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Both Dual Boot and Virtual Machine allow you to install multiple operating systems on one computer. However, each method has its own pros and cons. If you're undecided about choosing Dual Boot or Virtual Machine, continue reading this Mytour article to find the answer.
1. Dual Boot
Essentially, Dual Boot is the process of installing a different operating system on the same hard drive or an externally connected hard drive on the same computer. Since two operating systems cannot work simultaneously in one partition, we first need to create a new partition. Then, use a Bootable USB drive to install the new operating system.
Both operating systems cannot work simultaneously. To boot into a different operating system, we need to restart the computer and choose the operating system from the OS menu.
Advantages of Dual Boot
The major advantage of Dual Boot is the ability to access all computer resources. Any operating system we boot into has access to all the active computer resources because no other operating system is running concurrently.
This invisibly makes Dual Boot an ideal choice for running resource-intensive programs like games or video editing software.
Disadvantages of Dual Boot
Alongside its advantages, Dual Boot also comes with various drawbacks and limitations, including:
- Requires restarting the computer to access a different operating system
Each time users want to switch between operating systems, they need to restart their computer, which can be inconvenient. However, this can address some issues such as application or system freezes.
- Complex Setup Process
Compared to using a virtual machine, the setup process on Dual Boot is much more complex. Firstly, we have to create a partition and install the operating system using a Bootable USB drive.
Not to mention, errors or conflicts may occur during the installation of a new operating system. Overall, the Dual Boot setup process is intricate and tends to encounter more errors.
- Security Concerns
In a Dual Boot setup, if an issue occurs, it can impact the entire system. This is especially true when dual-booting with the same operating system; it may lead to accessing mixed data, such as Windows 7 and Windows 10 data.
Additionally, viruses can damage all data inside the computer, including the operating system data. Therefore, it's not advisable to use Dual Boot to test new operating systems.
2. Virtual Machine
Virtual Machine creates a dedicated virtual environment within the operating system to run another operating system. This allows users to run two (or more) operating systems simultaneously without causing any conflicts.
Firstly, download and install efficient virtualization software such as VirtualBox or Parallels, and the ISO file of the operating system you want to install. The data of the new operating system can be stored on the same partition in a separate file.
Advantages of Virtual Machine
- Easy switch between operating systems
As a virtual machine is just a window opened on the default operating system, we can easily switch between operating systems. This makes the virtual machine an ideal choice to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.
- Easy Setup
As mentioned earlier, all we need is a virtual machine tool and the ISO file of the operating system to get started.
- Safer Environment
If an error occurs, the error doesn't impact the entire system or the default operating system, even if the operating system inside the virtual machine is damaged or infected with a virus.
- Easy Restart
Deleting a profile or reverting to a previous snapshot is all you need to do to restart if the system encounters an error.
- Transfer to Another Computer
Since a virtual machine stores data and installs the operating system in a single file, we can easily transfer it to another computer or operating system. Almost all virtual machine programs provide tools for OS migration.
Disadvantages of Virtual Machine
The operating system running in a virtual machine doesn't have full access to the available system resources. As the virtual machine runs within the host operating system, both have to share system resources. Additionally, running multiple operating systems in one virtual machine can lead to issues and errors.
If you want to run multiple operating systems for compatibility with games or other large programs, a virtual machine may disappoint you.
Choosing Between Dual Boot and Virtual Machine
As mentioned from the beginning, each method has its own pros and cons, so we cannot find a definitive answer to this question.
When to Choose Dual Boot?
- Choose Dual Boot if you want to use the secondary operating system for an extended period.
- If the file system for both operating systems is the same, all your data will be available for both. If the data is intertwined, it will be challenging to manage separate data for each operating system.
- If you want to run resource-intensive programs in the secondary operating system, Dual Boot is the ideal choice.
When to Choose Virtual Machine?
- Virtual Machine is suitable for testing activities and short-term usage.
- As both the host and virtual operating systems can operate simultaneously, a virtual machine is a suitable choice if you want to work on both operating systems at the same time. In addition to working with separate applications in each operating system, you can also move data between operating systems using the shared clipboard provided by both the host and virtual machine.
- If you want to install and use multiple different operating systems, a virtual machine is the best choice for you.
- If you don't intend to run 3D graphics programs or large-sized programs and games, a virtual machine is ideal.
In this article, Mytour has introduced you to the pros and cons of Dual Boot and virtual machines. Hopefully, after reading this Mytour article, readers will find the answer to whether to choose Dual Boot or Virtual Machine.
There are numerous methods to create a virtual drive for installing multiple Windows operating systems on your computer, and among them, the technique of creating a virtual drive using UltraISO is widely utilized. Join the process of creating a virtual drive with UltraISO if you're unfamiliar with how to execute it.
