How to Install Windows 10 on Ubuntu

Installing Windows 10 alongside Ubuntu can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely possible. In this article, we'll go through the steps required to virtualize your existing Windows installation inside VirtualBox.

Before we begin, make sure you have a clear understanding of your disk layout. If you're not familiar with partitioning, you may want to take some time to learn about it before proceeding.

Step 1: Identify the Disk

The first step is to identify the disk on which Windows lives inside your computer. This can be a bit tricky, as during installation, Windows creates multiple partitions itself. To spot the device when your Windows disk is mounted, you can use `lsblk` or `fdisk`.

In my case, I found that my Windows disk was mounted at `/dev/sdb`. However, you may need to find out the correct device name for your system.

Step 2: Create a VMDK File

To virtualize your Windows installation, you'll need to create a Virtual Machine inside VirtualBox. To do this, go to the 'Hard disk' section and select to use an existing virtual hard disk file. Select the `/path/to/diskname.vmdk` file you created earlier.

Step 3: Configure the Virtual Machine

Make sure to Enable EFI in the System section of the configuration of your virtual machine if Windows 10 is an EFI install.

Step 4: Boot Your Windows Installation

Now, you're ready to boot your Windows installation from within Linux. This will allow you to access your existing Windows installation without having to reboot your computer.

In conclusion, installing Windows 10 alongside Ubuntu requires some careful planning and configuration. However, by following these steps, you should be able to successfully virtualize your existing Windows installation inside VirtualBox.

Additional Tips

* Make sure to identify the disk correctly, not just the partition.

* If you're using a single hard drive machine, you may need to take additional steps to configure your disk layout.

* Having both a physical and virtual Windows installation can eat up disk space quickly. Consider uninstalling unnecessary programs or upgrading your storage capacity.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Windows 10 on Ubuntu alongside your existing Linux installation. Happy virtualizing!

Install windows 10 on ubuntu