If you want to run multiple operating systems on one computer or multiple copies of the same operating system, you have only two options: Dual-boot or virtual machine. Both methods are useful, but serve different purposes.
You are not sure which one is right for you? Then you have come to the right place. We'll go over a series of questions you should ask yourself. Your answers to these questions will let you know which method is better for your specific needs.
Note: If you don't know what a virtual machine is, start with our introductory article on what virtual machines are and why they're useful. What is a virtual machine? Everything you need to know about what a virtual machine is Everything you need to know Virtual machines let you run other operating systems on your current computer. Here is what you should know about it. Read more .
Do you have a powerful computer??
Normally, your hardware is 100% dedicated to running the operating system on your computer. However, if you use a virtual machine, you are running a second operating system inside your primary operating system. This means that your hardware will be split between the two operating systems.
On older computers and laptops, dual booting is really the only option. If you run two startups, you can switch between operating systems and assign all your hardware to one at a time. The more powerful your hardware, the more viable a virtual machine becomes. In this case, a virtual machine is usually preferable.
How much power does a virtual machine need? It depends on the operating system. If you are running a lightweight Linux distribution, you have 13 lightweight Linux distributions to give your old PC a new life. 13 Lightweight Linux distributions to give your old PC a new life runs well on older and weaker devices! Read more, you do not need much. If you're virtualizing Windows 10 with macOS, you'll need a more modern rig.
Are you running CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks??
Even with a powerful computer, virtual machines can be a pain to use for resource-intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D animation, video editing, etc. be problematic.
This is because virtualization involves a bit of emulation. How does emulation work and why is it so slow? How does emulation work and why is it so slow?? You've probably heard of emulation, but do you know what emulation actually means or how it works? More information and emulated operating systems are not as efficient as native operating systems. So if you are doing anything that puts a load on the CPU or GPU, you should use a dual-boot setup instead.
Use one operating system at a time?
Virtual machines are great for multitasking, so you can easily switch between different operating systems Alt + Tab. However, if you spend hours in a virtualized operating system, this may not be the best choice.
Let's say your main operating system is Windows, but you are a programmer and prefer to code in a Linux environment. 7 Reasons You Should Use Linux for Programming 7 Excellent Reasons to Use Linux Reputation as a Place for Programmers and Geeks and a Fantastic Platform for Programmers. Not convinced? Well, there are many reasons to consider Linux for writing code. Read more . If you want to bury yourself in a three-hour coding session, you can also dual-boot into Linux and take full advantage of the speed of a native operating system. (
Is your computer running on an SSD??
Today, SSDs have become so fast that you can shut down and restart a computer in seconds. This is great news for dual boot setups.
With a hard drive, switching from one operating system to another can take 5-10 minutes. This can be annoying several times a day. However, with an SSD, you can jump from Windows to Ubuntu in less than a minute. This is comparable to the time it takes to run a virtual Ubuntu. So if you have an SSD, you should think about dual booting.
Do you want to run only a specific app??
Let's assume you are perfectly happy as a Linux user. You prefer the environment and are more familiar with GNOME than Windows. However, you are a photographer, and you need to use Adobe Lightroom to edit a few images for a client.
This is one case where dual booting is overkill. If you just want to run a particular app that isn't available on your native operating system, a virtual machine really shows up. In fact, this is probably the most practical use case for virtual machines. 7 reasons to use a virtual machine. 7 reasons to use a virtual machine. The term "virtual Has been used in many ways. Virtual reality. Virtual RAM Virtual schools. However, virtualization in the context of PCs can be confusing. We are here to clear it up. Read more .
Are you currently testing an operating system?
Maybe you've been a Windows user all your life, and you've heard all sorts of praise for Linux, but you're not sure you're ready to commit to a full migration. In that case, don't double boot. Use a virtual machine.
Dual-booting is convenient, "uninstalling" A dual-boot setup can be a pain. Sometimes you can't risk the integrity of your disk partitions or your system's bootloader. Windows Update has been known to wipe Linux from your system. But you can create and delete virtual machines at will. This makes it a one-time operating system testing experience.
Need additional security against malware??
One of the biggest advantages of a virtual machine over dual booting is that a virtual machine is in the sandbox. This means running a virtualized operating system in a completely isolated environment. In most cases, nothing inside the virtualized OS can affect the native OS.
So if you're testing for security vulnerabilities or checking the effectiveness of a security suite, you should always do it in a virtual machine. If you get infected with malware, you can simply delete the virtual machine and start again.
Do you want the ability to clone an operating system??
In a virtual machine, you can do what you can't do with a dual-boot setup: take a full snapshot of your entire operating system and save it as a single file. Then move the file to another computer and start it as a virtual machine on that other computer. Essentially, you've cloned it.
Clones are useful for portability, so you can take your system anywhere without needing the physical machine. They are also useful for creating system backups. So if something goes wrong, you can boot an exact replica of your system before everything goes wrong. Most virtualization software supports cloning in this way.
More information about dual-boot vs. To the virtual machine
You should now have a clearer idea of whether you would be better off with a dual-boot setup or a virtual machine. If you're still not sure, check out our article on how to run multiple operating systems on a single computer.
If you've decided to go the virtual machine route, read our comparison of VirtualBox and VMware Player. VirtualBox vs. VMware Player: The Best Virtual Machine for Windows VirtualBox vs. VMware Player: The Best Virtual Machine for Windows Are you having trouble deciding which virtual machine software to use? VirtualBox and VMware Workstation Player are both free of charge. But which one is best for you? Let us help you! Read more. These are the two best virtualization tools for Windows. On the other hand, Parallels Desktop is the best virtualization software for Mac. Parallels Desktop 13: The best virtual machine for macOS? Parallels Desktop 13: The best virtual machine for macOS? If you want to run Windows apps on your Mac? With Parallels Desktop, the installation of Windows 10 is completed in less than 10 seconds. Read more . Good luck!