I want to install ubuntu on windows laptop

[corruptDNA]

Hi guys

I need your help in installing ubuntu on my new machine. The reason why i have come here is because installing windows 10 on my laptop after i installed an SSD was a pain, and i dont want to ruin anything. It took me forever for some reason and i also would like to keep my windows boot loader as well just in case id like to remove ubuntu.

I want to install ubuntu 16.04 LTS on my SSD. I have a SSD with windows 10 installed on it and a second HDD that i store other things in.
My questions is, what shall i do? Shall i make a partition on my SSD or what?
Note: I want to use ubuntu to practice some networking, im taking a course called Data communications and Networking and we use ubuntu in the lab to practice commands, its fairly easy but i havent
used ubuntu in forever and would also like to customize my ubuntu computer in addition to working on it.


Any suggestions are welcome

 

[Alejandro85]

I would instead take an alternative approach, don't install Ubuntu in dual-boot, but instead, install some virtualization software and put it in a virtual machine inside Windows. That way, you don't touch the existing install at all (and most important, leave the fragile boot loader alone) and can install/uninstall at will as many OSs as you want.

I would suggest to use VirtualBox for the hypervisor. Just download and install into Windows as with any other software. Then create a virtual machine inside it and put the Ubuntu CD as the virtual disk drive, and you can install it as if it were an empty computer. Afterwards, it just behave like a normal install.

 

[AddRAM]

I would install ubuntu on 1 drive and keep 10 on another and use the boot menu to choose whichever OS you want to boot into, setting your preferred OS as default.

No dual boot

 

[Megahertz07]

I have Win 7 and Lubuntu on same UEFI-GPT SSD disk. Veeeeery fast.
Different of a Legacy MBR where you have a Master Boot loader, on a UEFI-GPT you have independent boot loaders.
If you have a UEFI-GPT disk you can install Ubuntu on a partition on same SSD of Win 10.
On a UEFI - GPT you have a UEFI partition - 100M - Fat 32 that is where the boot loader is located (Win boot loader and Linux (Grub) boot loader.

Open Disk Manager, expant the columns and with the sniping tool, take a Snapshot and post here as an attachment.