but this time I also want to be able to dual-boot into Linux (variant as of now undecided, but probably Ubuntu-related).

The question is: is it possible (and practical) to buy the hardware first, then install Linux (and partition the disks), and then buy a copy of Windows and install that into its own partition while leaving the Linux installation (on another partition) untouched?

EDIT: By the way, this appears to be thread number 666 in the 'Clack. I'm not personally given to worries in this regard, but for anyone conceiving participating, I hereby bring it to everyone's attention. 😇

CyberGene

QuasiUnaFantasia By the way, this appears to be thread number 666

Understandably it’s about Windows 😈

QuasiUnaFantasia

CyberGene Understandably it’s about Windows 😈

Contrary to what some might have come to believe, I don't actually think Bill Gates is the devil. But I do believe the two have poker nights with a few close friends, once a fortnight.

Joannchr

This may help

https://www.techsolveprac.com/install-windows-after-ubuntu-dual/?amp

QuasiUnaFantasia

Joannchr This may help

Thanks, I will study this.

MacMacMac You don't have to dual-boot Windows and Linux. You can run them simultaneously.
Windows has the "Windows Subsystem for Linux", or WSL.
I run Ubuntu on Windows. It works well.

So I no longer have to choose. I have both.

Thanks, I had no idea about this possibility. But in my case this is not useful because the main reason for wanting the option to dual-boot is if Windows gets messed up badly, in which case I could simply go on my merry way with Linux until the Windows partition was fixed again.

kawafanboi i always have 2 separate machines. it's always been easier, less fiddling with hardware compatibility/ drivers.

I also like having separate machines for separate tasks, but this particular machine must, as just mentioned above, have the option to work under both OS's. My secondary reason for this is to get myself re-acquainted with Linux, which I have not used for years.

MacMacMac

You don't have to dual-boot Windows and Linux. You can run them simultaneously.
Windows has the "Windows Subsystem for Linux", or WSL.
I run Ubuntu on Windows. It works well.

So I no longer have to choose. I have both.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/about
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install

kawafanboi

i've dual booted for years. TBH, the tasks that require either seldom require the SAME HARDWARE configuration.

that isn't to say i don't have to write code in 1 and test in the other, my point is i never actually NEED to have 1 machine do both. and it's never more convenient because i end up doing more bug hunting.

i always have 2 separate machines. it's always been easier, less fiddling with hardware compatibility/ drivers.

MHirsch

Why not install Linux and use VirtualBox for Windows?

QuasiUnaFantasia

MHirsch Why not install Linux and use VirtualBox for Windows?

One of the most important tools for me is MS Visual Studio, which does exist on Linux in some way, but the Windows-based version is the one I am familiar with. Moreover, the stuff I do makes really heavy demands on the CPU (and RAM), so I don't want too much stuff taking up ressources. But I will look into VirtualBox, thank you for mentioning it!

SouthPark

Just for myself only … I prefer not to load my computer down with two operating systems running on the same machine … such as linux and windows both running at the same time.

MHirsch

SouthPark Well it depends on what one really needs. Sometimes it's just one piece of software to justify windows, so there's no point in the whole dual-boot game. Modern PCs are quite powerful and can handle both at the same time, without any significant side effects.

MacMacMac

QuasiUnaFantasia If you need to use a Linux-boot when Windows fails or becomes corrupt (as you pointed out earlier), then a virtual machine running on Windows and hosting a Linux VM won't do. Because if Windows is "down" you can't run the Linux VM on top.

But if you were to go with a VM, I'd avoid Oracle's Virtual Box. I find the VMWare performs much better.

MHirsch

QuasiUnaFantasia One of the most important tools for me is MS Visual Studio

I'd still give it a try.

I can't imagine that MS Visual Studio is that heavy on resources. Couple of CPU cores and some memory will do, most probably.

QuasiUnaFantasia

MacMacMac Thanks for the tip; I'll look into VMWare also.

MHirsch

MacMacMac then a virtual machine running on Windows and hosting a Linux VM won't do

Of course it will!

VM's files could be easily stored away and then re-used.

MacMacMac I'd avoid Oracle's Virtual Box

Well, whatever VM technology. I never had problems with either.

Frédéric L

If the aim is to recover a Windows setup when it is broken, something like Macrium Reflect will be the thing to have. This program will backup the whole disk, and can create a USB drive we can boot with a program which can restore the disk from a backup.

I had to use it once because an update made my PC not bootable... and it has worked.

The program is a freemium : Free if we just use basic functions (this is enoogh to get its PC well backuped), Paid if we wand some extra feature (incremental backup typically).

QuasiUnaFantasia

Frédéric L Very useful information, thank you!

Del Vento

Frédéric L If the aim is to recover a Windows setup when it is broken, something like Macrium Reflect will be the thing to have. This program will backup the whole disk, and can create a USB drive we can boot with a program which can restore the disk from a backup.

I don't know anything about Macrium, but I second this advice. Linux can boot from USB, DVD or other media. No need to make a dual boot if your only purpose is to use it as a recovery solution.

That said, here are some comments about your initial inquiry.
Per se, Linux is extremely easy to install and robust, but the dual-boot means that Windows needs to play nicely which when I used to do those things (decades ago!!) was the exact opposite of what it did: Windows would kick and scream to make Linux' life harder. The easiest way to proceed at that time was to install a second drive in the computer (all desktops and some laptops allow that) and install Linux on it, letting it "see" Windows on the other partition, for e.g. backing it up and exchanging data. With minimal fuss such second disk can be made invisible to Windows and keep it from screaming about the other OS.
I find that Linux works like a charm, does what you tell it to, is very safe and secure, and much more intuitive (admittedly that can be decades of use that made it familiar to me, unlike other OSes, regular or mobile, which I find abysmal). If you don't use specialized software (which I suspect you do since besides PTQ no virtual instrument works on Linux) it could easily satisfy all the computer needs one has.

n-player

Virtual machines can be a great way to run several operating systems on one computer. There are paid and free options and the "best" tends to vary over time, system, and usage case. I never got any virtual machine to work "perfectly" but usually could get around some quirk or glitch.

Also, over time, the support and performance may decline on older systems being phased out. And paid software typically ended up being subscription type models. Conflict note - family and I worked for and consulted with developers in this space.

QuasiUnaFantasia

Del Vento I will definitely have one SSD and one traditional hard disk on the machine, so putting Linux on the mechanical disk would be a possible option. I will be using that Linux installation to re-familiarize myself with Linux, but in all likelihood the major part of my usage will be via the Windows installation (unless I find Visual Studio runs really well on Linux).

I dislike (and quite energetically so) being dependent on Microsoft software, and I would like to ease into some other programming environment (and language), with Linux as the OS.