New Laptop With Windows 10 Home-Can I Add Linux Or Chrome?

[PS85]

Just got a new laptop delivered today, it is still in the box. HP17z with AMD A12, integrated R7 graphics, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive. I was thinking, with such a large hard drive, (my needs are small in that direction), I might try adding Linux or Chrome, neither of which I've ever used. As of now, I have no restore disk though I wouldn't mind sending away for one. Before I even open the box and set up the computer, I was just wondering if there was some way to set the computer up to use Linux or Chrome in addition to the Win10. Or do I have reformat the hard disk and make separate partitions for Win10, Linux and Chrome?

 

[PastTense]

Do some research on the Windows Subsystem for Linux:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10
https://www.howtogeek.com/249966/how-to-install-and-use-the-linux-bash-shell-on-windows-10/

 

[PS85]

Thank you for your reply. The windows subsystem looks interesting, but after thinking it over I guess what I need is a way to partition the 1TB hard drive to make separate partitions for Linux and Chrome. The reason for this is that I go to some discussion sites where I suspect some folks might be sending some nasties to read my computer, and I have heard that Chrome and Linux are better at repelling that. I'd like to try using Linux or chrome instead when I go to those sites. I don't know for sure they are better, but I figure a lesser used system is likely to make a hacker's job harder. The windows linux subsystem integrates the two systems, so my assumption is that any unwanted program can pass from one to the other.

Still haven't opened the box with the computer. Is there any way to break the new computer's hard drive into two or three partitions without having to reformat and lose the windows 10 that the system came with?

 

[mxnerd]

Better way is use virtual technology like VirtualBox (free) or VMware workstation, create virtual machines that run other OSs inside Windows 10.

There are a lot of tutorials on youtube.

You then don't nee to dual boot or triple boot.

When you create partition for different OS on same drive, ether OS or partition manager constantly mess it up, could make your PC non bootable.

 

[PS85]

Thanks for the warning. I'll have to rethink the 3 partition/3 OS idea then. I'll settle for Win 10 for now, then decide how to proceed later.

 

[bakshe]

Do some research on the Windows Subsystem for Linux:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/faq
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10
https://www.howtogeek.com/249966/how-to-install-and-use-the-linux-bash-shell-on-windows-10/

Thanks PastTense for these resources

 

[B-Riz]

Use EaseUs partition master to split your drive in how ever many partions you want, Win10 needs a minimum size though. Once that is done, d/l and make a USB install with Rufus of your fav Linux distro, boot from it and install Linux. Grub will manage the dual boot of the OS.

Make a backup image of the laptop using Macrium Free before doing any of this!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Use EaseUs partition master to split your drive in how ever many partions you want, Win10 needs a minimum size though. Once that is done, d/l and make a USB install with Rufus of your fav Linux distro, boot from it and install Linux. Grub will manage the dual boot of the OS.

Make a backup image of the laptop using Macrium Free before doing any of this!

Do you have a link for this method?

Every dual boot guide I've ever done required you to install Grub/Linux first, then leave a partition and install Windows in that. (So, the opposite of what you said.)

That said, OP should be fine with just a VM.

 

[whm1974]

Do you have a link for this method?

Every dual boot guide I've ever done required you to install Grub/Linux first, then leave a partition and install Windows in that. (So, the opposite of what you said.)

That said, OP should be fine with just a VM.

If the OP want to use Linux on bare metal and still have Win10, the best way is simply add another HDD to the system and install each OSes boot loaders on the same drive the OS is on. Then use the BIOS boot menu to select which drive to boot from.

 

[B-Riz]

Do you have a link for this method?

Every dual boot guide I've ever done required you to install Grub/Linux first, then leave a partition and install Windows in that. (So, the opposite of what you said.)

That said, OP should be fine with just a VM.

I'm not sure if you are trolling me or not.

If an existing Windows install wants to be saved, a partition management utility needs to be used like EaseUs Free to shrink the Windows volume.

When booting from the Mint USB, as part of the install process it will install Grub and Grub will (should?) detect the Win10 install and add it to the Grub boot-loader. It did for me, not saying there are not issues, but I have not had them.

I am more than willing to try it again at home, time permitting.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm not sure if you are trolling me or not.

If an existing Windows install wants to be saved, a partition management utility needs to be used like EaseUs Free to shrink the Windows volume.

When booting from the Mint USB, as part of the install process it will install Grub and Grub will (should?) detect the Win10 install and add it to the Grub boot-loader. It did for me, not saying there are not issues, but I have not had them.

I am more than willing to try it again at home, time permitting.

I am not trolling you. I literally have never had that work. If you know of a writeup outlining how to do it that way, I'd appreciate a link.

:shrug:

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If the OP want to use Linux on bare metal and still have Win10, the best way is simply add another HDD to the system and install each OSes boot loaders on the same drive the OS is on. Then use the BIOS boot menu to select which drive to boot from.

True, but, laptop.

 

[whm1974]

True, but, laptop.

Surely a 17" laptop has room for another 2.5" HDD, or even one or two M.2 SSDs?

 

[repoman0]

I am not trolling you. I literally have never had that work. If you know of a writeup outlining how to do it that way, I'd appreciate a link.

:shrug:

I can verify that it works as he says at least with Ubuntu based distros. The installer will notice the Windows partition and add it to the GRUB OS list.