How Do You Get Linux On Microsoft Devices?
Get Linux on Microsoft Devices - With time, the Windows system on your computer starts to fall back from delivering utmost performance, naturally. As a result, it probably causes you quite a lot of inconvenience. So, if you’re facing this issue, you’d want to improve your device’s functions. A system update may do that job, but you may want to try using an open-source Operating system.
Linux is a great option if you want a fast and efficient system for your Microsoft Surface device. In case you’re trying to install it on your device, it’s quite a simple task. But you might still need help with a few things. For that, keep reading to know how to download Linux for your Windows 10 device successfully.
Linux Installation on Windows 10 [Dual-Boot]: Simple Steps
There are a few different ways to install Linux on your device. Here, we will look at arguably the simplest among them, which is from a USB. Also, you can use a CD-ROM as an alternative for this purpose. So, make sure that you have at least one of these storage devices first. Then, you can proceed further with downloading the software.
1. Prepare a bootable media
To install Linux, you need to install it first on a storage device. If you’re wondering the size you need, you are recommended to use at least a 6 GB pen drive. Now, there is various distribution software that you can choose from, like Fedora and Ubuntu. You must choose which one you want to download.
Choose the one that’s best suited for your requirements. Regardless of which one you opt for, you can find it on the official Linux website. You have to download an ISO file for the one that you want to install. If you face any difficulty using your Microsoft Surface device, seek help from professionals associated with Microsoft Surface Repair.
Format the USB
After you download the software, you might have to format your USB. So, if there are any important files, you might want to transfer them to another device. Also, you must consider backing up any important data that you had on the pen drive. After all, you might end up deleting something important.
Get bootable media creation software
Apart from other things, you would also need software that helps you create the bootable media. So, you must get one that’s the best suited for your purpose. There are many viable options available in this matter. So, choose any of them and download them on your computer. In case you’re wondering which of them is the best, Rufus is arguably the best. So, you might want to give it a try, apart from others like Etcher and UNetbootin.
Mount the ISO file on the USB
Once you’ve got the required software, you can proceed with mounting the file. For that, you need to open the app for the software. There, you’ll find the option to carry out this task. Select the pen drive where you have downloaded the ISO, and this will bring up a Drive Properties page. Then, you need to select the software you want to mount using Boot Selection.
Once you’re done with the steps mentioned above, start the mounting process. You might have to wait for a while for it to complete. Meanwhile, there's yet another step left before installation, so let’s proceed.
2. Make Space on the Hard Drive
Since you’re installing new system software, you would need considerable space for it. For that, you might need to create it in case it isn’t already there. So, go to diskmgmt.msc on your Microsoft Surface device to perform that task. This will take you to a page where all the drives in your device are listed. Choose the one that you want to partition.
Now, you might wonder how much space you need for the software. Regardless of which distro from Linux you choose, you need at least 20 GB for it. Enter this number (in bytes) in the field where it asks you to. Once you’re done, you can opt for Shrink to proceed. This will set apart the space you need for the Linux installation.
This, along with the bootable USB, are the crucial requirements for installing Linux by this method.
3. Install Linux
Once you have created the bootable drive and the partition, it’s time to start the installation. Insert the pen drive in your Windows device and restart it from the Start menu. Hold Shift while the device is about to reboot; this will take you to the page used for recovering the system or installing new software. There, you’ll find the option to use your pen drive. Open it, and you’ll see a list of various drives and CDs. So, choose the bootable pen drive you created.
Once you do that, your Microsoft device should open the Linux system in it. When it gives you the option, opt for installing it whenever you’re ready. After that, it should install the software without any issues. Follow the instructions, if any, that it shows on the screen. Depending on the distro you’re installing, you might have to create an account to use it.
Reboot
Once the installation process is complete, you’re ready to try out your new OS. You just need to reboot your device before that. You can use Linux along with Windows on your device. If you haven’t removed the latter yet, you need to opt for the software you want to run. Moreover, you might have to do this every time you start or reboot the Microsoft device.
Failed to Install Linux: How to Solve the Issue?
Sometimes, you might face an issue while installing Linux on your Microsoft device. In such cases, you’d want a quick solution. Luckily, you can fix it with the help of these simple methods:
1. Check for insufficient space or corruption in drives
In many cases, the issue with the installation is just due to a shortage of space. In such a situation, you can solve the problem quite easily. However, in many cases, a corrupt drive causes the issue.
Now, you can’t be sure if that’s the case unless you check the disk concerned for any damage. Also, you need to do that as soon as possible, as ignoring it can worsen the problem. As a result, a part of the affected drive may become permanently damaged.
So, go to the drives in File Explorer and open the Properties of the affected one. There, you can find the option to scan for corruption in the Tools tab. In case there is any, your device can find it out, and you can proceed with fixing it.
2. Install again
There are very few other options left if you don’t find any error in the disk drives. If you want to save time, going through the installation all over again can be your best bet. Moreover, there might be an issue with the bootable media. So, you might need to create it again on your USB. You can choose to do that any other way if you prefer, such as with a CD-ROM. Regardless, this method does work more often than not.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to solve this problem with the methods as mentioned earlier; otherwise, do approach a professional for an optimal solution.
Will it lead to any errors?
You can use Linux on your Microsoft device without getting rid of Windows. The method given here is quite a simple one for installing it. Usually, you can install any Linux distribution software this way without any problem. But, if you are not much acquainted with the process, get quick assistance from a professional.