Linux on a USB stick

[Jayliss]

If I install Linux on a USB stick (free OS). Can I still use windows or not? If yes how?

 

[Blackhole890]

dual-booting

[Jayliss]

Is dual booting when u start your computer you get 2 different options for OS?

 

[Blackhole890]

4 minutes ago, Jayliss said:

Is dual booting when u start your computer you get 2 different options for OS?

 

yes, and remember to quote please

[LAwLz]

I am not quite sure what you are asking.

I am going to assume that you have Windows installed on your computer right now and is planning on getting a GNU/Linux LiveCD on a USB memory stick. Is that correct? And you are asking that if you boot GNU/Linux from the memory stick, will you be able to go back to Windows?

 

The answer to that is yes, if you use a LiveCD. When you start your computer you will have to select if you want to boot from the USB memory stick or from your HDD/SSD. Choosing the USB memory stick will boot GNU/Linux. If you choose your HDD/SSD then you will boot Windows.

It's really as simple as that.

 

(This is not dual booting, which is when you have both OSes installed on your HDD/SSD)

[pipnina]

You can either install Linux with a dual-boot (which creates a partition for Linux and leaves windows in place, uses grub bootloader to give you a selection at boot) or you can install Linux to an entirely separate drive (aka, not a different partition) which won't give you an option at boot, but will make removing one of the OSs much easier if/when the time comes. You can still choose to boot to one or the other (overriding mobo boot order) by giving the F12 key a good ol' rub.