Documentazione di Ubuntu → Ubuntu 10.04 → Switching From Windows → Dual-booting with Windows → Introduction

## Introduction

It is possible to have more than one operating system installed on a computer at once. While only one operating system can be run at once, you may choose which one to start when the computer is initially turned on. This is called dual-booting

This quick guide is intended to help you to install Ubuntu onto a computer alongside a copy of Windows.

### Advantages of dual-booting

- You can evaluate Ubuntu while still having access to Windows

- You can boot into Windows if you need to use a Windows-specific application.

- You can gradually switch to Ubuntu, one step at a time

### Disadvantages of dual-booting

- As two operating systems are installed, they can take up a large amount of hard disk space.

- Upgrading to another version of Windows can cause the dual-boot configuration to break

- Start-up time is slightly increased

- More complicated than just running one operating system

Chapter 7. Dual-booting with Windows |  | Basic concepts