Dual booting Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Most Linux enthusiasts know how to install both Linux and Windows on the same PC, and then boot either; this is known as dual booting (or multibooting). However, dual booting two Linux distributions is not as easy as dual booting one Linux distribution with Windows.

Ubuntu and Linux Mint are both popular Linux distributions. If you wish to compare them on the same PC (such as an older, spare PC), this document can help you dual boot them.

Creating a boot-repair live CD - Before you can dual boot Ubuntu and Linux Mint, you need to create a boot-repair live CD as follows:

1. Download the newest boot-repair-disk.iso disc-image file.
2. Burn (write) the ISO file to a blank, writable CD.
3. Label your CD as "Boot Repair Disc."

Installing Ubuntu and Linux Mint - To install both Ubuntu and Linux Mint on the same PC, do the following:

1. Download a 32-bit Ubuntu live-disc ISO file, burn it to a DVD, and then use that DVD to install Ubuntu as the only operating system.
2. Install all Ubuntu updates, and then reboot your PC.
3. Download a 32-bit Linux Mint live-disc ISO file, burn it to a DVD, and then use that DVD to install Linux Mint, as a second operating system, alongside Ubuntu.
4. Install all Linux Mint updates, and then reboot your PC.

Note: Until after you have run your boot-repair CD according to the section below, you can boot only Linux Mint.

Running your boot-repair CD - Your boot-repair CD lets you repair your boot process, which includes the GRand Universal Bootloader (GRUB). To run your boot-repair CD, do the following:

1. Install both Ubuntu and Linux Mint on the same PC according to the section above.
2. Place your boot-repair CD into the optical drive, reboot your PC. and then follow the boot-repair prompts.
3. As explained in the section above, boot your boot-repair disc as a live disc, and then follow its prompts.
4. When you see the Boot Repair window, click Recommended repair (repairs most frequent problems). Be patient, each boot-repair phase usually requires more than the "several minutes" that it promises.

After you have run your boot-repair CD successfully, you can boot to either Ubuntu or Linux Mint through GRUB.