Of all the Linux distributions available on the internet, Puppy Linux is the quickest to load and still able to provide all the useful components of a standard Linux distribution. I personally use it from time to time when I have to recover files from a messed up Windows installation or just want to access some suspicious sites without the fear of getting my Windows installation infected with unknown malware. But like some other Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu Linux or Mint Linux), it does not provide an easy in-built method to install it in a dual-boot configuration on a Windows PC.
While using Puppy Linux from a bootable USB flash disk is no problem at all, you can make it much faster and easier if you install it in the dual boot configuration on your Windows PC. Here is how:
Note: These steps will disable fast-boot in Windows. So your Windows perhaps won’t boot so fast next time.
- Download latest version of Puppy Linux ISO from http://puppylinux.com/ or http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/. The 64-bit version of Puppy Linux requires your PC to have a 64-bit CPU. You can use 64-bit Checker to determine if your PC is 64-bit ready. If confused, just download the 32-bit version of Puppy Linux ISO.
- Download LICK from https://github.com/noryb009/lick/releases and install it in Windows.
- Launch LICK and then drag-n-drop the downloaded ISO file on the LICK window.
- You can change the ID, name and install location, but the default values work better for everyone. Just click on the Install button.
- In a few seconds, you will see a message confirming that installation was successful. This means that you are ready to dual-boot into Windows or Puppy Linux.
- Reboot your PC and you will see the boot manager from where you can select either Windows or Puppy Linux.
This method works even on newer systems with UEFI and secure boot. In these systems, you will have to take a few extra steps when you boot into Puppy Linux for the first time by selecting Help → Nothing happens on reboot. But this is only one-time process. After first reboot, you will be able to boot into Windows or Puppy Linux without any problem.