Are you considering installing a second operating system and want to be aware of the risks? Having Windows and Linux installed on your PC gives you the best of both worlds. But it is not always easy to navigate. The dual boot can lead to problems, some of which are difficult to predict.
Is dual boot safe? Does it affect performance? Here are seven dual-boot dangers to be aware of before installing a second operating system.
1. Accidental data / OS overwriting
If this is not the most important thing, it is undoubtedly the risk that can ruin it even before starting. After all, overwriting your existing data, or even the main operating system, is going to create problems. Sure, you can use recovery tools, but the chances of getting all your data back are slim.
Fortunately, most operating system installation wizards can detect primary partitions. This means that if you are installing Windows together with a Linux distribution, the wizard should highlight the existing partition. You will be able to choose what to do next. Linux operating systems, meanwhile, are equally smart.
But accidents do happen, so be careful when installing. Be sure to install the new operating system on the correct drive and partition, without accidentally losing your data.
2. The dual boot can affect productivity
Running multiple operating systems on your PC is a great way to maximize productivity. But sometimes it can backfire. If you need to use Windows 10 together with Ubuntu 20.04, it is convenient to easily switch to that operating system.
But do you really need to do it? It is important to make sure you have equivalent applications on Linux if you have switched from Windows. Similarly, you must ensure that the appropriate options are available if you change otherwise. The dual boot really should be to experience and enjoy the entire alternative operating system environment.
On the other hand, you may not even need to change. Run Windows in a virtual machine in Linux. It is a great solution. Naturally, you can also install Linux on a virtual machine in Windows. Ultimately, it’s important to make sure you’re using the best operating system for the task at hand.
3. Locked Partitions Cause Problems on Dual Boot Systems
Perhaps one of the biggest difficulties with the dual boot is not being able to access your data. Most of the time, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you’ve organized things effectively, your vital personal files will be available through the operating systems you’re using.
This is possible using cloud storage, for example, or using an HDD partition specifically for personal files.
However, problems can occur. If you use Windows and the system shuts down unexpectedly, any dedicated partition used for personal files will be locked. This means that it will fail when trying to access the disk from your Linux partition. You will see a message like this:
Error mounting /dev/sda5 at /media/karma/data:
Command-line `mount -t "ntfs" -o "uhelper=udisks2,nodev,nosuid,uid=1000,gid=1000,dmask=0077,fmask=0177"
"/dev/sda5" "/media/karma/data"' exited with non-zero exit status 14: The disk contains an unclean file system (0, 0).
Metadata kept in Windows cache, refused to mount. Failed to mount '/dev/sda5':
Operation not permitted The NTFS partition is in an unsafe state.
Please resume and shutdown Windows fully (no hibernation or fast restarting), or mount the volume read-only with the 'ro' mount option.This is perhaps the most frustrating risk of dual boot.
Fortunately, it can be fixed, but it can take a few minutes (depending on how fast Windows installation starts). You have two options:
- Follow the instructions in the error and boot the device as read-only
- Reboot into Windows, then initiate an orderly reboot from the start menu and return to Linux
With both fixes, the files should be available with full access again.
4. Windows Update and Dual Boot
Updating your operating system is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure a robust and secure computer. Unfortunately, it can lead to problems in dual boot scenarios.
While updating your system from the Linux distribution you choose should cause some problems, Windows Update can be devastating.
Running Windows Update can cause the Master Boot Record (MBR) to be rewritten, leaving you with a missing Linux partition. Failed updates, or even simple driver updates, can also cause problems with a dual-boot PC.
In this situation, it’s time to turn to the proven Windows 10 recovery tools. Although it is time-consuming, if you really need to run Windows, this is the way to get it working again.
For the best dual-boot experience, make sure that your computer’s boot order is Windows, rather than your Linux operating system.
5. Viruses Can Affect Dual Boot Security
Linux-based operating systems are robust, largely undamaged by viruses and other malware. While there are a few exceptions, this is largely due to the relatively small user base. The many Linux operating systems collectively control only a fraction of the operating system market.
Clearly, scammers target Windows computers because they find it more efficient to get results. However, many websites are attacked or even disconnected due to viruses and malware, and most web servers run on Linux.
If you are running a dual-boot computer, therefore, the likelihood of malware affecting the Linux environment increases.
As such, it is advisable to maintain an Internet security suite when Windows is running. On your Linux operating system, running a malware scanner like ClamAV daily should also reassure you. Don’t just focus on the operating system when looking for viruses; scan your personal data files too.
6. Driver errors can be exposed
Occasionally, some hardware issues may occur when dual boot starts. However, they are generally tied to Windows device drivers and are increasingly rare.
Perhaps the most common hardware problem when the dual boot comes in the form of built-in wireless network cards. These switchable devices may end up disabled in Windows and therefore cannot be initialized in Linux.
Somehow, a disabled Wi-Fi card recalls the problems with a locked partition discussed in n. ° 3 above.
The solution is to find support for the wireless card (or other devices) before installing your operating systems. You should also make sure that the drivers are up to date on both operating systems. Also, take a moment to check the status of the device in the UEFI / BIOS of your PC.
7. The dual boot can affect disk swap space
In most cases, dual-booting shouldn’t have much of an impact on your hardware. However, one issue you should be aware of is the impact on the swap space. Both Linux and Windows use fragments of the hard drive to improve performance while the computer is running. However, by installing additional operating systems on the drive, you reduce the amount of space available for this.
The solution here is obvious: do not install additional operating systems if there is not enough disk space left. If you are desperate for dual boot on your PC, you can simply buy a new HDD or SSD. Once installed, it will have room for more operating systems.
Having dual boot issues?
It is extremely unlikely that you will be affected by ALL of these risks. However, at least one, perhaps two, is likely to occur at some point. But nothing here should postpone dual boot. Making sure your system is configured correctly is important and can help mitigate or even prevent these problems.
If you still want to go back to a Windows-only configuration, you can safely uninstall the Linux distribution from a Windows dual-boot PC. Once you have done that, why not install Ubuntu inside Windows 10 with the Windows Subsystem for Linux?
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.
Comments are closed.