How to Dual Boot Linux Mint and Windows 10: Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, now, if you’re lookin’ to have both Windows 10 and Linux Mint on your computer, you’re in the right spot. This here guide will walk you through dual-booting, which is fancy speak for puttin’ both systems on the same machine so you can choose which one to start up. Ain’t nothin’ too complicated, just follow along, and I’ll tell ya step by step.

Step 1: Start with Windows

If you already got Windows 10 on the computer, good, that’s the way we want it. They say Windows needs to be installed first, else it throws a fit if ya try doin’ it the other way around. So, if you’re all set with Windows, let’s keep goin’. But if you don’t have it yet, go on and install Windows 10 first.

Step 2: Download Linux Mint

Next thing, we need to grab Linux Mint. You go on to the Linux Mint website, download that ISO file. Now, this ISO is like the blueprint of the Linux Mint, and we’re gonna put it on a USB or a DVD, whichever you got handy. They got different versions – Cinnamon is what most folks go for, so we’ll stick with that. Once it’s downloaded, you’ll need a program like Rufus (if you’re on Windows) to burn that ISO file to your USB or DVD.

Step 3: Make Space for Linux on Your Hard Drive

Now, if you want Linux Mint sittin’ alongside Windows, you’ll need to carve out a bit of space for it. Don’t worry, you ain’t losing any Windows stuff. Go to Disk Management in Windows (just search “Disk Management” in the search bar). You’ll see a list of your storage. Find the biggest section, right-click, and select Shrink Volume. Give it a good bit of space – at least 20GB or more if you got it. That space we’re makin’ will be where Linux Mint settles in.

Step 4: Boot from Your Linux USB or DVD

Once you got the space made, plug in that USB or DVD with Linux Mint on it. Restart the computer and get it to boot from the USB or DVD instead of the regular hard drive. Most computers, you just hit a key like F12 or Esc as it’s starting up, and a boot menu pops up. Pick your USB or DVD from the menu, and before ya know it, you’ll be seein’ Linux Mint’s setup screen.

Step 5: Install Linux Mint

Once you’re in the Linux Mint setup, there’ll be an option that says “Install Linux Mint”. Click that, and it’ll guide ya through a few basic steps. When you get to the part that asks where to install, pick the “Install alongside Windows” option. This way, it won’t mess with your Windows setup. Just follow along, pick your time zone, keyboard layout, and let it run the installation. Might take a few minutes, but once it’s done, Linux Mint will be on your computer!

Step 6: Setting Up the Dual Boot

After the installation, take out your USB or DVD and restart the computer. Now, instead of jumpin’ straight into Windows, you’ll see a boot menu pop up. This menu lets you pick either Windows 10 or Linux Mint. So each time you start up, you just pick whichever one you’re in the mood for, and off you go!

Things to Remember

• Anytime you’re installing or updating, just make sure you got backups of important stuff. Just a little safety net, ya know?
• Switchin’ between Windows and Linux takes a few seconds, so just be patient.
• If ya need to go back to Windows as the only system, you’ll have to use Disk Management to remove the Linux partitions, so keep that in mind.

And that’s it! Now you got yourself a dual-boot setup with Windows 10 and Linux Mint. It’s like havin’ two computers in one, and you can just pick whichever one suits ya best. Good luck, and happy computing!

Tags：[dual boot, Linux Mint, Windows 10, install Linux, setup dual boot]