Can somebody help me to guide me to how to install windows as a dual-boot since I'm on Zorin OS. I regret keeping Zorin OS as one lol.
If you have multiple drives, you can install Windows on a separate hard drive (it is best to disconnect or disable the Zorin hard drive beforehand in BIOS).
If you want to install Windows on the same drive as Zorin, it is best to install Windows first, as Windows often overwrites Zorin's grub bootloader when installed later.
In the Zorin installation program, select "Install Zorin alongside Windows" and as device for bootloader installation set the efi partition / Windows boot manager (when you have an UEFI).
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So I can't install windows? like I will have to install windows first then Zorin OS?
You can - it is possible, just trickier with a higher element of risk:
- Is having Zorin Dual-Booting is simple and easy? Because I would want to try it out.
- After having dual-booting... lets just say if I decided to remove one of these, is it easy to remove one of these without error? I'm talking about Windows / Linux.
I have this few questions for y'all.
Single boot is easier and less prone to errors. Since you are a very cautious person, I would rather not say that dual booting is easy and simple.
With dual boot on the same hard drive, where the boot loaders for Zorin and Windows are located in the same EFI partition, it can happen that Zorin no longer boots after a Windows update because grub has been overwritten. This does not happen often, but it is possible. It has also happened to me.
The boot repair tool to repair grub bootloader often does not work if the NVRAM is locked.
The dual boot installation is easiest if you install Windows first and then Zorin, and select "Install Zorin alongside Windows" in the Zorin installation program.
If you want to delete Windows or Zorin later, you can do this. Be careful not to delete the partition with the bootloader (usually the efi partition).
If you want to be sure nothing happens, you can also install Windows in a virtual machine in Zorin. However, the virtual machine must share RAM with Zorin, which means Windows will not be as fast as it would be with a dual boot.
I hesitated on this one as well, given the NVRAM Locked errors we have been seeing more of.
Still, those are the minority of experiences, by far.
The best method is to install Windows as a VM inside of Zorin using virt-manager. The amount of physical RAM for earlier versions of 32-bit and 64-bit Windows was 4 Gb, but later versions may need more. If you have less than 8 Gb of RAM you won't be able to do it.
- Is having Zorin Dual-Booting is simple and easy? Because I would want to try it out.
- After having dual-booting... lets just say if I decided to remove one of these, is it easy to remove one of these without error? I'm talking about Windows 10 / Linux.
- And what would happen If I get a malware/viruses? would this also affect linux inside of dual-booting?
Please let me know in the comments. Thanks.
We need to know:
- Same HDD
- Separate HDDs
Separate, I have 2 SSDs
? I have a 2 separate SSDs. Thought it would be easy tho?
OK. The issue you will probably face is that after you install Windows is it won't recognise Zorin. I recently upgraded Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro on a HDD (now failing) in Hot Swap Bay. I took it out, put Q4OS in Hot Swap bay and it would not boot without going into the BIOS. The internal HDD (failing) had Mint on it so I updated GRUB on that and Q4OS (also a failing drive) became bootable.
In your case, I would backup your Zorin Data, delete Zorin, install Windows on the other SSD then reinstall Zorin using Ventoy as it contains MOK key to enrol into Windows EFI boot manager. I am basing this on my experience of installing LMDE 7 on a client's Acer Notebook which needed the MOK key to be enrolled before I could install LMDE 7 to replace Windows 10. When you get round to install Zorin you will need to disable 'fast boot' in BIOS and Windows. If the MOK key utility is asked for at install you should not have to disable Secure Boot. If install fails then Zorin isn't compatible with Ventoy's MOK key, and you would have to disable Secure Boot in the BIOS. Whilst talking of BIOS, after installing Windows be sure to check for BIOS updates.
You are best to use GPT for partitioning if using EFI boot manager. So when it comes to installing Zorin, go into BIOS and you should see two entries for your Ventoy thumb drive, one that just says Ventoy and one with Ventoy with EFI, select the latter.
So is it simple and easy?
Generally, yes. For most people, they install Windows OS.
Then they boot the Live USB of Zorin OS and in the installer, they select "Install Zorin alongside Windows."
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OK. also will windows be able to access/see on linux? also what happen if I get malware/viruses in windows 10? will it also affects linux?
No, not without some harder configuration. Windows OS uses NTFS, which cannot read/write on ext4 used by Zorin OS.
Zorin OS, however, can read and write for NTFS.
You can see your Windows files, on Zorin OS.
Usually no, assuming that virus does not affect hardware.
A virus is commonly a keylogger or self-reporting agent. One on Windows OS cannot affect Linux. Like a natural virus, it is limited to its host.
However, a virus like a Worm or Heater can affect hardware and so can indirectly affect your GnuLinux setup.
A worm will overwrite a hard drive partition and a heater can shutdown all cooling functions and ramp up the CPU to bake the processor and destroy the machine. These are the risks we all take in using computers. Fortunately, those are much less common.
Yeah I see.
So am I fine with windows 10 and having anti virus?