# Tutorial: Installing Ubuntu Multi-Boot on your Windows Computer
# Tutorial: Installing Ubuntu Multi-Boot on your Windows Computer
Author: Alex Yelovich
Author: Alex Yelovich
[[_TOC_]]
[[_TOC_]]
**BEFORE PROCEEDING MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ANY IMPORTANT DATA BACKED UP ON A SEPARATE DRIVE**
**BEFORE PROCEEDING MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ANY IMPORTANT DATA BACKED UP ON A SEPARATE DRIVE**
<br/>**THIS TUTORIAL WILL MAKE PERMANENT CHANGES TO YOUR COMPUTER'S DRIVE. IF YOU LOSE DATA IT WILL LOST FOREVER, UNLESS YOU BACK IT UP.**
<br/>**THIS TUTORIAL WILL MAKE PERMANENT CHANGES TO YOUR COMPUTER'S DRIVE. IF YOU LOSE DATA IT WILL LOST FOREVER, UNLESS YOU BACK IT UP.**
## Required Materials
## Required Materials
- A USB Flash Drive of size 8 GB or more (that will be overwritten. All data on it will be lost, so back it up. You can reuse the flash drive for storage later, but you will need to restore from your data backup)
- A USB Flash Drive of size 8 GB or more (that will be overwritten. All data on it will be lost, so back it up. You can reuse the flash drive for storage later, but you will need to restore from your data backup)
- If you do not have one we are able to lend you one
- If you do not have one we are able to lend you one
- A hard drive with free space of at least 40 GB
- A hard drive with free space of at least 40 GB
## Partitioning and Creating an Installer (on Windows)
## Partitioning and Creating an Installer (on Windows)
**Note:** If you have more than one drive in your computer, then we highly recommend using a separate drive for Ubuntu, even if it is not an SSD. So that is one drive dedicated to Windows, and one drive dedicated to Ubuntu. This will make your life much easier.
**Note:** If you have more than one drive in your computer, then we highly recommend using a separate drive for Ubuntu, even if it is not an SSD. So that is one drive dedicated to Windows, and one drive dedicated to Ubuntu. This will make your life much easier.
1. In Windows, open Disk Management by searching for it in the start menu.
1. In Windows, open Disk Management by searching for it in the start menu.
2. Right click the drive you want to install Ubuntu on (if you only have one drive then
2. Right click the drive you want to install Ubuntu on (if you only have one drive then
choose the one with `C:`). For instance, in the picture below, since there is only one drive, I
choose the one with `C:`). For instance, in the picture below, since there is only one drive, I
would right click on the box that says `Disk 0` (on the far left).
would right click on the box that says `Disk 0` (on the far left).
* Enter the desired size for the Ubuntu installation. Note that you will not be
* Enter the desired size for the Ubuntu installation. Note that you will not be
able to expand the amount of space you have for the Ubuntu installation. For this
able to expand the amount of space you have for the Ubuntu installation. For this
reason we suggest around 80 GiB with an absolute minimum of 40 GiB.
reason we suggest around 80 GiB with an absolute minimum of 40 GiB.
* There should now be a block in that row that says `Unallocated`.
* There should now be a block in that row that says `Unallocated`.
3. Download the Ubuntu 20.04 ISO from [here](https://releases.ubuntu.com/focal/ubuntu-20.04.6-desktop-amd64.iso).
3. Download the Ubuntu 22.04 ISO from [here](https://releases.ubuntu.com/focal/ubuntu-20.04.6-desktop-amd64.iso).
4. Create a Bootable USB Installer for the Ubuntu ISO:
4. Create a Bootable USB Installer for the Ubuntu ISO:
***THIS STAGE WILL ERASE YOUR FLASH DRIVE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKED UP ANY
***THIS STAGE WILL ERASE YOUR FLASH DRIVE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKED UP ANY
IMPORTANT DATA ON IT BEFORE PROCEEDING**
IMPORTANT DATA ON IT BEFORE PROCEEDING**
* There are many ways to create a bootable USB, we recommend [balenaEtcher](https://etcher.balena.io/).
* There are many ways to create a bootable USB, we recommend [balenaEtcher](https://etcher.balena.io/).
## The First Reboot and Running the Ubuntu Installer
## The First Reboot and Running the Ubuntu Installer
**Note:** Make sure the bootable USB is plugged into your computer.
**Note:** Make sure the bootable USB is plugged into your computer.
5. Reboot and enter the boot picker on your computer.
5. Reboot and enter the boot picker on your computer.
* This is usually done by just repeatedly pressing one of `Esc`, `Delete`, `F10`, or `F12` keys
* This is usually done by just repeatedly pressing one of `Esc`, `Delete`, `F10`, or `F12` keys
while your computer is starting up. There usually is a small splash screen when you start your
while your computer is starting up. There usually is a small splash screen when you start your
computer telling you which key to press. You can look up the model of your computer or
computer telling you which key to press. You can look up the model of your computer or
motherboard (if you are on a desktop) to figure out which key to press.
motherboard (if you are on a desktop) to figure out which key to press.
* Once you enter your boot picker, select your USB drive by using the arrow keys
* Once you enter your boot picker, select your USB drive by using the arrow keys
and hitting enter.
and hitting enter.
* If you are using one of the USB drives we provide rather than your own, you may see a "Ventoy" screen. Use the arrow keys to select "ubuntu-20.04...". Make sure it is **20**, not 22! Then press enter/return to continue.
* If you are using one of the USB drives we provide rather than your own, you may see a "Ventoy" screen. Use the arrow keys to select "ubuntu-20.04...". Make sure it is **20**, not 22! Then press enter/return to continue.
* Double click on the free space you created back in Windows (it should have a size around what
* Double click on the free space you created back in Windows (it should have a size around what
you specified)
you specified)
* For size just use the default entry (which should be the rest of the free space)
* For size just use the default entry (which should be the rest of the free space)
* Choose Logical and Beginning of Space
* Choose Logical and Beginning of Space
* Use as: Ext4 journaling file system
* Use as: Ext4 journaling file system
* Mount point: `/` (this is like the Linux equivalent of `C:` in Windows)
* Mount point: `/` (this is like the Linux equivalent of `C:` in Windows)
7. Continue and fill in account details, and then the installation should begin. Once it is done
7. Continue and fill in account details, and then the installation should begin. Once it is done
your computer should restart and then you should see a screen that looks like the start of the
your computer should restart and then you should see a screen that looks like the start of the
installation. This is the GRUB bootloader. Whenever you want to boot into Ubuntu, select the
installation. This is the GRUB bootloader. Whenever you want to boot into Ubuntu, select the
`Ubuntu` option, and whenever you want to boot into Windows choose the `Windows Boot Manager`
`Ubuntu` option, and whenever you want to boot into Windows choose the `Windows Boot Manager`
option.
option.
# Footnotes
# Footnotes
[^bootloader]:The bootloader will be the first thing you see when you turn on your computer. It will allow you to choose whether you want to boot into Windows or boot into Ubuntu. The bootloader Ubuntu uses is called "GNU GRUB".
[^bootloader]:The bootloader will be the first thing you see when you turn on your computer. It will allow you to choose whether you want to boot into Windows or boot into Ubuntu. The bootloader Ubuntu uses is called "GNU GRUB".
