Notes

Dual booting Windows and Linux

Edit on GitHub

System Administration

tl;dr: Life will be simpler if you just install Windows first and then Ubuntu later.

  • Unplug all other hard drives
  • Install Windows to SSD. With Windows installer create a partition for your Windows, it’ll create it’s Recovery and MSR (Microsoft Reserved Partition) partitions as well. Leave any extra space for your Ubuntu install later

The point of installing Windows first is so that it creates its Recovery and MSR partition and the partitioning scheme does not interfere with the BIOS and bootup. For example, if your drive is in MBR format, good luck figuring out disabling Safe Boot and Fast Boot, enabling CSM and Legacy Support, and wrangling with UEFI nonsense in general. Worst case scenario, your device wouldn’t even be recognized or listed by the motherboard. (actually happened!)