Almost every user today has heard about the free Linux operating system. The open platform for development and the availability of the system made it very popular. But if you've never used it, installing it instead of Windows can be reckless. It is much more convenient to install any of the versions of Linux as a second operating system on your device.

Reasons to install Linux alongside Windows 10

Windows 10 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. She is successful and versatile. Few users will be able to completely abandon its use for the sake of installing Linux. In turn, Linux has a number of advantages over other operating systems:

• freedom and variety - there are many builds of Linux, and each of them is distributed free of charge. Downloading, installing, using and even modifying them is completely legal;
• low requirements - some Linux builds will work even on very old computers. The operating system takes up little space and consumes little RAM, which means that more resources will be left for your programs;
• fewer viruses - virus programs for Linux, of course, exist, but the chance of stumbling upon them is much less than in the operating system from Microsoft. As a result, getting rid of them is easier;
• free software - there is a lot of free software on Linux for every taste. It can be both analogues of paid programs on Windows, and completely new software. Finding the program you need is very easy;
• good compatibility with other systems is an extremely important point. Linux is easy to install and works with any operating system: both Windows and Mac.

The downsides, however, are also obvious:

• calculation for experienced users - installing Linux is not difficult at all, but some actions in the system itself require a lot of technical knowledge;
• problems with support for programs and games of other operating systems - not all games or programs support Linux, and the way to launch through wine does not always work correctly.

By installing Linux as a second operating system, you have nothing to lose, and if you like it, you can completely move to it.

Installing different builds of Linux

Since Linux is open to user development, there are many different versions of this operating system.

• Linux Ubuntu is a common version of the operating system that is installed with various programs. It has both “light” options and full-fledged complexes for working with media; Ubuntu is one of the most widely used versions of Linux.
• Kali Linux is a version of the system with a lot of emphasis on safe operation;
  Kali Linux is known for enhanced security
• Linux Mint - this operating system is based on the version of Ubuntu and is a development of its ideas for the better;
  Mint Linux is an improved version of Ubuntu
• Kubuntu is the official offshoot of the regular version of Ubuntu. It differs by a different graphical shell (KDE);
  Kubuntu Linux - Ubuntu with a different graphical environment
• Rosa Linux - Russian version of Linux with a number of own developments;
  Rosa Linux - Russian assembly with a number of innovations
• Arch Linux is a very lightweight and optimized build aimed at advanced users.
  Arch Linux - Power Users Build

Each user should choose an assembly for their needs before proceeding directly to the installation.

Preparations before installation

Before you start installing the version of Linux you have chosen, you need to do some preparatory work with your hard drive. To begin with, it is worth saving all the necessary files to the drive, since during installation there is a risk of losing them. Then you should partition the disk into sections for the correct installation of the second operating system.

Partitioning a partition using the Disk Management system program

You can also split the partition directly during the installation of Linux. But if you do this in advance, you can avoid some unnecessary risks during installation.

Partitioning a Partition Using the Linux Installer

Regardless of which version of Linux you are installing, you will need to partition your drive. If you didn't do this before installation, you can also do it during installation.

1. To do this, when choosing the type of installation, select the "Other option" item.
   When installing, select the line "Other option" and click "Continue"
2. The required utility will be launched. Here you can see the partitions of your hard drive. For installation, it is better to divide a partition that is not a system one.
   Linux has its own disk utility that can also be used to partition a volume.
3. Select a non-system partition and press the Edit key.
   Select a partition that has enough free space and click "Edit"
4. Specify a different hard disk size. It is recommended to set the value to more than 20 thousand MB, so that there is enough space for the system and for its normal operation. All "extra" space will be cut off and become an unallocated area. Of course, it is necessary that this space is not occupied by files.
   In the Edit Partition window, you can see the total amount of free disk space
5. Confirm the resizing by pressing the OK button.
   In the Edit Partition box, enter the weight of the space you want to partition and click OK
6. A warning about the irreversibility of the process will appear. Again, agree to the changes and select the "Continue" button.
   Review and confirm changes when creating a partition in Linux
7. The split will be completed and you will see the line "free space". Select it and click on the plus sign.
   Select a new section and click on the plus to create a section
8. Fill out the section creation form. To install Linux, you will need to create a root partition, a swap partition, and a file storage partition. To create a root partition, specify a size of about 15 GB, set the partition type to "Logical" and specify the "/" sign in the "Mount Point" line so that the partition is considered the root partition.
   Enter the required information to create the root partition and click OK
9. In the same way, create a partition for system swap by choosing the appropriate partition type. You should allocate as much space for it as you have RAM.
   Enter the necessary data to create a swap partition and click OK
10. In the last section for storing files, select all the space that is left. Select "/home" as the mount point.
    Enter the required information to create a home partition and click OK

Partitioning is complete, which means you can continue with the installation.

Install Linux Ubuntu alongside Windows 10

You can download the latest Linux Ubuntu system from its official website. After that, follow these steps:

1. Write the system image to a flash drive. This can be done using any program convenient for you. For example, the Rufus program can help you. Download and run it.
2. Select the recording device on the top line. This can be a writable disc or a flash drive. Specify your drive in Rufus
3. Specify the partition scheme - "GPT for computers with UEFI". Select GPT as partition scheme
4. Then click on the image icon. In the explorer that opens, specify the path to your Linux image. Click on the disk icon and select the Linux image you downloaded from the official website
5. Make sure "Create a boot disk" is checked and click "Start".
6. After the boot disk has been created, restart your computer and go to the Boot Menu. Select the load of your drive there. Select your drive type from the Boot Menu
7. The start window for installing Linux Ubuntu will appear. Set the desired language in the left panel and start the installation.
   Select your system language and click "Install Ubuntu"
8. Since the partition has already been created before, select the "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10" option.
   From all installation types select "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows 10"
9. Then select a section. It will be of type fat32 if done right.
   Select a fat32 partition that should have enough space
10. If there is no partition, but there is an unallocated area, create it. To do this, in the devices tab, select Create Partition Table. Set the partition type to GPT.
11. In the next window, specify the size of the partition, select fat32 as the file system, and enter EFI in the Label line.
    Specify the weight of the section at your discretion
12. After selecting a partition, the installation will be fully automatic. To do this, simply select Ubuntu the next time you boot your system.
    After reboot select Ubuntu as operating system
13. After installation, indicate your time zone on the map.
    Set time zone in Ubuntu installation settings
14. Then choose your language and keyboard layout.
    Select default keyboard layout for Ubuntu
15. Think up and enter the details of your new account and click "Continue".
    Enter your new account details on Ubuntu
16. The installation will complete the final steps and require a system restart. Execute it.
    Agree to restart your computer by clicking "Restart"

Video: detailed installation of Linux Ubuntu on a computer with BIOS

Installing Linux Mint next to Windows 10

To install Linux Mint, you need to do the following:

1. Go to the official site of this build and select the version to download. It is worth choosing based on the necessary options and the capacity of the system.
   Download the right version of Linux Mint from the official website
2. Choose torrent as the download method or download the client from one of the mirrors.
   Download Linux Mint using any of the methods suggested on the site
3. Then write the Linux Mint image to a boot drive. You can do this with the help of the already familiar Rufus program. Burn the Linux Mint Image to a Bootable Drive
4. After the installation starts, you will see a window with a countdown.
   Wait until the timer expires to start installing Linux Mint
5. If you press any key, the advanced settings window will appear. It is not necessary to do this, but if you did, select the first item to start the installation. Or just wait until the time is up.
   Select Start Linux Mint to login
6. After a short boot, you will see the desktop of the new operating system in front of you. But the installation is not completed yet. Find the Install Linux Mint file on your desktop and double-click it to open it.
   Run the Install Linux Mint file on your desktop
7. The language settings will open. Select the required language and proceed with the installation.
   Choose your language for Linux Mint
8. Check the box next to install the software automatically.
   Check the box to install additional programs and click "Continue"
9. Then select the installation type. If you have already partitioned the disk and separated the installation area, select "Install Linux Mint alongside Windows 10".
   To install Linux Mint along with Windows 10, select the appropriate item
10. After selecting the installation section, the time zone selection will open. Specify your region.
    Select your region for the correct time zone setting
11. Then select your keyboard layout languages.
    Select the keyboard layout you want to use on the new system
12. Create and set your account name and password, if needed.
    Enter your Linux Mint account login details and confirm them
13. Wait for the installation progress to complete. Progress can be tracked using the bar at the bottom of the screen.
    Wait until the end of the installation progress to access the system
14. Installation is complete and after restarting the computer, you can start using the operating system.
    Restart your computer when prompted

Video: installing Linux Mint on a computer with another OS

Installing Kali Linux alongside Windows 10

Installing a Kali build is somewhat different from the previous ones.

1. Download the image from the official assembly site, choosing the version that suits you.
   Select the version of Kali Linux to download on the official website
2. Burn the image to a bootable drive using Rufus.
3. After launching the boot program from the flash drive, you will see installation options. Installing with graphics (Graphical install) will be the easiest, so we choose it.
   Choose a graphical installation for a more visual process
4. A list of language configurations will appear. Select the desired language and confirm your choice.
   Specify language for installing Kali Linux
5. If a window appears about the impossibility to mount the installation disk correctly, simply select the "Yes" item, having previously connected the drive to a different connector.
   If an error occurs, install the drive with the operating system in a different slot and click "Yes"
6. Enter the password you thought up for the main account, and then repeat it in the line below.
   Enter the password for Kali Linux twice, which will be used when making changes to the system
7. Perform the time zone setting to correctly sync the time on your computer.
   Select the appropriate time zone from the list
8. The disk partition window will open. Indicate that you want to manually select a section.
   Indicate that you want to select the area manually
9. Specify the unallocated area ("Free space") that you created earlier.
   Select an unallocated area: it's labeled "Free Space"
10. Then select Automatically Mark Free Space.
    Select "Automatically mark free space"
11. In the next menu, click on the "All files in one partition" item.
    Select "All files in one partition"
12. Select the disk you were working on, click Finish and Write Changes to Disk.
    Select a section and click "Finish Markup..."
13. The computer will detect your Windows 10 operating system. Select Yes to select one of the operating systems when the computer boots and continue with the installation.
    Select "Yes" to continue installation when Windows 10 is detected
14. Specify the system drive manually in the next window and the installation will be completed.
    Manually point to the system drive to install the operating system loader

Video: how to install Kali Linux on a computer

Installing Kubuntu alongside Windows 10

The process of installing Kubuntu Linux is similar to installing Ubuntu, which is not surprising at all. To install Kubuntu alongside your Windows, follow these steps:

1. Download the system from the official site and write it to a bootable drive. Reboot the computer, and by calling the Boot Menu by pressing F12 when the corresponding message appears, select the desired device to start the installation.
   Download the Kubuntu image from the official website
2. Press any key while the icon is flashing to open options.
   When the keyboard icon appears, press any key
3. Select Start Kubuntu to start installing the OS.
   Select Start Kubuntu to start installing the operating system
4. Wait for the installation GUI to load.
   Wait for the Kubuntu GUI to finish loading
5. In the next window, select the system language and click "Run Kubuntu". You must select this option in order for the system to be available for use during installation to a hard disk.
   Select "Start Kubuntu" to access the operating system
6. 
   Desktop loading without installation may take some time
7. Then start the installation by clicking on the installer shortcut.
   Select the Install Kubuntu file to start the installation
8. The installation window will open. Please select Russian to continue.
   Specify the language you want to see during installation and in the system itself
9. It will check your internet connection and free space for installation. After it is finished, click "Continue".
   After checking the Internet, click the "Continue" button
10. A window for selecting a partition will open. If you want to install along with another operating system, select the Manual installation. Automatic partitioning can be used if the hard drive is completely free of files.
    Since you need to keep Windows 10, select the Manual installation type
11. You need to create four partitions in turn. The process itself is no different from creating partitions in Ubuntu. Create partitions:
    
12. Once the partitions are created, confirm the changes and the installation will begin.
    Accept the changes to continue installing Kubuntu
13. While the files are being copied to the hard drive, select the time zone settings.
    Set the time zone of the new operating system by selecting your region
14. In the next window, select the layout language.
    Visual keyboard layout helps you to make sure that you have chosen the right language
15. In the last settings screen, set the data from the account.
    Enter the details for the new account and click "Continue"
16. After that, wait until the installation of the system is completed.
    Wait until the Kubuntu installation process is complete
17. When installation is complete, restart your computer.
    Restart when the prompt window appears

Installing Rosa Linux alongside Windows 10

As with other builds, to install Rosa Linux you need to download the necessary image and burn it to media.

1. Access the Boot Menu by pressing F12 after restarting your computer. Select your drive load. A window will appear with various diagnostic actions. Select the line Install ROSA Desktop Fresh R6.
   Select Install ROSA Desktop to start installation
2. The language selection panel opens. Install the required one and proceed with the installation.
   Select your language when installing the system
3. Read and accept the Rosa Linux License Agreement.
   Accept the terms of the license agreement to continue installation
4. Specify your keyboard layout.
   Select also the keyboard layout language
5. In the next window, specify a convenient way for you to switch between layouts.
   Specify the desired way to switch the language layout
6. Specify the time zone to correctly determine the time.
   Specify your time zone in the list of regions
7. To complete the time setting, select the type of its display.
   Choose the time display method on your system
8. In the partition selection, select "Use free space" if you want the system to create the necessary partitions in the unallocated area.
   Select "Use free space" when installing rosa linux
9. Wait for the installation to finish.
   Wait for the installation to finish, the slides will change in the process
10. Select a partition as the boot device and set the boot delay if needed.
    Specify the system drive for the operating system loader
11. Set a password for system changes.
    Set any password to your taste, but remember it
12. Add a new user and enter their details.
    Enter account details in the new operating system
13. Specify a name for your computer.
    Set any name for your device
14. Check the boxes to check the services that should start when the computer is turned on.
    Set up automatic startup of operating system services
15. After the message that the installation is complete, restart your computer.
    After the installation is complete, you need to restart your computer
16. The installation is complete - all that remains is to log in.
    Sign in with your account password

Video: Installing Rosa Linux on a Windows PC

Installing Arch Linux next to windows 10

Installing Arch Linux will be significantly more difficult than installing others. If you are not an advanced user, it is recommended to select a different build. Otherwise, follow these steps to prepare for system installation:

1. Download the system image from the official site.
   Download the build of Arch Linux from the official site
2. Burn the image to disk. This can be done using special programs or Windows tools - through the context menu.
   Burn Arch Linux to media in a convenient way for you
3. Connect your boot drive to your computer and restart your computer. During the reboot, go to the Boot Menu, the key for this will appear on the screen (usually F12).
   Press F12 to enter Boot Menu
4. Set the download priority to your drive's device. So, if it's a boot drive, set the drive to boot before booting the hard drive.
   Install your drive first in startup order
5. After that, when you restart your computer, you will see a choice of actions. Click on Boot Arch Linux to start the installation.
   Select Boot Arch Linux
6. The network connection will be checked. Enter the command "ping -c 3 www.google.com".
   Enter command to check network before installation
7. Then create system partitions from free space. To run this utility, use the cgdisk /dev/sda command.
   Select free space and create partitions for installation one by one
8. Create a root partition to store system files. It is recommended to allocate at least 20 GB of free space for it.
9. From the space left, create the Home partition. This is where your files will be stored. But you should leave about 1 GB for EFI space.
10. Allocate the rest of the space to EFI space. Then click "Burn" to start installing Windows to the created partitions.
11. Then format each of the partitions. To do this, use the following commands to format all three partitions in turn:
    
12. Then map partitions to directories with the following commands:
    

Directly installing Arch Linux will also require you to enter commands:

1. Enter the pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel command. This will start installing the operating system. Wait for this process to finish.
   Enter the command to start the installation and confirm the input
2. Then type genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab. This is necessary for the partition to be detected by the system.
   Enter command to detect partitions during installation
3. Type arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash to access the new OS.
   Enter the last command to access the arch linux operating system
4. Set the currency format by typing nano /etc/locale.gen. Find the line with your country entry and remove the hash mark next to it. Then enter the locale-gen command and, after confirmation, the command echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf, where instead of en_US.UTF-8 there should be a line from which you removed the hash.
   With the help of the above command, set the region for the currency
5. To accept the language settings, enter export LANG=en_US.UTF-8, also with the appropriate language instead of the specified one.
   Set also the language zone using a special command
6. The next setting is to set the time zone. Type ls /usr/share/zoneinfo/ to display the available time zones, and then type ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/Zone/Subzone /etc/localtime with your region instead of Subzone.
7. To set the GMT time, enter the hwclock -systohc --utc command.
   Enter the command to synchronize the operating system time to Greenwich Mean Time
8. Enter the command echo myhostname > /etc/hostname, where myhostname will be the name of your computer for the network.
9. Set a password for the computer to use with the passwd command. It can be anything, but it is important to remember it.
   Set a password using the passwd command
10. And then it remains to set the system bootloader. For a modern UEFI BIOS, this is done with the commands:
    
11. With a regular BIOS, the commands will be different:
    • pacman -S grub;
    • grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
12. Exit the installation with the exit command and then type Reboot to restart the computer.
    Complete the installation with the exit command and restart the system with the reboot command
13. After restarting, enter the login password. Installation completed.
    Login to arch linux using password

Installing Ubuntu on VirtualBox Windows 10

Before installing the Ubuntu operating system on VirtualBox, you must complete the following steps:

After that, open VirtualBox and follow these steps:

1. Click on the icon labeled New to open the virtual machine creation wizard.
   Click on the New button, VirtualBox panel
2. The name of the virtual machine can be anything, and in the "Type" field, select Linux.
   Enter any name for the virtual machine and click Next
3. In the next window, confirm the amount of memory for the virtual machine. Depending on the type of installation, the value will be set by itself. You can increase it if necessary.
   You can leave the default value if it suits you.
4. Make sure the marker is set to create a new virtual machine and click the Create button.
   Choose to create a new virtual machine and click the Create button
5. Select "Dynamically allocated" virtual disk type and click "Next".
   Set dynamic VM disk size
6. In the disk location and size menu, leave the default values ​​or set the size you need.
   The virtual machine disk value can also be left as default
7. Finally, click Create again to finish creating the virtual machine.
   When all virtual disk settings are set, click Create
8. Click on the virtual machine you created and go to its settings.
   Select the virtual machine you created
9. In the Storage tab, add a new media by clicking on the blue plus icon below the media field.
   Click on the plus icon below the media overview
10. Set the media to the image of your Ubuntu you downloaded earlier.
    Download the Ubuntu image to your virtual machine
11. Open this image with a double click so that it is placed in the system.
    After double-clicking on the image, it should have loaded into the media menu
12. In the system settings section, make sure that the CD / DVD drive is placed higher than the Hard Disk in the Boot Order section.
    Set CD/DVD as the boot priority so that the image is mounted at system startup
13. Now proceed to launch and configure the operating system. To do this, select a virtual machine and click the Start button.
    Click Start to start the virtual system
14. Wait for the system to finish loading.
    Wait for the system to finish loading on first start
15. Select Install Ubuntu. You will be taken to the language settings window. Select the desired language and click Continue.
    Select the language for installing the system in the virtual machine
16. Check the box to download updates during system installation.
    Check the box for downloading updates and click Continue
17. Since you are installing an operating system in a virtual machine, feel free to select the Erase disk and install Ubuntu option, which will erase all other files on the disk.
    Select disk cleanup - since we are installing the system in a virtual machine, the files will not be affected
    Enter your login details
18. Wait for the installation of the operating system to finish on your virtual machine.
    Wait for the installation of Ubuntu on the virtual machine to finish
19. Restart your computer after installation is complete by clicking Restart Now.
    Reboot the virtual machine by clicking the Restart Now button
20. Enter your password and log in. The installation of Ubuntu on the virtual machine is now complete.
    Enter password to login

Restoring Windows 10 Boot After Installing Ubuntu

If errors occur during system installation, the Windows boot loader may fail. This will make it impossible to start Windows 10. Luckily, this isn't hard to fix. You will need a Windows 10 installation disc, which you can prepare just like you would any other boot drive. It is important that the version of Windows is exactly the same as the one you have installed. Mount the image and then do the following:

Installing Linux as a second operating system is a good idea, but it is important to choose a build based on your goals and technical knowledge. If you have certain skills, you can easily install any of the assemblies. Using Linux along with Windows 10 will help you get the most out of your computer.

Now Kali Linux has appeared in the Microsoft Store. Powered by Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). If you are too lazy to follow the link, then WSL is such a Wine on the contrary, it allows you to run Linux applications natively (without a virtual computer) on Microsoft OS. Of the benefits - improved performance (compared to working in a virtual OS). And there are many different disadvantages: lack of support for raw sockets, hardware, partial support for the graphical interface, a number of kernel interfaces are not implemented, and so on.

I am not particularly close to the concept of WSL (in the form in which it is implemented now). Therefore, this note will be small: we will look at installing Kali Linux from the Windows App Store, run it, install a couple of applications, do a test run of them, install a GUI and connect to it. And why do you need to do all this through WSL - you already come up with it yourself.

How to Install Kali Linux on WSL

1. WSL is available on updated Windows 10. So update your Windows, open the window PowerShell(win+x) and run the command there

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

2. After the reboot, open the Microsoft Store and look for the application " Kali Linux". Or just click to go there right away. Install the app and enjoy Kali!

Click to install Get.

How to run Kali Linux on WSL

To "enjoy Kali" you need to at least run it. To do this, open PowerShell again and run the command

Initialization takes place at the first start - this takes some time.

We are then asked to create a default UNIX account. It may have nothing to do with your Windows user:

By default, the minimum number of packages is set. Therefore, you need to install the programs you need yourself.

The changed command line is your new Kali Linux.

Installing programs in Kali Linux on WSL

Everything is similar to the usual work in the console. Let's start with the system update:

sudo apt update sudo apt dist-upgrade sudo apt install wpscan whatweb

When installing some programs, for obvious reasons, there may be problems with the antivirus. You need to solve these problems on an individual basis (maybe add the entire Kali Linux folder - C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Packages\KaliLinux.54290C8133FEE_ey8k8hqnwqnmg\ - to the antivirus exclusions).

How to run a program in Kali Linux on WSL

If you are used to the Kali Linux menu, then you will have to relearn how to run programs from the console. If you already run them in the console, then launching programs is no different:

For example, let's update the wpscan database

Sudo wpscan --update

Let's check some site on WordPress:

sudo wpscan -u spryt.ru

Let's collect some information about the site using what web:

whatweb suip.biz

How to restore Kali WSL

If you messed up the operating system (deleted files necessary for the OS to work, etc.), or just want to start from scratch, then it is possible to reset the Kali Linux installation in WSL to its original state.

Use Win+x to open " Applications and features”, find Kali Linux:

Click " Extra options", on the new page, click the button" Reset»:

The system will be removed and a new instance deployed. Accordingly, all changes made earlier will disappear.

Kali Linux GUI on WSL

Install XFCE:

Wget https://kali.sh/xfce4.sh sudo sh xfce4.sh

During the installation process, select the keyboard layout language and how to switch layouts (to navigate between elements, use the key TAB):

At the end, a message will appear that XRDP is configured to listen on port 3390, but the service itself is not running.

To start the service, run:

sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp start

On successful launch, you will see something like this:

[....] Starting Remote Desktop Protocol server: xrdp-sesman xrdp Testing if xrdp can listen on 0.0.0.0 port 3390. Closed socket 6 (AF_INET6::port 3390)

Now in Windows press Win+x and select " Run". In the window that opens, enter:

A new window will open, enter

127.0.0.1:3390

And press the button To plug».

A window will be displayed with a message:

Unable to authenticate the remote computer. Do you want to connect anyway?

This issue can occur if the remote computer is running a version of Windows earlier than Windows Vista, or if the server is not configured to support authentication.

Contact your network administrator or the owner of the remote computer for assistance.

Check the box " Don't ask me again about connections to this computer" and press " Yes».

A login window will appear, enter your Kali Linux username and password:

After signing in, you will be prompted, select " Use default config»:

Using a graphical desktop environment, you can run programs with a graphical interface (after they are installed).

To exit explicitly end the service, to do this, click on the username, click " logout…»:

Then uncheck the " Save session for future logins" and press " log out»:

Stop the service

sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp stop

Conclusion

Unfortunately, due to the implementation of the WSL architecture, some Kali Linux tools will not work. But those that work (various site crawlers, brute forcers, network traffic capture file analyzers, and others) are quite convenient to use directly from the Windows command line, without having to run a whole virtual machine with Kali Linux, or reboot into a second system (if Kali is not your primary OS).

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With the introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Windows 10, new features have come along, such as support for Linux distributions, in particular Ubuntu. In this article, I will tell you how to use this subsystem to connect Kali LInux in a Windows environment without using a virtualization system.

While Kali on Windows may not be optimal due to various limitations, there are still many situations where Kali Linux may be needed to be used in conjunction with Windows 10. For example, this could be workspace consolidation, especially if Windows is your primary workspace. . It can also be useful to standardize tools and scripts to work across multiple environments, quickly porting Linux penetration testing command line tools to Windows, etc.

There are several steps to follow to install Kali. First of all, you need to enable and install the Windows Subsystem for Linux Command Reference - run a powershell shell with administrator rights, run the command and reboot your machine:

After reboot, you need to install Ubuntu-environment:

Next, you need to install the WSL Distribution Switcher. This program is designed to switch the Linux subsystem to use different Linux distributions. Rootfs images are currently downloaded from the Docker Hub repositories as sources or prebuilt builds.

(To clone a project from a git repository, you need to install a git client on Windows 10, for example from here: https://git-scm.com/download/win , and also install python for Windows).

Now that Kali-environment is deployed on your Windows 10, you can invoke it with the command:

After deploying Kali-environment, we can install the necessary utilities and use them from Windows:

In this simple way, you will get a modern distribution kit for penetration testing in your Windows environment without starting virtualization systems, reboots and other things. Also, you need to take into account that utilities for working with iron, for wardriving, etc. will not work normally from such an environment.

Now many modern laptops do not have a DVD drive, so it is impossible to install the operating system from an optical disc. This is not a problem, since the installation can be done entirely from a USB drive, including a regular USB flash drive.

We need an operating system installation image (.iso file) and a flash drive, at least 4 GB in size.

Download Kali Linux from the official website: https://www.kali.org/downloads/

If you have difficulty which version to choose, then read about their difference.

Now you need to burn the image from Windows to a USB flash drive. It has to be done right - it's not enough to just copy the file. To get a flash drive suitable for installing the operating system, you need a program like. This is a free program - download and install it.

Connect your flash drive to your computer and launch Win32 Disk Imager.

Specify the image file (switch to view all files):

and correctly select Device (i.e. flash drive):

When you're done, click the button Write. Remember that all data from the flash drive will be deleted!

How to boot from a flash drive Kali Linux

Disabling Secure Boot in BIOS

While the flash drive is being written, we need to turn off the Secure Boot option in BIOS.

Turn on your computer. If it does not have an operating system, then you will immediately enter the BIOS. If the operating system is already installed, press the button many times when booting the computer. Esc Delete) and select Enter Setup(may automatically enter BIOS):

Click F7 to go to Advance Mode and there select the tab Security. Find an option secure boot:

Disable it (choose disabled):

To save the settings, press F10.

Look for an option fast boot- if you have it, also disable it ( disabled).

Booting from a flash drive Kali Linux

When writing to the USB flash drive is over, insert the USB flash drive into the laptop slot and turn it on - if the inscription " Please press any key to boot from CD or DVD”, then press any button. This inscription translates to “please press any button to boot from CD or DVD. Despite the fact that we are booting from a USB flash drive, this suits us.

If the operating system is already installed, press the button many times when booting the computer. Esc(on some computers you need to press Delete). If the download options appear, then select the item that matches your flash drive.

If such a menu does not appear, then go to BIOS and select a USB flash drive as a boot disk.

Step-by-step instructions for installing Kali Linux on a computer

In this window select Start Installer:

Choose language:

Choose Yes:

Choose according to your preference:

A message about the need for a driver for a Wi-Fi card, I don’t have this driver, so I skip it. You may not see a message like this at all:

I continue as is:

I'm skipping the network setup:

Enter hostname:

Superuser password:

Timezone:

The most crucial moment is the selection and marking of disks. If you select the wrong drive, you may lose data (for example, remove another operating system):

As you can see, I already have another operating system installed.

If you want to remove the previous system and install Kali Linux instead, then erase the partitions from the old OS, create a new partition in the freed space and select it to install Kali.

If you have multiple disks, you can install Kali Linux on any idle one.

I will install Kali Linux directly on the main partition. To do this, I will change the size of the drive where Windows is installed,

and on the freed space I will create another partition, which I will install a new OS.

In addition to the main partition, it is proposed to install a swap partition (like a swap file on Windows). For these purposes, you can allocate a separate disk - depending on your needs, it can be 2-8 GB. The swap partition is used if the operating system does not have enough RAM - data that is not currently used is dumped onto this partition. That is, it is, as it were, additional RAM, which is slower than the main one. I have 16 gigabytes of RAM so I don't create a swap partition.

Confirm the changes made:

We are waiting for the end of data copying:

If you have an Internet connection configured, you can choose to download packages from the network (more recent versions)

Wait until the system starts to reboot and remove the flash drive:

After installing Kali Linux, it will create its own GRUB bootloader. If you have other operating systems on your computer, this bootloader will find them all and put them in the boot menu for you to choose from.

Remember that the original Windows bootloader is not erased. That is, if you want Windows to boot by default, then go to BIOS and select the desired disk there, which should automatically boot.

Wrong GRUB display resolution

Usually the GRUB bootloader menu has the wrong display resolution. In the vast majority of cases, this is not a problem - the menu items are still visible, and quick-witted Linux immediately changes the resolution to the correct one as soon as it takes over control.

But not so with Windows. If you booted Windows using the GRUB bootloader with the wrong permission, then Windows will no longer be able to set the permission to the correct one in this session, even if you go to do it manually.

The easiest way to fix the situation is to change the GRUB screen resolution. First you need to find out what resolutions your computer supports. To do this, hold down the key while the download starts. Shift. When the GRUB boot menu appears, press the button c, and then in the console enter the command:

video info

Take note of the highest display resolution that your video adapter supports.

Then boot into Linux. Open the file for editing /etc/default/grub.

Find the line in it

#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

Uncomment it (remove the hash at the very beginning) and replace 640x480 with the maximum resolution your computer supports. This is usually 1920x1080, so it should look something like

GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080

Save and close this file.

Update bootloader settings:

sudo update-grub

The next time you reboot, you will be able to enjoy the tiny letters in the upper left of the screen, but Windows will now have a normal resolution.

Kali Linux is a distribution that is becoming more and more popular every day. In view of this, there are more and more users who want to install it, but not everyone knows how to do it. This article will provide step-by-step instructions for installing Kali Linux on a PC.

To install the operating system, you need a flash drive with a capacity of 4 GB or more. The Kali Linux image will be written to it, and as a result, the computer will start from it. If you have a drive, then you can proceed to the step-by-step instructions.

First you need to download an image of the operating system. It is best to do this from the official website of the developer, since this is where the distribution kit of the latest version is located.

On the page that opens, you can determine not only the method of downloading the OS (Torrent or HTTP), but also its version. You can choose between 32-bit and 64-bit systems. Among other things, it is possible at this stage to choose a desktop environment.

Having decided on all the variables, start downloading Kali Linux on your computer.

Step 2: Write the image to a flash drive

Installing Kali Linux is best done from a flash drive, so first you need to write a system image to it. On our site you can find a step-by-step guide on this topic.

Step 3: Starting the PC from the flash drive

After the flash drive with the system image is ready, do not rush to remove it from the USB port, the next step is to boot the computer from it. This process will seem quite complicated for the average user, so it is recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the relevant material.

Step 4: Beginning the installation

As soon as you boot from the flash drive, a menu will appear on the monitor. In it, you need to select the method for installing Kali Linux. The GUI installation will be presented below, as this method will be the most understandable for most users.

1. IN boot menu installer select item Graphical install and press Enter.



2. Select a language from the list that appears. It is recommended to choose Russian, as this will affect not only the language of the installer itself, but also the localization of the system.



3. Select a location to have the time zone determined automatically.

   

   Note: if you do not find the desired country in the list, then select the line "other" to see a complete list of countries in the world.

4. Select from the list the layout that will be standard in the system.

   

   Note: it is recommended to install the English layout, in some cases, due to the choice of Russian, it is impossible to fill in the required input fields. After the system is fully installed, you can add a new layout.

5. Select hotkeys that will be used to switch between keyboard layouts.



6. Wait until the system settings are configured.

Depending on the power of the computer, this process may take longer. After it ends, you will need to create a user profile.

Step 5: Create a user profile

The user profile is created as follows:

After entering all the data, the program for marking the HDD or SSD will start loading.

Step 6: Partition disks

Marking can be done in several ways: automatically and manually. These options will now be discussed in detail.

Automatic marking method

The main thing you should know is that by auto-partitioning a disk, you will lose all data on the drive. Therefore, if there are important files on it, move them to another drive, such as Flash, or place them in the cloud storage.

So, for markup in automatic mode, you need to do the following:

1. Select the automatic method from the menu.



2. After that, select the disk you are going to partition. In the example, there is only one.



3. Next, define the markup option.

   

   By choosing "All files in one partition (recommended for beginners)", you will create only two partitions: the root partition and the swap partition. This method is recommended for those users who install the system for evaluation, since such an OS has a weak level of protection. You can also choose the second option − "Separate partition for /home". In this case, in addition to the above two sections, another section will be created "/home" where all user files will be stored. The level of protection with such markup is higher. But it still does not provide maximum security. If you choose "Separate partitions for /home, /var and /tmp", two more partitions will be created for separate system files. Thus, the markup structure will provide maximum protection.

4. After the markup option is selected, the installer will show the structure itself. At this stage, you can make changes: change the partition size, add a new one, change its type and location. But you should not do all of the listed operations if you are unfamiliar with the process of their implementation, otherwise you can only make things worse.



5. After you have read the markup or made any necessary edits, select the last line and click the button "Continue".



6. Now you will be provided with a report with all the changes made to the markup. If you do not notice anything extra, then click on the item "Yes" and press the button "Continue".

Manual marking method

The manual partitioning method compares favorably with the automatic partitioning method in that it allows you to create as many partitions as you wish. It is also possible to save all the information on the disk, leaving the previously created partitions untouched. By the way, in this way you can install Kali Linux next to Windows, and when you start the computer, select the required operating system to boot.

First you need to go to the partition table.

Now you can move on to creating new sections, but first you need to decide on their number and type. Three markup options will be presented now:

Low security markup:

Medium security markup:

Markup with the maximum level of security:

You just have to choose the optimal markup for yourself and proceed directly to it. It is carried out as follows:

1. Click twice on a line "Free place".



2. Select "Create a new section".



3. Enter the amount of memory that will be allocated for the created partition. You can see the recommended volume in one of the tables above.
4. Select the type of partition to create.



5. Specify the region of space where the new partition will reside.

   

   Note: If you previously selected a logical partition type, this step will be skipped.

6. Now you need to set all the necessary parameters, referring to the above table.
7. Double click the left mouse button on the line "Partition configuration completed".

Using this instruction, partition the disk of the appropriate security level, then press the button "Finish partitioning and write changes to disk".

As a result, you will be provided with a report with all the changes made earlier. If you do not observe differences with your actions, select the item "Yes". Next, the installation of the basic component of the future system will begin. This process is quite long.

By the way, in the same way you can mark up a Flash drive, respectively, in this case, Kali Linux will be installed on a USB flash drive.

Step 7: Finishing the installation

Once the base system is installed, there are some more settings you need to make:

1. If your computer is connected to the Internet when installing the OS, select "Yes", otherwise - "No".



2. Specify a proxy server if you have one. If not, skip this step by clicking "Continue".



3. Wait while the additional software downloads and installs.



4. Install GRUB by selecting "Yes" and pressing "Continue".



5. Select the drive where GRUB will be installed.

   

   Important: the system loader must be installed on the hard drive where the operating system will be located. If there is only one disk, then it is designated as "/dev/sda".

6. Wait until all remaining packages are installed on the system.



7. In the last window, you will be notified that the system was successfully installed. Remove the flash drive from the computer and press the button "Continue".

After all the steps taken, your computer will restart, then a menu will appear on the screen where you will need to enter a username and password. Please note that the login is carried out under the superuser account, that is, you need to use the name root.

Finally, enter the password that you came up with when installing the system. Here you can also define the desktop environment by clicking on the gear next to the button "Entrance" and choosing from the list that appears.

Conclusion

After completing each prescribed item of the instruction, in the end you will be taken to the desktop of the Kali Linux operating system and will be able to start working on the computer.