How to run Debian smoothly in dual boot with Windows?

How to run Debian smoothly in dual boot with Windows?

How to run Debian smoothly in dual boot with Windows If your machine comes with UEFI, it is recommended to format the entire disk in GPT before you install any operating systems on it. With UEFI + GPT, Windows Boot Manager and GRUB are isolated and re-installing Windows (or upgrading it to another version) will not rewrite GRUB records on the disk.

How can I get Debian to boot in Windows 10?

Unfortunately the Windows Boot Manager is unable to see other OSes such as Debian and the like. If you leave it as it is you will boot straight into Windows 10 with no OS selection. You need to switch to grub, the smarter Linux boot loader which is able to handle a wider selection of operating systems.

How to change the boot order of Debian?

You need to switch to grub, the smarter Linux boot loader which is able to handle a wider selection of operating systems. To change that, enter the UEFI settings again (reboot + F2) and flip the boot order of Windows Boot Manager with EFI File Boot 0: Debian.

Why does Windows 10 give priority to Debian?

Take a look at picture 1. above: you will see how my boot order still gives priority to Windows Boot Manager (#9) over Debian (#10). Unfortunately the Windows Boot Manager is unable to see other OSes such as Debian and the like. If you leave it as it is you will boot straight into Windows 10 with no OS selection.

Why is my computer no longer bootable with Debian?

Traditionally, personal computers are pre-installed with Windows on an MBR disk and boot using legacy BIOS. The installation (or even upgrading using Windows Update) of Windows would rewrite GRUB records and Debian will be no longer bootable until it is fixed.

Can you install Windows first and then Debian?

Installing on a separate drive of course always is an option. As the Windows setup will most likely overwrite at least GRUB, for fresh installations it appears reasonable to install Windows first and then Debian. On a GPT disk, the order of fresh installation does not matter.

How big is the bootloader partition for Debian?

When installing Windows and Debian on one shared hard disk, it is important to consider the partition layout first. Windows’s automatic installation, as of Vista, normally creates one 100 MB bootloader partition and occupies the rest of the disk for system, software and data.