Dual boot/partitions/upgrade

[GoldenYears]

I'm baffled, lost, floundering! I have dual boot Linux 19/Windows10. 2 drives (/home on second drive). I want to upgrade the Linux side to 22.1 and retain the Windows 10 capability as I currently have. Installing, I check "Something else" since there is a separate /home drive that I don't want to destroy. Folks that partition stuff has me so tied up in knots it's unbelievable. First I got a warning about No EFI System Partition Found - that sent me to the Internet. I did as suggested on one site and determined my PC was BIOS (so this was not an issue). There are too many issues at this point in the process for me to handle alone. I need to get some step by step assistance. Thanks.

 

[Brickwizard]

! I have dual boot Linux 19/

I will assume you mean Mint 19, see attached scroll down to upgrade paths, you will probably have to do it in steps 19 -20, 20-21, & 21-22

Upgrades — Linux Mint User Guide documentation

linuxmint-user-guide.readthedocs.io

 

[Alexzee]

The partition manager that comes with your Linux distro that you want to install should install Linux alongside of your Windows os.
If not, than you'll have to manually shrink your Windows partition to install Linux.

Most folks that I've learned Linux from over the years tend to put Linux on a separate drive.
Doing so stops the Windows boot manager from distruping the Linux boot loader "Grub".

What's the specs of your computer and what Linux distro are you trying to install?

 

[APTI]

you are doing great with 2 drives for dual boot. Best way but using grub leaves many issues. You should check out my other post about this...


https://www.linux.org/threads/dual-and-multi-boot-systems.47320/

 

[GoldenYears]

There are just way too pitfalls for me to deal with at this time. I will declare "uncle" and just start all over.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Condobloke]

Starting fresh could be a good idea.

Be sure to save the info re windows that you need. Keep in mind that windows 10 has its end of life later this year.

have you looked at running Linux only ?.....do you really need windows?

 

[GoldenYears]

Just started a fresh install - I gave up! I personally didn't need the Windows - I helped a local business that needed ONE
Windows application. They have added a Windows PC that can handle that one app. I basically only want to be a desktop USER. I no longer aspire command line expertise, etc. Those days died with DOS 3.x for me. I am 78. Some things just are no longer that important to me. I hesitated even asking for help on this forum since I really felt close hand holding was what I really needed.

Thanks so much!

 

[Condobloke]

Thanks so much!

Always a pleasure.
The vast majority of members here are helpful and non judgmental.

If it's not too late, I can recommend the latest Linux Mint 22.1

Dont be a stranger...you need help of any kind, just yell...we will hear you

I am close as a whisker to your age. I rely on being active here to maintain sanity, and to be among people who are both like minded and friendly.

 

[APTI]

Just started a fresh install - I gave up! I personally didn't need the Windows - I helped a local business that needed ONE
Windows application. They have added a Windows PC that can handle that one app. I basically only want to be a desktop USER. I no longer aspire command line expertise, etc. Those days died with DOS 3.x for me. I am 78. Some things just are no longer that important to me. I hesitated even asking for help on this forum since I really felt close hand holding was what I really needed.

Thanks so much!

please consider using the item I put in the post. it will prevent a repeat of the problem if you decide to do dual boot. You can put the card in at any time long as you don't use grub to set up multi boot.

 

[KGIII]

I am 78.

I will add that many of us are up there in age. You'd not even be the oldest member - though you'd be fairly close.

Our regular member's ages skew older and it seems that Linux attracts older users to some extent. This might be because we predate Microsoft or because we aren't inclined to follow the herd. It could also be that we tend to have more free time.

In some cases, we older folks are on a fixed income and we may see Linux as a way to extend the lifespan of hardware that we already own. Sometimes, we're just curious and looking for something new.

The reasons are many and varied.

I do find it amusing when kids repeat the trope that old people don't understand computers. The reality is that we've been using computers longer than they've been alive. We started the whole thing, writing the software today's environment is built on.

 

[Brickwizard]

I am also in the same price range, I find being a member of this and a few similar sites around the world, keeps the little grey cells working, I came here at the beginning of Covid as I could not get out and about, and needed a nudge as to finding a driver, answered a few questions, and I am still here, I finally ditch windows for my own use with the death of XP, but have been messing with Linux since the early days for fun.

Addendum, I have installed multi boot systems for several people and currently have 2 1/2 machines NOT FOR GAMING [one has no working screen]For which hold 2 NVMe's each with a single distribution, 3 SSD's SATA 3 which I can chop and change between machines the small one has 2 distributions the others, and 3SATA plate spinners one has one distribution [64GB] one has 3 distributions [256 GB] and a 500 GB with 4 distributions,, even though I'm old and grey, when I get's me way, I still like testing Linux.





to play

 

[KGIII]

I am also in the same price range

LOL I didn't realize that you were for sale. There's laws against that!

(I'm guessing that you meant to type 'age'.)

 

[Mike-W0BTU]

There are just way too pitfalls for me to deal with at this time. I will declare "uncle" and just start all over.

I can understand that. And welcome to this fine site!

What helps me to completely relax before I do something complex like that, is first make a backup copy —a clone of my hard drive— before I change anything.

I use Foxclone for that.

Foxclone

foxclone.org

It backs up (copies) the present state of your internal drive to an external USB drive.

With that, I can completely screw things up. And if that happens, the clone file can be completely copied back to the drive, putting everything back to exactly the way it was before I did anything!

I've left out the details, but would that process ease your mind?

BTW, I'm 71.

 

[Brickwizard]

We don't talk about age, It's Price, and i think I am priceless [well that's what the OH says]

 

[GoldenYears]

I gave up and went PURE Linux Mint 22.1 install. No duel boot. Actually I did the partition thing (several times) to get the second drive /home done properly. So I thank you ALL.

I have another issue - I have to mark this thread as "solved" and as of this moment I don't know how but will try my best to find out. I'm back: nothing on this panel gives me an option to mark my query as "solved"???

Then I will start ANOTHER "please help me" with a new issue.

 

[Condobloke]

Do this by scrolling up to the top of the page and selecting the drop down beside the 'support linux.org donation sign

That will open the small window headed More options

Click on Edit Thread ...and click on (no prefix) ....and then Solved

 

[GoldenYears]

Here I am - my email gave me an option to view this post. I scrolled to the top of the page and there is no such thing up there. The is NO 'support.linux.org donation sign'. ...and therefore nada. The panel I am on right now has no "title" or anything like in your pic. Just a big green "G".

I am ignorant! I do want to do the right thing.

 

[Brickwizard]

Go back to first post click in EDIT and the drop-down box is to the left your original post

 

[GoldenYears]

Yep - I did that (there was no "post reply" or anything else so I guess just getting the "SOLVED" clicked did the job.

Thanks Brickwizard!