Dual boot help

[jacobgoblin]

I have a cheap Asus laptop running Windows 8.1. I want to dual boot Ubuntu, but I've never done it. Could someone help me figure the easiest but safest way to do it? Help greatly appreciated. 

[UltimateHawkeye]

Follow this. I used it before with the Windows 10 Preview. http://www.howtogeek.com/187789/dual-booting-explained-how-you-can-have-multiple-operating-systems-on-your-computer/

[jayctech]

Go in system partition and decrease the space used by Windows (I forget what the option was).

Create the bootable usb using their instructions. Go to the Ubuntu desktop by booting from the usb. Choose the install icon from the desktop on Ubuntu, choose to install alongside Windows (if that's an option).

If it doesn't have that option, if you're willing you can try to configure manually, otherwise give up.

[jacobgoblin]

Go in system partition and decrease the space used by Windows (I forget what the option was).

Create the bootable usb using their instructions. Go to the Ubuntu desktop by booting from the usb. Choose the install icon from the desktop on Ubuntu, choose to install alongside Windows (if that's an option).

If it doesn't have that option, if you're willing you can try to configure manually, otherwise give up.

I don't trust myself enough to try anything manually <_<

[jayctech]

I don't trust myself enough to try anything manually <_<

Then hope Ubuntu offers to install alongside.

My old laptop wasn't so fortunate. I did the manual partitioning and Ubuntu worked fine. I'm guessing I didn't give enough space in the root or something because at some point it just couldn't update anymore because there wasn't enough space in a certain partition.

[jacobgoblin]

Then hope Ubuntu offers to install alongside.

My old laptop wasn't so fortunate. I did the manual partitioning and Ubuntu worked fine. I'm guessing I didn't give enough space in the root or something because at some point it just couldn't update anymore because there wasn't enough space in a certain partition.

Did manual partitioning erase your files? I think I have to go that route because the install says, "This computer has no detected operating system." But I'm worried about data loss because this isn't a new laptop and I don't have an external for backup.

[jayctech]

Did manual partitioning erase your files? I think I have to go that route because the install says, "This computer has no detected operating system." But I'm worried about data loss because this isn't a new laptop and I don't have an external for backup.

Make sure you've shrunk your Windows partition first. @UltimateHawkeye provided a good link for that.

And no it didn't. My only issue was I stopped being able to update after a while. My Windows partition was fine.

[jacobgoblin]

Make sure you've shrunk your Windows partition first. @UltimateHawkeye provided a good link for that.

And no it didn't. My only issue was I stopped being able to update after a while. My Windows partition was fine.

Excellent, I'll try it and see what happens. Thanks all for help. 

[Satlen]

Yeah, all you have to do is create a bootable ubs with http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/and then when you boot, you click install, then when given the option, choose "install alongside windows" then it will let you choose a size for ubuntu and then it will do everything else.

[jacobgoblin]

Yeah, all you have to do is create a bootable ubs with http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/and then when you boot, you click install, then when given the option, choose "install alongside windows" then it will let you choose a size for ubuntu and then it will do everything else.

That option wasn't there because of something with windows 8. All I had to do was shrink the Windows partition then split the free space into 3 new partitions. Then it installed fine and I didn't even have to use boot repair like a lot of people said they did.

[Satlen]

That option wasn't there because of something with windows 8. All I had to do was shrink the Windows partition then split the free space into 3 new partitions. Then it installed fine and I didn't even have to use boot repair like a lot of people said they did.

 

I always forget about secureboot or whatever that crap is called with laptops and windows 8. I am not used to it because of my desktop and installing windows myself, I always disable that stuff.

[jacobgoblin]

I always forget about secureboot or whatever that crap is called with laptops and windows 8. I am not used to it because of my desktop and installing windows myself, I always disable that stuff.

I had secureboot off. I think it was something about dynamic disks or something like that. Ideally I would set Linux up on its own drive, but being a laptop I can't do that.

[jayctech]

I had secureboot off. I think it was something about dynamic disks or something like that. Ideally I would set Linux up on its own drive, but being a laptop I can't do that.

That's what I've done recently on my Desktop.

Fk partitioning.

[jacobgoblin]

That's what I've done recently on my Desktop.

Fk partitioning.

When I build my desktop with dual drives I'm gonna wipe this laptop and say Fk windows and just run full Ubuntu or Mint

[jayctech]

When I build my desktop with dual drives I'm gonna wipe this laptop and say Fk windows and just run full Ubuntu or Mint

Ha the only reason I haven't done that is I have a full copy of MS Office installed on it and I have various other files and docs I might want access to and I'm too lazy to copy it to my desktop. That and I use my laptop to experiment so Windows and its high compatibility with software is useful.