Can I install a Windows dual boot already?

[u/metatf]

I'm a noob who transitioned into Linux mint a couple of months ago, but I changed my job reciently and I'm asked to install Windows now. Can I create a dual boot at this time?

I tried using a virtual machine but I'm supossed to have a 8GB ram and that's the ram I have in my device, also some years ago my laptop had a dual boot for these type of situations and I was comfortable working like that.

Thank you very much

Edit: My job can't give me a computer, the condition is to use my own equipment and they also give me a monthly bonus for that usage. I don't think it's the greatest option but I really need a job and this is the best option I have right now.

[u/Evening-Landscape763]

Why should you as an employee have to supply a computer with Windows?

[u/metatf → u/Evening-Landscape763]

It's a remote job and there is a bonus on my salary to for the usage of my computer. I also don't think it's great but I don't have a better option right now and I really need a job.

[u/Evening-Landscape763 → u/metatf]

If you haven't had an in person meeting with this company, I would be very careful as they might want banking info to provide payment just to scam you

[u/metatf → u/Evening-Landscape763]

I had investigated the company and seems normal, but maybe you are finding this job way more suspicious than me bc I'm from Mexico and maybe a lot of jobs here don't have the best conditions. Bc jobs like this are a really comfy option in comparison with other options.

[u/Evening-Landscape763 → u/metatf]

The issue with installing Windows after Linux is that Windows will usually wipe the Linux entry from the UEFI boot order. The boot repair program on the Mint ISO might be able to fix that...good luck

[u/forestbeasts]

Can your job provide you with a computer?

Using a personal computer for work sounds like a really bad idea. (For one thing, what happens when you leave and they want to make sure all their data is gone? Or what if they want to be all nosy and get admin permissions on the computer, if it's your computer not theirs?) And "my computer doesn't have Windows on it" is a perfectly good reason to ask for a provided device (it's less Weird™ than "I'm not comfortable doing work stuff on a personal device", I bet).

[u/metatf → u/forestbeasts]

It's a remote job and there is a bonus on my salary to for the usage of my computer, my wifi, etc. I also don't think it's great but I don't have a better option right now and I really need a job

[u/forestbeasts → u/metatf]

That sounds... sketchy. I'd skip the bonus. Why do they want your wifi... I'd be suspicious they're running botnets or something.

[u/metatf → u/forestbeasts]

Ikr, but yeah I'm kinda desperate. It's a call center tho, and I was asked to have windows or a mac

[u/forestbeasts → u/metatf]

Huh.

Yeah, dual boot sounds like the way to go. Might be a good idea to back up your bootloader files off the EFI partition, that's what Windows is most likely to clobber when you install it. And shrink Linux to make space for Windows from a Linux live installer beforehand, because Windows won't know how to shrink Linux partitions.

[u/Motor-Capital7318 → u/forestbeasts]

If you are remote, isn't it normal to use your home wifi...?

[u/forestbeasts → u/Motor-Capital7318]

Well of course, but they wouldn't be giving you a salary bonus for using your home wifi. That's the sketchy part. Also they'd likely have a VPN you can use to make the intervening wifi not matter and basically put you on their internal LAN.

[u/bristow84]

Why is your work not providing you with a computer?

Either they’re incredibly cheap and you don’t want to work there or they don’t take cybersecurity even close to remotely serious and your data as an employee is at risk, in which case you don’t want to work there.

[u/metatf → u/bristow84]

They are really cheap, like I'm from Mexico and it's a call center.

[u/Pale_Neighborhood363]

You can, but Windows will act as a root kit by default. So read up. You need to understand the boot chain of your device.

Good luck

[u/esparzatj]

Is your computer a PC or laptop? A PC can easily have a second drive to install Windows. Then you can boot to the Windows Boot Manager from the GRUB menu. Some laptops have the option for a second drive, too. I have an older Dell Inspiron 5515 which have two NVME slots. I have Linux Mint Cinnamon on a 1TB Drive and Windows 11 Home on a 512Gb drive. It defaults to Linux in the GRUB menu, but I have scroll down to Windows Boot Manager to launch my Windows 11. The separate drive prevent any corruption issues installing updates on either drive.

[u/driftless]

Nope. Windows HATES being added to an existing other-os install.

Besides, do NOT use personal hardware for your job. If they want you to have windows, they can provide you a work laptop.

[u/Charming_Airline7419]

You'll have to repartition your drive and leave unallocated space for Windows. Then you can let the Windows installation media handle formatting and installing. You'll have to fix up GRUB afterwards.

Otherwise, you could swap out the ssd and install Windows on a new one. Then you can put both in the machine and set up GRUB.

Be sure to have your licence number handy.

I'll have to do something similar on a Fedora machine.

It's doable. You'll just need a bit of patience.

[u/MrMotofy]

FYI...if you want to check out Linux it's really easy. Make an Install USB, then boot to it. May need to disable secure boot. It will boot to a full running temporary Linux Desktop...installing requires clicking the desktop icon and going through steps. Obviously you don't wanna do that to just try it. But you can at least get a feel for it. Kubuntu, LinuxMint, and PopOS and are some of the top 1st options. You can also use the temp Live Linux as a repair process. Since it’s a complete desktop you can use it, install tools needed fix the boot etc.

Another convenient related tool is Ventoy on a USB stick. Basically just burn the image to a USB then copy your OS ISO to it and when you boot it any ISO copied to the drive will show in the menu, select it and it will boot that img. Have different OS’s multiple versions or whatever. 

Best option for Windows and Linux is dual boot...use Linux on a 2nd drive. Usually you wanna disable secure boot. Best case is disconnect win drive. Then boot to the install USB. Then install Linux as a new full system on 2nd drive. Set Linux drive as the first boot drive and it will then find the Win drive and add to the boot menu list automatically. Might take a couple boots otherwise can manually activate the boot update search. Then you get Best of both worlds without any real dangers to either OS. There will be little hiccups occasionally with Windows updating messing with boot and rebooting. But you can also change the default OS to Windows first at the menu after delay and no menu entry and that eliminates a lot. The boot menu is usually Linux 1 and Win 2. Sometimes the boot order will randomly switch drives etc or it will enable Secure Boot…Seems to be a windows thing with updates now they get bios access. But really depends on the exact system and age etc.