Ultimate Guide: Dual Boot Pop OS 21.10 and Windows 10 - No Grub Needed!
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Downloading Pop OS ISO
- Creating a Bootable USB Drive with Rufus
- Partitioning the Local Disk
- Entering the BIOS Menu and Disabling Secure Boot
- Entering the Boot Menu and Installing Pop OS
- Setting Up Pop OS and Dual Boot Menu
- Adding Windows 10 to the Dual Boot Menu
- Modifying the System Debut Loader File
- Testing the Dual Boot Menu
Dual Boot Pop OS and Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you looking to dual boot Pop OS and Windows 10 on your system without the need to install Grub? In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire process using the default system debut menu. So let's get started and get the best of both worlds!
1️⃣ Introduction
Dual booting allows you to have multiple operating systems on the same computer, giving you the flexibility to switch between them. In this guide, we will specifically focus on dual booting Pop OS, a popular Linux distribution, and Windows 10.
2️⃣ Downloading Pop OS ISO
The first step is to download the Pop OS ISO file from the official website. Make sure to choose the version that is compatible with your graphics card. If you have an Nvidia card, download the Nvidia version.
3️⃣ Creating a Bootable USB Drive with Rufus
To create a bootable USB drive of Pop OS, you will need to download Rufus. This tool allows you to easily make a bootable USB drive. Once you have Rufus installed, insert an 8GB or larger USB drive and select the Pop OS ISO file. Follow the instructions to create the bootable USB drive.
4️⃣ Partitioning the Local Disk
In order to install Pop OS alongside Windows 10, you will need to partition your local disk. Open Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Disk Management." Once in Disk Management, select your local disk, right-click on it, and choose "Shrink Volume." Allocate at least 30GB for the Pop OS partition.
5️⃣ Entering the BIOS Menu and Disabling Secure Boot
To prepare your system for dual booting, you'll need to enter the BIOS menu and disable Secure Boot. Restart your computer and press the F2 key (or the key specified for your system) to enter the BIOS menu. In the security tab, disable Secure Boot. Some BIOS menus may require you to set up an administration password as well. Save and exit the setup.
6️⃣ Entering the Boot Menu and Installing Pop OS
While your computer is starting up, press the F12 or Escape key to enter the boot menu. Select the USB option to boot into the Pop OS installation. Choose your language and keyboard layout. In this step, choose the "Custom" option.
7️⃣ Setting Up Pop OS and Dual Boot Menu
To set up Pop OS, click on "Modify Partitions." This will open GParted, a partitioning tool. Create a new FAT32 partition and a new ext4 partition. Apply the changes. Format the FAT32 partition as /boot/efi and the ext4 partition as the root partition. The installation process will begin, and it may take some time.
8️⃣ Adding Windows 10 to the Dual Boot Menu
After the installation is complete, restart your computer and enter the BIOS menu once again. Go to the boot tab and set the first boot priority to Pop OS. Save and exit the BIOS menu. Now, your computer should automatically boot into Pop OS. Complete the initial setup.
9️⃣ Modifying the System Debut Loader File
To make the dual boot menu appear and add Windows 10 to the menu, open the terminal and follow the commands provided in the description box below. You will need to note down the EFI system partition for Windows 10. Mount the Windows EFI partition in Linux and copy the Microsoft Windows bootloader files to the Pop OS EFI partition. Modify the system debut loader file to add a timeout and console mode.
🔟 Testing the Dual Boot Menu
Once you have made the necessary modifications, restart your computer. You should now see a boot menu allowing you to choose between operating systems. Test the dual boot menu by selecting Pop OS or Windows 10.
Congratulations! You have successfully dual booted Pop OS and Windows 10 using the default system debut menu. Enjoy the best of both worlds on your computer!
Highlights:
- Dual booting allows you to have multiple operating systems on the same computer.
- Download the Pop OS ISO file from the official website according to your graphics card.
- Use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive of Pop OS.
- Partition your local disk to allocate space for Pop OS installation.
- Enter the BIOS menu and disable Secure Boot for dual boot setup.
- Install Pop OS using the custom option and set up the partitions.
- Modify the system debut loader file to add Windows 10 to the dual boot menu.
- Enjoy the convenience of choosing between Pop OS and Windows 10 at startup.
FAQ
Q: Can I dual boot Pop OS and Windows 10 without installing Grub?
A: Yes, in this guide, we use the default system debut menu instead of installing Grub.
Q: Do I need to download specific versions of Pop OS based on my graphics card?
A: Yes, it is recommended to download the version that is compatible with your graphics card.
Q: How much space should I allocate for the Pop OS partition?
A: Allocate at least 30GB for the Pop OS partition.
Q: How do I enter the BIOS menu to disable Secure Boot?
A: Restart your computer and press the F2 key (or the key specified for your system) to enter the BIOS menu.
Q: How can I add Windows 10 to the dual boot menu?
A: Follow the steps in the guide to modify the system debut loader file and add Windows 10 to the menu.
Q: Can I switch between Pop OS and Windows 10 after dual boot setup?
A: Yes, you can choose between operating systems at startup using the dual boot menu.
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