How to Dual Boot a Compatible Linux Distro with Windows 8

Looking to Dual boot Ubuntu (or other compatible Linux distros) with a Windows 8 PC or laptop? This is the best and possibly the simplest, most straight forward way to do it! Assuming you have a Windows 8 PC or laptop and an Ubuntu 64-bit...

Method 1 of 2:

Part One: Partitioning the Hard Drive

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Assuming you have a Windows 8 PC or laptop and an Ubuntu 64-bit (or other 64-bit Distro) disk or USB ready, create a backup of your Windows 8 Installation just in case.
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Create a partition where you will install Linux using Windows Disk management.
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If you want to install an Ubuntu system in one partition and the files and folders in another, create 2 partitions, one about 30GB (but at least 15GB), and the other for your files and folders. The partition for your files and folders can be as large as you like.
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You're almost ready to start the installation. The next few steps are where things may differ, depending on the PC.
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Enter your BIOS settings to change a few things.
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Find, and disable Fastboot.
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Find the UEFI settings (in boot section of BIOS settings) and change the settings to allow "other OS" to boot.
1. Make sure that you do this correctly.

Method 2 of 2:

Part Two: Installing Ubuntu

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In boot options in your BIOS, find and select the Ubuntu UEFI option to boot. If you don't do this, the Ubuntu installation will not boot.
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Using your Ubuntu DVD or USB, start the installation process.
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When you've reached the options screen, choose the "something else" option.
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Find the empty space you created in Windows.
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Create a swap partition. Choose the empty space and create a partition that is equal to your RAM (the swap partition is named swap).
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Create a root partition. This will hold your Ubuntu systems' files' application data, so make at least 15GB, but 30GB is an ideal size imo (the root partition is named ./).
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Create a partition for your files and folders with the empty space left over on the created partition (this partition is named /Home).
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Click on the partition you create for the System (./) and install Ubuntu. Upon reboot, if all was done correctly, you will get the grub screen.

partition ubuntu create boot

Kareem Winters

Update 04 March 2020

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