I purchased a nice used laptop including Windows11 ready to be configured. However, I don´t want W11, I wnat a dual boot system with W10 and Zorin, each on its own partition and sharing a data partition.
The idea being that if I cant get a applications made for Windws to run under Zorin, I can run it on Windows.
My first question is, if this is feasible undertaking?
My next question is if this is a working approach: use W11 to disable fast boot, secure boot, bitlocker etc and to repartition the drive into 3 partitions, then install W10.iso from USB, tweak that into dual boot-shape and finish by installing Zorin 18 and get my Windows-apps to run under Zorin?
If not, what is the better approach & why?
The sharing Data Partition might be a Point. When You want using it for sharing Music, Videos or Documents, it could work. But when ou want use it for this:
then I would say no.
If W11 shouldn't already set up with Bitlocker, it wouldn't even be neccessary to use W11. Secure Boot and Fast Boot, You can disable in BIOS. You don't need W11 for this. The Partitions could You create with Zorin in Live Mode with GParted. And then install Windows 10 and after this Zorin.
I don't know if Bitlocker is setup already. I've until now only seen W11's language selection screen, have not have had time to start configuring this laptop
What are the symptoms of Bitlocker is indeed already installed?
My biggest worry is that w11 configures all kinds of settings that make installing w10 and particularly Linux very difficult.
From your reply I learned that I can mitigate that through bios and Linux live usb. Excellent, thank you!
and if enabled, this guide explains how to disable it:
Just as an extra precaution I would also change the hidden power settings that stop the drive from going to sleep before you wipe the drive to take Windows 10.
Just to clarify, GParted (Gnome Partition editor) launches when you choose the 'Something Else' option.
In GParted, You can see that on the Partitions. I saw here a GPartzed Sreenshot a While ago but unfortunately don't have it right now. Start Zorin in Live Mode and loook there for GParted. Choose the Drive and make a Picture and post it here. So, we can take a Look at it.
