Creating a Desktop Shortcut for Linux in Dual-Boot Systems

Abstract: Learn how to create a desktop shortcut for Linux in a dual-boot system, avoiding the use of GRUB.

Created: 2024-06-25 by UserComp.com Editors

Creating a Desktop Shortcut for Linux in a Dual-Boot Windows System

If you're currently dual-booting Windows and Linux, but don't want to use GRUB as your bootloader, you can create a desktop shortcut for Linux instead. This will allow you to easily launch Linux from your Windows desktop, without having to reboot your system.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need to make sure that you have the following:

A dual-boot system with Windows and Linux installed
Administrator access to your Windows system
The path to your Linux kernel image file (usually located in /boot/vmlinuz-) and initial ramdisk file (usually located in /boot/initrd.img-)

Creating the Desktop Shortcut

To create the desktop shortcut, follow these steps:

Right-click on an empty space on your Windows desktop and select New → Shortcut.
In the Create Shortcut dialog box, enter the following as the location of the item:
cmd.exe /k "bcdedit /create /d "Linux" /application BOOTSECTOR /boottype DEVICE /drive letter /path \EFI\Linux\grubx64.efi"
Replace with the letter of the drive where Linux is installed. This will create a new boot entry in the Windows Boot Manager for Linux.
Click Next and enter a name for the shortcut (e.g. "Linux").
Click Finish to create the shortcut.
Right-click on the new shortcut and select Properties.
In the Shortcut tab, click on the Advanced button.
Check the box next to Run as administrator and click OK.
Click OK again to close the Properties dialog box.

Booting into Linux

To boot into Linux, simply double-click on the desktop shortcut you just created. This will launch the Windows Boot Manager and allow you to select the Linux boot entry you created.

References

Type: Article

Title: "How to Dual Boot Windows and Linux"

Author: Jack Wallen

Publication: TechRepublic

Date: October 2, 2020
Type: Book

Title: "Linux Bible"

Author: Christopher Negus

Publisher: Wiley

Date: January 7, 2021
Type: Online Resource

Title: "Dual Boot Windows and Linux"

URL: https://www.linux.com/training-tutorials/dual-boot-windows-and-linux/

Note: The above references are provided for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author or publisher of this article.

End of Article

Tags: Linux Dual-Boot Desktop Shortcut

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