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Can I do this? I've heard that you're supposed to install Ubuntu after Windows, as Windows will destroy the bootloader and try to shove itself in as THE OS.

In BIOS, you could only have one bootloader in the MBR, and Windows would obviously overwrite it with its bootloader, and then I would have to get my Ubuntu DVD or USB and use the boot-repair tool from a ppa or do the repair manually.

In the UEFI though, I've heard it can support multiple bootloaders, all stored in a proper partition called the EFI partition, formatted with a proper filesystem, FAT32. Could Windows just add its bootloader into the EFI partition and be done, no overwriting? Or will it still force itself and destroy or not recognize the partition? Will I need to do a boot-repair (or chroot) or not?

EDIT: This is not a duplicate of "How can I install Windows after I've installed Ubuntu?" because that question and topic mostly handled MBR/BIOS booting. While I added my answer on there, the original question, and how it was mostly answered, mostly covered MBR/BIOS booting, which is quite different from UEFI/GPT booting. This allows a specific question and answer dedicated to the topic of UEFI booting, which in this context is so rarely covered. Doesn't help that I feel many newer Ubuntu users install in UEFI only if forced by Windows in a dual boot, and many will avoid it in a single-boot situation to deal with the more familiar concept of BIOS/MBR booting.

RoundDuckMan
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1 Answers1

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To install Windows alongside Ubuntu, you just do the following:

  1. Insert Windows 10 USB
  2. Create a partition/volume on the drive to install Windows 10 on alongside Ubuntu (it'll create more than one partition, that's normal; also make sure you have space for Windows 10 on your drive, you might need to shrink Ubuntu)
  3. Install the Windows 10.

That's it!

Note: when making sure things are ready for your dual boot, check if Ubuntu is installed in the GPT partition table! While 99% of the time you will be using GPT if you're planning to do this, it is possible to install Ubuntu's UEFI on MBR but Windows 10 does not support that strange use-case. In that situation, convert to GPT if possible. If not, backup and reinstall, and I'd recommend that as it'll be easier.

Fabby
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RoundDuckMan
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