How do you choose the best partition scheme for dual booting Windows and Linux?

3 Partition formats

A third factor to consider is how to format your partitions. Formatting means creating a file system that allows your operating system to read and write data on your hard drive. Windows and Linux use different file systems, and they cannot access each other's partitions by default. Windows uses NTFS or FAT32 file systems, while Linux uses ext4, ext3, or other file systems. If you want to share files between Windows and Linux, you need to create a separate partition that both operating systems can read and write. This partition can be formatted as FAT32, which is compatible with both Windows and Linux, but has some limitations, such as a 4 GB file size limit. Alternatively, you can use a third-party software that allows Windows to access Linux partitions, or vice versa.

4 Partition order

A final factor to consider is the order of your partitions on your hard drive. The order can affect the performance and the bootability of your operating systems. Generally, it is recommended to install Windows first, followed by Linux, because Windows tends to overwrite the boot loader that allows you to choose which operating system to boot from. Linux, on the other hand, can detect Windows and add it to the boot menu. The order of your partitions can also affect the speed of your hard drive, as the outer sectors are faster than the inner sectors. Therefore, you might want to place your most frequently used operating system or files on the first partition, and the less used ones on the later partitions.

5 Partition examples

When dual booting Windows and Linux, there are several factors to consider when deciding on a partition scheme. For example, one primary partition for Windows, one primary partition for Linux, one extended partition with one logical partition for the Linux home directory, and one logical partition for shared files. This scheme allows for separate partitions for each operating system and personal files, as well as a shared partition. However, it uses up all four primary partitions, limiting the ability to add more operating systems or partitions in the future. Alternatively, one primary partition for Windows, one extended partition with two logical partitions for Linux and Linux home directory, and one primary partition for shared files. This scheme uses only three primary partitions but places the shared partition at the end of the hard drive. Another option is one primary partition for Windows, one extended partition with three logical partitions for Linux, Linux home directory, and shared files. This scheme uses only two primary partitions but might be more complicated to manage and resize the logical partitions within the extended partition. Ultimately, no single best partition scheme exists; it depends on your needs, preferences, and goals. Be sure to backup your data before starting and follow instructions carefully to avoid errors or data loss.