I already have Mint Mate 19.3 on a machine and am considering installing Zorin Core, maybe others at a later date. Is there any steps I would need to take, or would the installation ask whether to install along side Mint? Please remember, I am primarily a fairly basic Windows user but am gradually getting used to Mint. Thanks.
Wait for the experts. But I think you could start an install & if the particular distro offers to install alongside your current distro you're set. Otherwise just stop the install & nothings changed.
after installing, you can use this bootable disc to fix any dualboot issues if they should arrive, it'll find your operating systems and get you a boot menu, it's linux based edit: did you already have your partition-scheme set up ? https://sourceforge.net/p/boot-repair-cd/home/Home/
Just be careful when installing your new distro(s) and take a careful look at what's happening when you get to the stage of choosing the partition for the new one. You don't want to overwrite your old one. Otherwise, you should not experience any difficulties. Be aware that the computer will boot from the grub menu associated with the new distro. But your old distro will be listed as a choice on the new grub menu. If you prefer your old grub menu, you can go back to it. It's not deleted.
This is vital. After and depending on which see here. https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=284888 Please note also the post under the above relating to one above here stating the boot repair disk doesn't always work. In my experience it works hardly at all. Super Grub2 is a better option because this mostly always works and once you get into the first distro you can run sudo update-grub which usually fixes things. https://www.supergrubdisk.org/super-grub2-disk/
I didn't do anything aside from install Linux Mint Mate over Windows, wiping the Windows partition. EUFI, Brian. Thanks guys.
Krusty, If asked about the bootloader, for UEFI systems you should select the EFI System partition. For MBR systems, you should select the disk or the Linux partition. Generally you would select the disk but if using BootIt you would select the Linux partition. I prefer the "Something Else" install method as you have a lot more control over the partitions. This is mentioned in Gringo95's link.
Hey guys, Just running off a live DVD of Zorin for now and I've got to say I really like it! Possibly more so than Mint. And considering I'm running off a DVD I'd say it is probably going to be faster than either Mint or Windows on this machine too.
I'd also suggest taking a look at the Lite version of Zorin while you're testing live sessions as it really isn't any kind of poor relation to Core. It will be considerably faster in use and if you like bling it's possible to install Compiz + Emerald themes to have multiple looks and effects such as wobbly windows etc. You can install Compiz plus the needed plugins and CompizConfig Settings Manager using Synaptic. I'm not sure if Emerald is also available this way but if not just track down and download the packages 'libemeraldengine0_0.9.5-1mcr120+1_amd64.deb' and 'emerald_0.9.5-0b_amd64.deb' and install these manually. After you've installed all of these components you'll need to check the Window Decoration box in CompizConfig Settings Manager and replace the current 'Command' field with "emerald --replace". After that download at least two Emerald themes from somewhere and import these using 'Emerald Theme Manager'. Thereafter just open a terminal and enter "compiz --replace". Close the terminal window and your new theme settings should stick. It's best to perform this operation with every boot rather than trying to get Compiz to launch automatically. Wobbly windows and other effects are also set via CompizConfig. Example: https://i.imgur.com/0TmMq02.png
My Apologies, Gringo95, I should have been more specific. Actually I was trialing Zorin Lite, which is now happily installed along side Mint Mate. In the short time I've been using Zorin Lite I have already come to love it. As an added bonus I was able to add a tiny Windows program too. Awesome! If MS get too annoying I know I have other feasible options. Thanks for everyone's help. Cheers!
After trying Mint Cinnamon I decided I like that even better. Clean install of Cinnamon solo for now. Yeah, I know... I can already hear Brian + others saying how many OSes they have on there machines. Zorin had an issue with 'Screensaver'. Tried many things but couldn't get it to start automatically. I found a couple of other minor annoyances too, but they were pretty minor. The installation of a dual-boot OS was painless though so not all is lost. I now have that experience to take with me going forward.
Hi, it's me again. If I decided to dual boot Win10 + Linux Mint do I need to install Windows first? Or doesn't it matter? Thanks.
Like @wat0114 said, Windows should be first. Why? Because Windows will wipe out Grub, and you will have to reinstall Grub. But Grub will not wipe out Windows bootloader, thus no hassle.
I tried Kubuntu live media for a while and like it and am thinking about dual booting Mint + Kubuntu. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks. Oh, Kudos to me for learning how to burn ISOs to disk. xfburn.
Just make sure Kubuntu plays nicely with your hardware. Does it print like it is supposed to? Does it detect your monitors properly? Etc. While Kubuntu is generally excellent, I have had hardware issues with it. Regarding dual boot, Grub calls Mint "ubuntu", and Grub calls Kubuntu "ubuntu", so you will get two "ubuntu" in your grub menu. It works, but it is a bit confusing.
I played with a live DVD for a few hours last night and it seemed to run OK. That machine won't be printing or even emailing. It's just a toy for me to learn Linux. I changed my mind about Windows as I've already got two Win10 machines = enough. FYI, the machine in question I posted about here - Linux for beginners Oh, OK, yeah that might be something to watch. Actually, having to pick an OS at boot is slightly annoying. Is there a method to boot straight into the desired OS? Thanks.
The last OS you install will be the default one. You can change the number of seconds that Grub waits for you to make up your mind before it boots to the default OS. And you can also change the default OS. Most folks use Grub Customizer for stuff like that, if they want GUI. You can do it all by command line, if that makes you feel cool, but in the end, it's the same result... Or you can just leave everything as be, and hit enter when the grub screen shows. No big deal.
Nevertheless, some people are against Grub Customizer. They claim that it can make things very messy and hard to clean up. And if that happens, you will be sweating at the command line and/or meticulously editing hidden system files in order to fix it. https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=299720 Can't say that ever happened to me, though.
