Dual Boot Setup： Installing Debian 12 with Windows for Seamless OS Switching

Well, let me tell ya, if ya wanna get both Linux and Windows workin’ on the same computer, it ain’t too hard. I know folks always think it’s tricky, but follow my words and it’ll be fine. Today, I’ll talk about how to set up dual boot with Linux and Windows on Debian 12. Now, you might not be too sure what all that means, but don’t worry, I’ll explain it nice and simple, like how I’d tell my neighbor about plantin’ tomatoes.

First things first, ya need a computer that already got Windows on it. Most folks got Windows runnin’, so we’ll keep it there, no need to get rid of it. What we wanna do is make some space for Linux, and in this case, we’ll use Debian 12. It’s a fancy way of sayin’ we’re gonna add another system to the same machine. When you start your computer, you’ll get to pick which one to use: Windows or Debian. Easy, right?

What ya need before startin’

• A USB stick – at least 8GB, bigger is better.
• A computer with Windows already installed.
• Internet, ’cause we gotta download Debian 12.
• Patience – we ain’t rushin’ through this, it’s gotta be done right!

Step 1: Back up your data

First thing, honey, you gotta back up all your important stuff from Windows. I ain’t sayin’ somethin’s gonna go wrong, but you never know with these machines. Better safe than sorry. Put all your photos, documents, and whatever else on an external hard drive or maybe up in that cloud thing folks use. Once that’s done, we’re ready to start.

Step 2: Make some space for Linux

Now, in order to install Debian, we need some space on the computer. Right now, Windows is takin’ up all the room, so we gotta shrink it down a bit. Don’t worry, your stuff in Windows will still be there. To do this, ya gotta go to somethin’ called Disk Management. Right-click the Start button in Windows, then click on “Disk Management.” Find the drive where Windows is installed, right-click again and select “Shrink Volume.”

Now, here’s the trick: leave enough space for Windows to still work, but make sure there’s at least 20GB or more for Debian. After shrinkin’ it, you’ll see some unallocated space – that’s where we’ll put Debian.

Step 3: Get Debian 12 ready

Now we gotta get that Linux system, Debian 12. Go to the Debian website and download the installer. Once it’s downloaded, use some program like Rufus to put it on the USB stick. That’s how we’ll boot into Debian from the USB later.

Step 4: Install Debian alongside Windows

Alright, here’s where we get to the main part. Plug in that USB and restart the computer. When it’s bootin’ up, press the key to get into the boot menu – it’s usually F12 or Esc, but every machine’s a little different. Select your USB stick from the menu. Now you’ll see the Debian installer.

When the installer comes up, just follow the steps like it tells ya. When ya get to the part about partitioning, make sure to choose “Manual.” You’ll see that unallocated space we made earlier. Select it and create two new partitions: one for the root (/) and one for swap space. For root, give it at least 20GB, and for swap, a couple gigabytes should do.

Step 5: Finishin’ up the installation

After partitionin’, the rest is easy. Just follow along with the installer until it’s all done. It’ll ask if you wanna install the GRUB bootloader – make sure you say yes! GRUB is what lets you choose between Windows and Debian when you start up the computer.

Step 6: Reboot and enjoy

Once the install is done, take out the USB stick and restart the computer. Now, when it starts up, you’ll see a screen askin’ which system you wanna use: Debian or Windows. Pick whichever one you need for the day, and there you go! You got both systems workin’ side by side on the same computer.

Switchin’ between Windows and Debian

If you ever need somethin’ from Windows while usin’ Debian, don’t worry, you can still access your Windows files. Just go to the file manager in Debian, find the Windows partition, and mount it. You’ll see all your documents, photos, and whatever else ya need.

Conclusion

Well, that’s about it. Dual bootin’ Debian 12 and Windows ain’t as scary as folks make it sound. Just follow these steps and you’ll be good to go. Now you got the best of both worlds – you can keep usin’ Windows for what you’re used to, and explore Linux on the side.

Tags：Debian 12, dual boot, Linux, Windows, partition, install Debian