Ten years ago you would have been kind of correct. My first few Linux dual boot installs were kind of a hassle...
But NOW:
Doesn't require any extra software to set up a basic dual boot system with Mint Linux. All you really need these days is your windows machine and a recent Linux ISO on a flash drive. And ~ 20 gigs (100 is better) empty space on your hard drive, and the Mint Linux install will handle the partitions for you and set up your boot loader / Grub so you can chose which OS you want when you first turn on your computer, or restart.
Heck, you don't even need a hard drive to run Linux. It will run off a 16 Gig flash drive;(although it is kinda slow that way). Just set your bios to look to USB ports for first boot device, and if your Linux ISO is plugged in to a USB port, it will boot linux. If you don't have the flash drive plugged in, it will boot windows.
“Finding the right software to set up a dual boot with Linux can be a real bitch. That’s a real challenge for many to take the first step away from Microsoft.”
Actually that is not a problem at all, hasn’t been for awhile now. The default installer that comes with every Linux does all that for you. You just click “Install Alongside” the existing OS and it will do all the self partitioning, formatting, and everything for dual boot. You just have to make sure it has at least 25 gigs of empty windows partition it can steal from windows.
Honestly it is real slick how the default Linux installer makes it dual boot for you as a click the box option.
For others...
“Mint Cinnamon” is the go to for a first time user. I have been using Linux for ten years now and have test driven just about all of the best major players. It operates almost like Windows 7. If you have used Win 7 you will be able to fly right away.
1. First download and install a program called “Rufus”.
It is the top option: rufus-4.11.exe
2. Download the Mint Cinnamon .iso file from the Mint site. The “James Madison University” Mirror source is known to be a clean download.
https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=322
3. Insert a USB stick that is empty or that you do not mind being wiped clean of current data.
4. Start Rufus and go select the Mint .iso from your downloads. It should autodetect the USB stick as the destination for the .iso to be installed. The default settings in Rufus are all fine. Just answer yes to any options it asks and then select create.
5. When done close Rufus and power your computer off.
Now here is where the only challenge can arise. You now have to make the computer boot from that external Linux stick. There should be no problems doing this. But on some computers Windows has locked out the ability to see that external Operation System and so it will not boot from it. So there is a process of elimination that has to be done sometimes. But 9 times out of 10 the following does indeed work...
6. With the Linux stick inserted power on your Computer, stay right there and be ready to hit the key that will give you your boot options for that computer make. When the Manufacturer’s logo comes up tap that key. Depending on make it might be the Esc key. F2 key, F9 key, or on a Dell it is the F12/Star key. Select the USB as the boot option.
7. Be patient because the screen may go Black a few times as the Linux boots up. And from a stick it is a bit slower to do this.
8. If it does not boot from the stick as it should then there will need to be some configuration in the bios that needs to be done. That can be addressed later as a separate issue.
But it should Boot for you if you did everything above step by step. Now you will be in Linux and running from off the stick completely isolated from your internal drive and Windows. It should auto detect your internet connection and you will have to put in your password to access your internet source. Bottom right in the same place it is in Windows 7.
It will tell you when it makes the connection. Then you can use the Firefox browser to access the net if you like and check out all the stuff it comes with and what can be done with it. Basically you are in test drive mode. But nothing can be installed, and while you can make temporary changes they will be forgotten and it will go back to default when you shut down.
Run it for awhile from off the stick when you have extra time and check it out, Go explore and discover what the apps are and what they do, go look at the System Settings and how they work. Then after you feel comfortable with it then you can install it if you like. There are two options, wipe the drive completely and install only the Linux, or you can install it “Along Side” (Dual Boot) the existing windows and have both. The installer will do all of the partitioning and disk work for you during the install. So no need to worry about complicated partitioning and disk preparation first, it does it all for you. Just take your time and read the options well as you step through it.