Introduction
Our computers usually come with a single pre-installed OS. The OS that comes by default is the one that the machine has been designed to run on.
However, most computers will allow you to install or run another OS either by replacing the current one or installing it alongside the current one. By so doing, you can use Linux on a machine that came with Windows OS out of the box or you can run Linux on a Chromebook.
Dual-boot And Multi-boot
Dual-boot refers to when you are able to use two OS on the same machine while multi-boot is for anything more than two i.e multiple. For example, I have all of Windows (the default OS), Linux and Chrome OS installed on my Lenovo IdeaPad. And I can choose which to boot into and use. For works that require Chrome OS, I simply boot into it, same for the others.
Importance Of Dual-boot And Multi-boot
— This way is particularly important in that you won’t be spending money on getting separate machines with the different operating systems installed. You can use or test out different operating systems from a single machine.
— Also, it is easier running your different projects and task on the different operating systems from a single machine. All you have to do is switch which OS to boot into.
— Again, you will mostly be able to access the partitions of the other operating systems, such that files can easily be shared between all of them (this might not be possible if you are currently on Windows but the others will make it easier by incorporating the partitions of the others in their file manager).
— You are safe if one of the operating systems develops a fault. You can easily boot into another and continue using your machine. Also, you might be able to access the partition of the failed OS from another and back up your files.
Disadvantages
— If you are not careful or you don’t know how to do it, you can damage your PC or mistakenly wipe the current OS during installation of a second one. It is recommended to always keep the files of one OS away from those of another. This is done by installing them on separate partitions.
— Another thing is that using another OS can not work well like it will do for a machine dedicated to run it. So, you might have some issues ranging from compatibility to serious bugs.
— You will usually not be able to use the main operating systems but their forks e.g Linux have forks like Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin, etc and for Chrome OS, you have FydeOS, Chrome OS Flex. Linux and Chrome OS are open-source projects, the reason why they have many distros (distributions). For Windows, there are no forks, you have to use the official versions from Microsoft as they are usually free.
Virtual Machines And Cross-Platforms
Instead of installing a second OS alongside the main one, you can run it right inside the current OS using virtual machines (VM). Virtual machines provide an environment of the target OS allowing you to use it as if you are using that particular OS on a different machine. Android emulator programs for Windows are common examples, creating an Android environment right inside Windows. Examples of common Android emulators are BlueStacks, NoxPlayer, MEmu, Android Studio, etc.
Talking about cross-platforms, some OS will allow you set up environments of different OS right within them, by so doing, you will be having some sort of multiple OS experience from within just one OS. This is possible because they have some sort of underlying virtual machine (usually referred to as a container or subsystem of the target OS) that can be activated. An example is FydeOS that have the Android and Linux subsystems.
Virtual Machines and these cross-platforms are usually less compatible compared to dual-boot and multi-boot because of the following reasons:
— Virtual Machines are very heavy since they are a complete OS on their own. Running them inside a main OS gives a laggy experience and uses much RAM such that you face a lot of freezes. They use resources which adds up to those of the OS they are running inside. This is not the case with dual-boot or multi-boot where only the current OS is using resources and the others are completely inactive
— Dual-boot and multi-boot provide a much more better experience and environment and are well developed compared to virtual machines. They resemble many machines put together and just have some minor issues. Virtual machines lack many functionalities and have many features broken or removed. They are made to be as light as possible, providing just relevant features.
However, virtual Machines are easy to set up as you just need to install them like you will install any application. After installation, setting up the environment is similar to setting the OS when on a different machine. Containers or subsystems are also very easy to set up as they involve activating them from within the main OS. Dual-boot and multi-boot involve a much more harder approach (the same as installing a main OS) and if you do things wrongly, you might cause a lot of problems. They are usually installed following the below steps (basically, installing any OS requires the following steps):
- Downloading the ISO image (this can be in other form e.g FydeOS comes in .img.xz)
- Making a bootable OS from the ISO image to a CD or USB drive
- Booting the OS from the CD or USB drive
- Finally, installing the OS or using it in case you don’t want to install.
- We have listed the points above if you want to install just a single OS. But in case you want two or more OS installed, then you need to consider the point below:
- Creating a separate partition to install the new OS in.
FAQs
1) Can I Install macOS On Windows?
macOS is very different from most other OS and uses different hardware due to Apple’s distinction in the game. By so doing, it is not possible or it is hard to install macOS on machines designated for other OS. The reverse might be possible. There are some operating systems that can easily be installed on Mac computers e.g FydeOS, Chrome OS Flex, etc.
2) Which Operating Systems Are Better To Use Instead Of Or Alongside Windows?
The main operating systems for PCs are: Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. Linux and Chrome OS can only be used by installing their forks. The best forks vary from one user to another as there are many out there. In my case, my best Linux distros are Linux Mint Cinnamon and Ubuntu. While for Chrome OS, I use FydeOS. Linux Mint Cinnamon is based on Ubuntu with many improvements and unlimited customization. FydeOS is my main Chrome OS fork as it provides Android and Linux subsystems.
3) Can I Use An OS Without Installation?
Yes if you have created a bootable USB drive or CD, you can boot most operating systems and test them without installation and without any changes made to your system. However, anything done without installation is not permanent. After testing and you find it worth installing, you can then proceed to install the OS.
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SakoPC 
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