I just installed Ubuntu Linux on my virtual-pinball cabinet’s computer. I created a Windows and Linux Dual-Boot.
I’ve always primarily been a Windows guy (and still am). But I think most of us will agree that the days of being able to touch only one OS is gone. Ever since I got my first Apple-Mac (back in 2013) … it became my secondary OS for actual/real desktop computing. I haven’t really messed with Linux at all since then, until now.
Some of my objectives:
a. Install Linux on a spare, completely-separate drive (I really only use SSD now-days).
b. Not messing with existing/working install of Windows-11 Pro, VPX, or its Tables (including booting-up).
c. Including no BIOS-changes for over-arching things like keeping computer in UEFI-Mode, SecureBoot, etc.
d. Including not making any (permanent) drastic hardware reconfigs for Ubuntu-v25, that would affect the Windows-11 side or VPX
I just did it, but it seems to have worked-out pretty good so far. All basic hardware (including all 3 monitors, audio, networking, etc.) is again working on both sides. This computer is older, so Intel-i7/16gb/Nvidia_GTX-1070/NVMe & SATA-3/600 SSDs (all circa-2017).
My final steps were based on this guide I found online:
Now that I lived-it, I would say some of my initial install tips are:
a. Create a full backup Image of your working system (I used Macrium Reflect with a verify-pass)
b. Use a completely-separate physical-drive for Linux install
c. I think it helps if it is a different capacity than the others (so you can find it easier during partitioning, etc.).
d. During Ubuntu/Grub setup, Advanced/Manual-Partitioning, Device for Boot-Loader Installation … be sure you select your future “Linux drive” for that also. Nothing Linux goes on any pre-existing Windows-drive(s).
e. When doing the Manual Partitioning, I only created a 400gb /home partition. This leaves 100's of gigs un-allocated and free (for something else, SSD Over-Provisioning, etc.)
f. For now, I only access “Windows drives” locally in Windows and vice-versa. Any file sharing will be cloud-based or NAS-based for now.
g. When you are really to edit something, use Nano Editor to slightly edit your GRUB-config to default to Windows instead of Ubuntu on Boot-Menu. It's just like one number to change, save it, then update-grub.
Compared to 15-years ago, Linux (Ubuntu) seems more polished now. No, it doesn't look or work exactly like Windows, but neither does macOS.
Edited by Tesla, 09 November 2025 - 05:10 PM.
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