I'd Like To Be Able To Try Out A Reputable Linux Distribution On My Windows 11 Pro Laptop

The last time that I tried to setup a dual boot system it was like the linux distribution took over my computer and I ended up having to reinstall windows 11. This time I've done some research about this & I really think that I'd be a LOT better off by installing linux on a separate ssd hard drive. I'm looking for some vital installation information from member's who have done this before & had success with doing so. Thanks in advance for any & all valid suggestions.

Davy49 said:

I really think that I'd be a LOT better off by installing linux on a separate ssd hard drive.

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.. or installing in a virtual machine within Windows Two options : enable virtualisation in Windows 11, or install freeware Oracle Virtual Box

idgat said:

.. or installing in a virtual machine within Windows Two options : enable virtualisation in Windows 11, or install freeware Oracle Virtual Box

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I'm a bit embarrassed to tell you this but I've never tried installing a virtual machine before, I like this idea better than having to use a separate ssd drive. If you have the time & would care to do so could you PLEASE explain an easy way for me to do this ?
Thanks A Lot

Create an image of your existing system (AOMEI BackUpper, Macrium Reflect (freeware versions). Don't forget to create the respective boot recovery USBs

Download Linux ISO
Download, install, run Oracle Virtual Box
Follow the prompts to install Linux using the ISO

In this guide, I will teach you the easy steps to install the WSL platform on your computer. In addition, I will outline the steps to update the Linux kernel on Windows 11.

Follow all the suggestions above...

Personally I hate dual-booting as well as virtual machines, but that's just me. Whatever route you eventually try, make sure you hit up the specific linux forum that pretty well every distro has, as it is populated by people like yourself that is trying out linux coming from windows. Keep in mind that windows really doesn't play well with linux and tries to sabotage linux every chance it gets. Myself, I have several old computers (I am a packrat that doesn't throw anything out) that aren't worth the hassle to put windows on but all run linux just fine, albeit some a little slow at times.

A dedicated extra SSD would be the next alternative that you install linux on and swap out your windows drive. This way it keeps both your windows drive separate from your linux drive and "never the twain shall meet".

Whichever way you go - good luck.

Davy49 said:

The last time that I tried to setup a dual boot system it was like the linux distribution took over my computer and I ended up having to reinstall windows 11. This time I've done some research about this & I really think that I'd be a LOT better off by installing linux on a separate ssd hard drive. I'm looking for some vital installation information from member's who have done this before & had success with doing so. Thanks in advance for any & all valid suggestions.

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if you install and use VirtualBox you install Linux as if it was a separate hard drive
i use VirtualBox on my system for Linux distro's. its easy to use and easy to setup

best of luck Steve ..

@Davy49

Hello,

You have several options available to you:

1- Attempt to install as Dual boot, feasible but challenging with Secure Boot, EFI, and encryption and it can monopolize a drive.
2- Use the built-in Windows Hypervisor and create a Virtual system that way (Getting sound can be problematic on some systems)
3- Use as mentioned Oracle Virtual box, can work well with Macrium.
4- Use Broadcom VM Workstation

I've done all 4 at one time or another but I settled for VMware/Broadcom.
You can get it from my Onedrive if you want (so you don't bother yourself with the cumbersome navigation on their site):

VMware-Workstation-Full-26H1u1-25688693.exe

It is rather intuitive as it guides you thru the set up. For those 3rd party 2 options,
You will need an .iso image and a dedicated partition, or simply a folder if you don't want to mess with partitions.
I have 3 VMs on my D: Drive with 2 Windows versions (Beta & Spectre) & Debian/Linux Gnu.

Take your time and read carefully the options during the installation of the VM to avoid any potential pitfalls.

OAT said:

I settled for VMware/Broadcom.

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I love VMware and used Workstation several years ago in my husband's business. I was unaware it was now free. Thanks for the information.
Just wondering if you know why the executable to install this version is less than half what it was in the old paid version?

glasskuter said:

I love VMware and used Workstation several years ago in my husband's business. I was unaware it was now free. Thanks for the information.
Just wondering if you know why the executable to install this version is less than half what it was in the old paid version?

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The VMplayer was removed all together leaving the Workstation as a full 64 bit version. (no more of that 32 bit stuff)
It now installs in Program Files folder only. This was done starting with the 25Hx version.

Your 8 GB of total memory might be a little tight for Windows and a Virtual Machine.

Memory 8.00 GB (7.88 GB usable)

You don't want to allocate more than half of that to a virtual machine.

OAT said:

It now installs in Program Files folder only.

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Did you set your .iso to behave that way? Or is this a Microsoft-mandated thing?

Davy49 said:

The last time that I tried to setup a dual boot system it was like the linux distribution took over my computer and I ended up having to reinstall windows 11. This time I've done some research about this & I really think that I'd be a LOT better off by installing linux on a separate ssd hard drive. I'm looking for some vital installation information from member's who have done this before & had success with doing so. Thanks in advance for any & all valid suggestions.

Click to expand...

My first question to people want to try Linux, i always ask why. As the why sometimes collide with peoples expectations.

This is how i switched from Windows 7 as daily driver up to Linux as daily driver.
In 2018 MS said win7 is going EOL 2020 and i hate win10 home/pro with a passion.
So in March 2018 i took an older laptop i had and installed Linux Mint 18.3 as a single system. I had that computer side by side with my win7 so i could have both up and running at the same time.. so i tested things and i learned a lot and i crashed that Linux machine more then twice.
But i always had my win7 next to it that i did all my daily stuff on.. and by May'ish 2019 i switched those two and i started to use Linux as my primary system and my win7 was only a backup just in case.

So if you have several computers.. consider to dedicate one of them as Linux only machine... and just do a disk to image clone of that old windows disk if you ever want to switch back.. then you just restore the old disk image.