I have a windows work computer, a Dell Inspiron 27 7720 All-in-One. I am trying to set up a dual-boot system, but when I change the BIOS security settings to enable running Linux, then Windows won’t run. When I re-enable it, It hangs at the grub prompt. Has anyone else run into this?

The BIOS is far more detailed than most machines I used in the past, so I’m not sure if there are specific settings that would work. I’m looking to install Zorin, which is based on Ubuntu. Would a different distro/bootloader have a better outcome?

  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    62·
    9 hours ago

    It’s a work computer. Talk to your IT department.

    Frankly, you have no business setting it up yourself at all, unless you have a good reason to need it, explicit permission from your boss, etc. Or if you’re a software engineer or IT admin type employee yourself (but if that were the case you probably wouldn’t be asking this question).

    Also, my experience is that if you as an employee need multiple operating systems (e.g. developing an app that supported Windows and OS X, as I did in a previous job), you should be furnished with a second machine instead of being expected to dual-boot. For a company, the hardware cost is trivial compared to the labor cost of your lost productivity screwing around with dual-booting.

    I understand everybody’s got to start somewhere and I’m sorry if this comes across as harsh, but outside of a very limited set of circumstances (e.g. being the sole IT guy at a small company trying to self-teach), this is literally Not Your Job.

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      7 hours ago

      Thanks, but I do not have an IT department. I am provided a computer for my use and at my discretion. I am essentially my own IT.

      I am having trouble with Windows lately, and I believe that a new OS may help me be more productive, so it’s on me. I am not confident enough to eliminate Windows entirely in case it does not work out, hence the wish for dual-boot.