How To Install Another Linux Distribution From Ubuntu

Installing “Linux in Ubuntu” usually means one of two things:

• installing a different Linux distribution (like Fedora, Arch, Debian) from an existing Ubuntu system, or
• installing a second Ubuntu (or other Linux) alongside your current Ubuntu, either on the same disk, another disk, or in a virtual machine.

This FAQ walks through what’s actually happening under the hood, the main ways to do it, and where your own setup becomes the deciding factor.

What Does It Mean To Install Linux From Ubuntu?

Ubuntu itself is a Linux distribution. When you “install Linux in Ubuntu,” you’re typically:

• Adding another Linux system next to your current Ubuntu (dual‑boot or multi‑boot)
• Replacing Ubuntu with a different Linux OS
• Running another Linux inside Ubuntu using virtualization
• Testing other Linux distros live (from USB or ISO) without changing your main install

At a technical level, this involves:

• Disk partitions – sections of your drive where each OS lives
• A bootloader – software that starts when your PC powers on and lets you choose which OS to load (Ubuntu uses GRUB)
• Filesystems – formats like ext4, btrfs, etc., used to store Linux files

Ubuntu can be a convenient base because it already includes tools to:

• Download and write ISO images (OS installers) to USB
• Manage partitions (with tools like GParted or GNOME Disks)
• Run virtual machines (VirtualBox, virt-manager, GNOME Boxes, etc.)

Main Ways To Install Another Linux Using Ubuntu

1. Dual‑Boot: Install Another Linux Beside Ubuntu

Dual‑booting means splitting your storage so two OSes live on the same machine, and you pick one at boot.

High-level steps:

1. Back up important data
   Any partition changes carry risk. Save documents, photos, configs to external storage or cloud.

2. Free up space on your disk in Ubuntu
   Use a partition manager (e.g., GParted or GNOME Disks) to:

   • Shrink your Ubuntu partition
   • Leave unallocated space where the new distro will go

3. Download the ISO of the new Linux distro
   From the distribution’s official website.

4. Create a bootable USB from Ubuntu
   Tools you can use:

   • Startup Disk Creator (often included with Ubuntu)
   • balenaEtcher or similar USB imaging tool
     Point it to:
   • Source: your downloaded ISO
   • Target: the USB drive (this erases that USB)

5. Boot from the USB

   • Reboot
   • Enter BIOS/UEFI boot menu (often F12, F10, Esc, etc.)
   • Select the USB drive
     You’ll typically see a “Try” and “Install” option.

6. Run the installer and select “Install alongside” if offered
   The installer may detect Ubuntu and offer:

   • “Install alongside Ubuntu”
   • “Erase disk and install”
   • “Something else” (manual partitioning)

   Choosing “alongside” usually:

   • Uses the free space you created
   • Adds itself to the boot menu (GRUB)

7. Reboot and choose your OS at startup
   GRUB should now list:

   • Ubuntu
   • Your new Linux distro
     Use the keyboard to pick one.

This method keeps your existing Ubuntu while giving you a full, native install of another Linux.

2. Replace Ubuntu With a Different Linux

If you don’t want Ubuntu at all, you can overwrite it.

High-level steps:

1. Back up everything you care about from Ubuntu.
2. Create a bootable USB of the new Linux distro from Ubuntu (same as above).
3. Boot from the USB.
4. In the installer, choose an option like:
   • “Erase disk and install [distro name]”
5. Confirm the partitioning changes and proceed.

Here, the installer will:

• Remove Ubuntu’s system partitions
• Create new partitions for the new OS
• Install its own bootloader (often also GRUB)

You end up with just one Linux on the machine.

3. Install Another Linux Inside Ubuntu Using a Virtual Machine

If you want to try other Linux distros without touching your actual disk partitions, you can run them in a VM (virtual machine).

A virtual machine is like a sandboxed computer running inside Ubuntu. It uses:

• Your real CPU and RAM, shared with Ubuntu
• A virtual disk file on your Ubuntu filesystem that acts like a hard drive for the guest OS

Basic VM install flow:

1. Install virtualization software in Ubuntu
   Common options:

   • VirtualBox
   • virt-manager with KVM/QEMU
   • GNOME Boxes

2. Download the Linux ISO you want to try

3. Create a new VM in your virtualization app:

   • Assign RAM (e.g., 2–4 GB, depending on your total RAM)
   • Create a virtual disk (e.g., 20–40 GB or more, depending on needs)
   • Point the “optical drive” / installation media to your ISO

4. Start the VM and run the normal installer inside it
   From the guest OS’s perspective, it thinks it’s installing to a real machine:

   • It sees only the virtual disk
   • It installs its own bootloader in that virtual environment

5. Boot your new Linux from the VM whenever you like
   Ubuntu remains your host; the other Linux runs in a window.

This gives you:

• No partition risk
• Easy snapshots and rollbacks (depending on virtualization tool)
• Slight performance overhead compared to native installs

Key Variables That Affect How You Should Install

Which path fits you depends on several variables.

1. Hardware and System Setup

• Storage type and size

  • Small SSD or HDD: You may have to be careful about how many OSes and how big each partition is.
  • Multiple drives: You can dedicate a whole drive to another distro, which simplifies partitioning.

• UEFI vs Legacy BIOS and Secure Boot

  • Most modern systems use UEFI with Secure Boot.
  • Some Linux installers handle Secure Boot smoothly; others may ask you to disable it or enroll keys.

• RAM and CPU

  • Low RAM / older CPU: Dual‑booting (native install) often performs better than a heavy VM.
  • Plenty of RAM and strong CPU: Running multiple Linux VMs is more comfortable.

2. Existing Ubuntu Layout

• Single big root partition vs separate /home

  • Single partition: you’ll likely resize this and create space for another OS.
  • Separate /home: gives more flexibility for sharing or migrating user data.

• Encrypted disk (LUKS, LVM setups)

  • Installing another Linux alongside can be more complex.
  • Some installers support LVM and encryption; others require manual setup.

3. How You Plan To Use the Other Linux

• Occasional testing, distro‑hopping, quick look

  • A VM or live USB session may be best.

• Daily driver, performance‑sensitive tasks (gaming, compiling, media work)

  • A native install (dual‑boot or replacing Ubuntu) gets closer to full hardware performance.

• Server‑style workloads or always‑on background tasks

  • Could be a headless VM, container setup, or a dedicated bare-metal install.

4. Your Comfort Level With System Changes

• Beginner

  • Automated options like “Install alongside Ubuntu”
  • VM tools with guided wizards

• Intermediate

  • Manual partitioning (“Something else” in installers)
  • Managing GRUB entries

• Advanced

  • Multi‑boot across several drives
  • Custom partition schemes (LVM, btrfs subvolumes, ZFS)

Comparing Approaches: Dual-Boot vs VM vs Replace

Different User Profiles, Different “Right” Installs

Because these methods trade off different things, the “best” way varies a lot:

• Curious newcomer:
  Might lean toward a VM or live USB to avoid touching partitions.

• Power user who games, codes, or does heavy media work:
  Might prefer a dual‑boot to get full performance on more than one OS.

• Someone who’s done with Ubuntu and settled on another distro:
  Might choose to replace Ubuntu entirely.

• Developer or tester working with multiple environments:
  Might mix:

  • A host OS (Ubuntu)
  • Several VMs
  • Maybe even a second native Linux for specific workloads

Each of these setups can be the “right” way to install Linux from an existing Ubuntu system, but they depend on how much risk you’re comfortable with, how powerful your hardware is, and how you plan to use the additional Linux system.

The missing piece is your own situation: your disk layout, whether your Ubuntu install is encrypted, how much performance you need, and how adventurous you feel about modifying partitions and bootloaders.