Dual-boot

[elytron]

I run Arch as my home lab server. I have kvm + qemu for virtualizing other systems.

I almost understand what you are talking about, sounds cool.

When you say based, do you run Manjaro ? Or another Arch build ?

I like the GNOME version of Manjaro. Easy for me install, and setup. A lot of available software.

After my very first Linux install on a 486 back in the day, I always made sure to set up one OS per drive. There was always a chance one of the installs would break the other, but having 2 disks makes it less likely. Now with UEFI this should not be an issue with 2 drives.

This is a neat idea, I may attempt some day. My system has one SSD right now. What was your first Linux install? I started with Ubuntu, Mint, then to Manjaro.

 

[adrianmonk]

I almost understand what you are talking about, sounds cool.

I love virtualization/emulation. Helps not having to have multiple different physical servers for various tasks.

I like the GNOME version of Manjaro. Easy for me install, and setup. A lot of available software.

I enjoyed Manjaro as well, though with any rolling release you have to be super careful with updates so you don't break your system.

This is a neat idea, I may attempt some day. My system has one SSD right now. What was your first Linux install? I started with Ubuntu, Mint, then to Manjaro.

My first Linux install was Slackware in 1996. My cdrom was not supported by Linux at the time ( got it working later by customizing the kernel ), so I had to go to the college library and download/image the whole 40 or so floppies for the install. There were data errors which involved going back to the library and redownloading / reimaging so it took a few days to get running. The program I wanted to run was tinyfugue (a mud client ) which worked on unix like systems.

Got a new computer 2 years later with a proper ATAPI cdrom and did not run into that issue again.

I have arch on my server, Windows + MacOS on my workstation. 3rd boot on this workstation will most likely be an Arch based distro if not Arch itself.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I used to dual boot Windows 10 and Redhat Fedora (in several grades) and earlier Windows and Fedora versions before that.

It was fine until something went wrong and I needed to repartition the hard drive. I'm strictly a dabbler, and I suppose an IT guru would have figured out how to fix things. When computers were still 32 bit, I had "Partition Commander" with WIndows and Linux on CD's or DVD's, which made partitioning easier. But now just about everything is downloaded, and of course most computers are 64 bit. It's become more complex.

So the last time I had an issue I decided to keep Windows and Linux on separate computers. Eventually I might move entirely to Linux, but I've got a fair bit of software that requires Windows. There's WINE (windows emulator), but I'm not confident it's going to work with all my Windows based software packages.

Secondly Microsoft (and probably Apple) seem to protect their markets. I can find it difficult to open some MS Office documents using open source Libre Office for example.

If I do decide to go entirely Linux, I'd need to take some training in operational issues. It's a huge field in it's own right.

 

[Anthony2019]

In recent weeks, I have migrated my PC and laptop from Fedora to OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. Having previously used SUSE as my first Linux system nearly 20 odd years ago, I'd almost forgotten what a robust and sturdy system it is. YAST and zypper are amazing tools.

Currently running Tumbleweed KDE 5.24 but thinking of dual-booting so I can install Tumbleweed GNOME separately.

 

[adrianmonk]

In recent weeks, I have migrated my PC and laptop from Fedora to OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. Having previously used SUSE as my first Linux system nearly 20 odd years ago, I'd almost forgotten what a robust and sturdy system it is. YAST and zypper are amazing tools.

Currently running Tumbleweed KDE 5.24 but thinking of dual-booting so I can install Tumbleweed GNOME separately.

Why dual boot for a desktop environment ? You should be able to install the Gnome packages and select the desktop environment from the login screen. I agree YAST is amazing.

 

[Sketcher]

In recent weeks, I have migrated my PC and laptop from Fedora to OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. Having previously used SUSE as my first Linux system nearly 20 odd years ago, I'd almost forgotten what a robust and sturdy system it is. YAST and zypper are amazing tools.

Currently running Tumbleweed KDE 5.24 but thinking of dual-booting so I can install Tumbleweed GNOME separately.

Fond memories of OpenSUSE. I used it for several years. I've been curious about Tumbleweed, but they don't recommend it for VMs the way I like to use them.

Why dual boot for a desktop environment ? You should be able to install the Gnome packages and select the desktop environment from the login screen. I agree YAST is amazing.

I for one, have never had good luck with it. It's always turned my system into a mess. I've learned a lot in the intervening years, but I'm not inclined to have a repeat of that.

 

[adrianmonk]

I for one, have never had good luck with it. It's always turned my system into a mess. I've learned a lot in the intervening years, but I'm not inclined to have a repeat of that.

Interesting. I have always played around with multiple window manager / desktops on my Linux install and not had an issue. What issues did you experience ? I still occasionally do this so would be great to know what to look out for (and maybe figure out what was causing it).

 

[Sketcher]

Interesting. I have always played around with multiple window manager / desktops on my Linux install and not had an issue. What issues did you experience ? I still occasionally do this so would be great to know what to look out for (and maybe figure out what was causing it).

It was so long ago, there's a lot of details I've forgotten. Might have been much slower. Might have been many more errors launching apps. Apps might have had problems displaying properly. And so forth. Since those times, I've been picking one DE and sticking with it, if I want to play around with another one, that's what VMs are for.

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Presently I dual boot Windows 10 with Linux Mint. It works very well.

 

[CallofChrist]

I use Linux Mint , myself! Works good.

 

[Anthony2019]

Interesting. I have always played around with multiple window manager / desktops on my Linux install and not had an issue. What issues did you experience ? I still occasionally do this so would be great to know what to look out for (and maybe figure out what was causing it).

I have often installed multiple window managers/desktops on Linux. I've always found them to be perfectly usable - and for the most part, all apps work as they should.
The problem I've found is the developers of the desktop environments are pushing ahead with radically different design goals affecting the way their apps look and behave. Some are focusing on desktop PCs with mouse-driven interfaces, whereas others are trying to become more tablet and touchscreen friendly.
Take Krita for instance, with its full-featured drop down menus, moveable toolbars and components. It runs well with KDE Plasma because it integrates well with its design and workflow. Running it in GNOME looks messy and out of place due to its larger icons, window padding and spacing.

 

[barefootNH]

@jacks ,
It depends on the hardware of your device and if you install both windows and linux on uefi or not. If not, windows boots first. At least that has been the case for me.

You can specify which is the default OS that boots.

 

[barefootNH]

Yes, I believe you are correct. What I meant though was that when initially loading the operating systems on to the computer, to put Windows on first. Then after Windows is up and running, load the Linux OS. Once they are both on, one can choose which is the default boot OS. Now this was over 15 years ago, it may be that the order one puts the OS on initially may no longer matter.

Last I read is that Windoze wants/needs/demands to be first. Fine.

I then make sure swap files are off and deleted, and clean out all temp files and empty trash. Defrag as many times as necessary to provide a solid chunk of empty space after the Widoze mess is all tucked tightly at the beginning of the disk. Then install the Linux distro of choice (I've standardized on Mate) in its own partition.

Now feel free to enable the Windoze swap file since it'll be in the Windoze partition.

If the Windoze mess isn't tightly placed at the beginning of the disk, the Linux partition could start at the end of the swap file, possibly wasting many GBs.

 

[barefootNH]

Hello fellow techies,
I am wondering if any of you dual boot windows with another OS or MacOS with another OS? And I am curious as to how well your experiences with dual-booting have been? I presently dual-boot windows 11 and Ubuntu Mate 20.04. It seems to be working fine so far.

I looked at all the Ubuntu flavors and their derivatives, and finally standardized on Mate (including financial support). It was the most intuitive, very simple for non-techies, and very similar for those accustomed to Windoze.

 

[barefootNH]

During my travels around the Ubuntu forest (installing all of them in order to test them properly since Linux installs so very quickly and easily) I looked at Linux Mint. Not too bad, a little awkward, a little too confusing because of its attempt to be simplistic.

Then in my research I found a stink about the founder being a racial bigot and being completely unrepentant about it. He didn't hide the fact and even tried to justify himself.

I boycott Mint because of that.

 

[adrianmonk]

During my travels around the Ubuntu forest (installing all of them in order to test them properly since Linux installs so very quickly and easily) I looked at Linux Mint. Not too bad, a little awkward, a little too confusing because of its attempt to be simplistic.

Then in my research I found a stink about the founder being a racial bigot and being completely unrepentant about it. He didn't hide the fact and even tried to justify himself.

I boycott Mint because of that.

Can you provide a link about this ? I am unaware of his views and would appreciate learning more.

 

[barefootNH]

Can you provide a link about this ? I am unaware of his views and would appreciate learning more.

Here's a good place to start:
Linux Mint, Israel and me

 

[adrianmonk]

Here's a good place to start:
Linux Mint, Israel and me

Thanks.

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Have any of you used Manjaro before with dual boot?