How To Dual Boot Windows 8.1 And Debian Jessie

This guide will show you how to dual-boot Windows 8.1 and Debian Jessie (latest stable version) on a computer with UEFI enabled.

The process is fairly bizarre compared to other Linux distributions in that it isn't possible (or easily possible) to boot from a live version of Debian on a UEFI-based computer.

I recently wrote a guide showing how to get Debian without navigating their incredibly complicated website. This guide uses option 3 which is the network install option. The reason for this is that the live disks just do not work with UEFI and ​the full Debian USB is a very large download. 

Here is the basic process you need to follow in order to get Debian working properly alongside Windows 8.1.

1. Backup all of your files and Windows (Incredibly Important)
2. Shrink your Windows partition to leave space for Debian
3. Turn off fast boot
4. Download Debian Jessie Netinst ISO
5. Download Win32 Disk Imaging tool
6. Install Debian Jessie to USB drive using Win32 Disk Imaging tool.
7. Boot into Debian Jessie graphical installer
8. Install Debian

This process can take a number of hours depending on your internet connection.

1. Back Up All Of Your Files And Windows

Never have I felt it more necessary to tell you to back up your files and Windows environment than before embarking on this journey.

Whilst the main installation went much smoother than I was expecting it to the initial steps for booting to the installer didn't fill me with confidence.

Back up everything. How?

Follow this guide which shows how to backup all your files and Windows 8.1.

There are alternative guides if you do not want to use Macrium Reflect as follows:

• How To Create A Windows 8 Recovery Drive
• 8 Best Commercial Backup Programs

You might want to bookmark this page before clicking on the link in case you can't find your way back.

2. Shrink Your Windows Partition

The Debian installer is fairly clever when it comes to finding a place to install itself but you do need to have free space.

If you only have Windows 8.1 installed then it is likely that Windows is taking up all of the free space.

So how do you create free space?

Follow this guide to shrinking your Windows partition

Click on the arrow to move onto the next page of this guide.

3. Turn Off Fast Boot

To be able to boot to a USB drive you will need to turn off fast boot (also known as fast startup).

Right-click in the bottom left corner to bring up the menu and click on "power options".

Click on the "Choose what the power button does" option on the left side of the "power options" window.

Scroll down to the bottom of the window and uncheck the box for "Turn on fast startup".

4. Download Debian NetInst ISO

Make sure that you download the correct file as the whole guide is based on the Debian Network Installer ISO.

If you have downloaded a Debian live disk you will struggle to get it to work on a UEFI-based computer and even harder to install.

Visit https://www.debian.org/ and in the top right corner (on the banner) you will see a link for "Download Debian 8.1 - 32/64 bit PC Network Installer).

Click on that link and the file will download. It is just over 200 megabytes in size.

5. Download And Install The Win32 Disk Imaging Tool

In order to create a UEFI bootable Debian USB drive, you will need to download the Win32 Disk Imaging tool.

Click here to download the tool.

Double click on the downloaded file to open the installer and follow these steps to install the software:

• Click "next" to get past the welcome message
• Accept the agreement and click "next"
• Click "next" to select the destination of the files
• Click "next" to accept the defaults for the start menu setting
• Click "next" to create an icon on the desktop
• Click "install"
• Uncheck the "readme" checkbox
• Click "finish" to launch the application.

The guide continues on the next page

6. Create The UEFI Bootable Debian USB Drive

When the Win32 Disk Imaging Tool has finished downloading, insert a blank USB drive into one of the USB ports on your computer.

If the Win32 Disk Imaging Tool hasn't already started it, double-click on the desktop icon to start it.

Click on the folder icon and change the file type on the "select a disk image" screen to show all files.

Navigate to the downloads folder and select the downloaded Debian file from step 4.

Make sure the device shows the letter of your USB drive.

Click on the "Write" button to write the disk.

7. Boot Into The Debian Graphical Installer

All this work and we haven't even booted into Debian yet. That is about to change.

Restart Windows whilst holding down the shift key. 

A UEFI boot menu should appear (similar to the image above).

Choose the "Use a device" option and then select the "EFI USB Drive".

The guide continues on the next page. 

8. Install Debian

Hopefully, a screen similar to the one above should appear.

I would like to apologize for the quality of the images from this point on. They were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone camera because the Debian installer made it very difficult to take screenshots despite there being a screenshot button on the screen.

Note that when the screen above appears make sure that it says "Debian GNU/Linux UEFI Installer Menu". The key part is the word "UEFI".

When the menu appears to select the "Graphical Install" option.

Step 1 - Select Installation Language

The first step is to select the installation language. I had an issue at this point in that the mouse did not work.

I used the up and down arrows to select "English" and pressed the return/enter key to move on to the next step.

Step 2 - Installation Steps List

A list of the steps involved in installing Debian will appear. Click on "continue" (or if like me your mouse isn't working press the return key, to be honest, I suspect an external mouse instead of my trackpad might have worked).

Step 3 - Select Your Timezone

A list of locations will appear. Select where you are located (not necessarily where you are from) as this is used to set your clock.

Click "Continue".

Step 4 - Configure The Keyboard

The Debian installer seems to have endless screens showing you either a list of countries or languages.

This time you are asked to select the keyboard language. Choose your language and then click "Continue".

This guide continues on the next page.

Step 5 - Detect Network Hardware

Not everyone will receive this screen. It appears that I had a driver missing and this screen asked if I had media available to install the driver. I didn't so I selected "No" and selected "Continue".

Step 6 - Configure The Network

A list of network interfaces will appear. In my case, it was my ethernet controller (wired internet) or wireless network adapter.

I chose the wireless network adapter and clicked "continue" but if you are using an ethernet cable you should choose that option instead.

Step 7 - Configure The Network (Select Wireless Network)

If you chose the wireless network adapter you will be shown a list of wireless networks to connect to.

Select the wireless network you wish to connect to and then press "continue".

Obviously, if you are using a wired internet connection you won't see this screen.

Step 8 - Configure The Network (Choose open or secure network)

If you are using a wireless network you will now be asked to select whether the network is an open network or whether it requires a security key to be entered.

Choose the relevant option and click "Continue".

Unless you are connected to an open network you will be required to enter the security key.

Step 9 - Configure The Network (Enter A Hostname)

You will be asked to enter a hostname for your computer. This is the name of your computer as it would appear on your home network. 

You can call it anything you like.

When you have finished press "Continue".

Step 10 - Configure The Network (Enter A Domain Name)

To be honest I wasn't really sure what to put at this stage. It says that if you are setting up a home network to use an extension but whatever you use you will need to use for all the computers on your home network.

Unless you are setting up a network you can just click "Continue" without entering anything.

This guide continues on the next page.

Step 11 - Set Up Users And Passwords (Root Password)

You now have to set up a root password which will be required for processes that need administrator access.

Enter a password and repeat it and then press "Continue".

Step 12 - Set Up Users And Passwords (Create A User)

Obviously, you don't run your system in administrator mode all the time so you need to create a user.

Enter your full name and press "Continue".

Step 13 - Set Up Users And Passwords (Create A User - Select A Username)

Now enter a username. Choose a single word such as your first name and press "Continue".

Step 14 - Set Up Users And Passwords (Create A User - Choose A Password)

I can't believe the Debian developers chose to use 4 screens for something that Ubuntu have managed on just one screen.

You have a username. Now you need a password for that user. 

Enter a password and repeat it.

Press "Continue".

This guide continues on the next page.

Step 15 - Disk Partitioning 

This bit is very important. Get this wrong and you will be requiring the backups taken at the beginning of the tutorial.

Choose the option for "Guided - Use the largest continuous free space".

Click "Continue".

This will basically install Debian into the space left by shrinking Windows.

Step 16 - Partitioning

You are now given the option to create 1 single partition whereby all of your files and the Debian system files are installed or to create a separate partition for your personal files (home partition) or to create multiple partitions (home, ​var and tmp).

I wrote an article discussing the merits of using a home partition. You might want to read this guide before making a decision. 

I actually went for all the files in one partition option but it is up to you which you choose. I think the third option is overkill.

Click "Continue" when you have made your selection.

Step 17 - Partitioning

A screen will now be displayed showing how the disk will be partitioned.

As long as you chose to install using the continuous free space you should be ok to select the "Finish partitioning and write changes to disk" option.

Step 18 - Partitioning

A final warning will be displayed telling you that partitions will be created or amended.

Click "Yes" to write the changes to disk and "Continue".

This guide continues on the next page.

Step 19 - Configure The Package Manager

Guess what folks, it is another screen with a list of countries on it.

This time you are asked to select the place closest to you in order to download packages.

Click "Continue".

Step 20 - Configure The Package Manager (Choose Mirror)

A list of mirrors local to the country you selected from the previous screen will be shown.

Choosing the mirror is a bit of a random choice. The recommendation is to choose the one ending .debian.org (i.e. ftp.uk.debian.org).

Make a choice and click "Continue". 

Step 21 - Configure The Package Manager (Enter A Proxy)

The Debian installer sure is a convoluted process.

If you need to enter a proxy to access websites in the outside world enter it on this screen.

The chances are that you won't and should be able to just click "Continue".

Step 22 - Popularity Contest

You are now asked whether you want to send information back to the developers based on the choices of packages you install.

It is up to you whether you participate or not. Click "Yes" or "No" and then click "Continue".

 This guide continues on the next page.

Step 23 - Select Packages

At last, we are at the stage where you can choose the software you wish to install. You can select between a number of different desktop environments including GNOME, KDE, LXDE, XFCE, Cinnamon, and MATE.

You can also choose to install print server software, web server software, an ssh server and standard system utilities.

The more checkboxes you tick, the longer it will be to download all of the packages.

Check as many of the options as you require (want) and click "Continue".

The files will now start to download to your computer and you will get an estimate as to how long it will take to download the files. The installation itself takes about 20 minutes on top of the download time.

When everything has finished installing you will get an installation complete message.

Reboot your computer and remove the USB drive.

Summary

You should now have a dual booting Debian and Windows 8.1 system.

A menu will appear with an option to choose Debian and an option to choose "Windows". Try both options to make sure they work.

If you have any questions about this long winded process feel free to contact me using one of the contact links above.

If you found all this too hard to follow or would prefer to try something different try out one of these installation guides:

• Dual Boot Ubuntu And Windows 8.1
• Dual Boot Linux Mint And Windows 8.1
• A Step By Step Guide To Installing Xubuntu
• A Step By Step Guide To Installing openSUSE
• A Step By Step Guide To Installing Fedora