How to Install Zorin OS – Best Linux for Windows Users (Dual Boot on Older PCs)

Can’t install Windows 11 because your CPU doesn’t support SSE4.2 and POPCNT, and you don’t want to stay on an unsupported Windows 10? Then switching to Linux is a smart move. In this step-by-step guide, I show you how to install Zorin OS 18, one of the best Linux distributions for Windows users, on an older PC, without deleting Windows.

In the video I use an old PC with a Legacy (MBR) BIOS, but the same steps also work on UEFI systems. You will need these free tools:

Download Zorin OS (Official Site)

Download Rufus

Download AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard (Free)

In this article

1. Why Zorin OS Is the Best Linux for Windows Users
2. Who This Guide Is For
3. System Requirements for Zorin OS 18
4. Step 1: Download Zorin OS 18
5. Step 2: Check Your BIOS Mode (MBR or UEFI)
6. Step 3: Create a Bootable USB With Rufus
7. Step 4: Create Free Space for Dual Boot (Without Losing Data)
   1. Method 1: Windows Disk Management
   2. Method 2 (Recommended): AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard (Free)
8. Step 5: Boot From the USB Drive
9. Step 6: Install Zorin OS With a Manual Partition (Critical Step)
10. Step 7: Fix the GRUB Boot Menu (If Windows Doesn’t Appear)
11. Step 8: Fix the Windows Shutdown Problem
12. Step 9: Install GPU Drivers (NVIDIA)
13. Step 10: Install Updates
14. Running Windows Software on Linux
15. Free Linux Alternatives to Windows Apps
16. Gaming on Linux (Steam)
17. Final Thoughts

Why Zorin OS Is the Best Linux for Windows Users

Zorin OS is designed for people who are coming from Windows. It is:

• Fast and lightweight
• Modern and stable
• Very similar to Windows 10 and Windows 11 in layout (even the Start menu looks familiar)
• Perfect for older and unsupported computers

On many old PCs, Zorin OS runs faster than Windows, even with a Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processor. I installed it on a Core 2 Quad PC in the video.

Who This Guide Is For

This tutorial is ideal if you are:

• A Windows 10 user with an unsupported CPU
• Using a PC without SSE4.2 or POPCNT support
• Running a Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad system
• Looking for a fast, stable alternative to Windows
• Afraid of losing files while switching to Linux

Note: With this method no data is deleted and Windows stays installed. You get a menu at startup where you choose Windows or Zorin OS (dual boot).

System Requirements for Zorin OS 18

Zorin OS needs much less than Windows 11. These are the official minimum requirements:

• CPU: 1 GHz dual-core Intel or AMD 64-bit processor (a Core 2 Duo is enough)
• RAM: 2 GB (I recommend 4 to 8 GB)
• Storage: 15 GB for Zorin OS Core (35 GB for Education, 45 GB for Pro)
• Display: 800 x 600 resolution
• Graphics: works with older NVIDIA, Intel and AMD graphics cards

This makes it perfect for old PCs that Windows 11 refuses to install on.

Tip: Back up your important files before you start. Resizing partitions is safe when done correctly, but a backup protects you if something goes wrong.

Step 1: Download Zorin OS 18

1. Go to the official Zorin OS download page.
2. Download Zorin OS Core, the free version for everyday use. Don’t choose Education (it adds school software) or Pro (paid).
3. Make sure your processor is 64-bit. The Core download is a 64-bit ISO file of about 3.5 GB.

Note: At the time of this update (October 2026), the download page offers Zorin OS 18.1.

Step 2: Check Your BIOS Mode (MBR or UEFI)

Before you create the USB drive, you must know how your system starts. On Windows:

1. Search for System Information in the Start menu and open it.
2. Look at the BIOS Mode line.

• If it says Legacy, your disk uses MBR.
• If it says UEFI, your disk uses GPT.

Warning: This is very important when you create the bootable USB in the next step.

Step 3: Create a Bootable USB With Rufus

You will need:

• A USB flash drive of at least 8 GB
• Rufus (download button at the top)

1. Plug in the USB drive and open Rufus.
2. Click Select and choose the Zorin OS ISO file.
3. Check the Partition scheme: MBR for Legacy BIOS, GPT for UEFI systems. Rufus usually selects the right one for the PC you are using.
4. Click Start. If Rufus asks, choose to write in ISO Image mode (Recommended).
5. Wait until Rufus shows Ready.

Warning: This erases everything on the USB drive.

Step 4: Create Free Space for Dual Boot (Without Losing Data)

To keep Windows and install Linux safely, you need unallocated space on your drive. Plan for at least 30 to 40 GB. In the video I left 38 GB for Zorin OS.

Method 1: Windows Disk Management

1. Right-click This PC and choose Manage, then open Disk Management.
2. Right-click the C: drive and choose Shrink Volume.
3. Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB (for example 30000 for about 30 GB) and click Shrink.

Windows often limits how much you can shrink the C: drive. On my PC it allowed only a few GB, so I used AOMEI Partition Assistant instead.

Method 2 (Recommended): AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard (Free)

1. Download and install the free Standard edition (button at the top). Skip any extra offers during setup.
2. Right-click the C: drive and choose Resize/Move Partition.
3. Make C: smaller, but keep enough space for your Windows files. I made my C: drive 80 GB, which left 38 GB of unallocated space.
4. Click OK, then Apply and Proceed.
5. Your PC restarts and finishes the resize automatically before Windows starts. This takes a few minutes.

This method is safer when Windows blocks shrinking, and no data is lost if you do it correctly.

Warning: Do NOT format the new space. Leave it as unallocated space for Zorin OS.

Step 5: Boot From the USB Drive

1. Plug the Zorin OS USB drive into your PC.
2. Restart the PC.
3. As it starts, press the boot menu key: F12, F2 or Esc, depending on the manufacturer. On some laptops you need Fn + F12. If no boot menu appears, enter the BIOS and select the USB drive there.
4. Select your USB device and press Enter.
5. Choose Try or Install Zorin OS.

Step 6: Install Zorin OS With a Manual Partition (Critical Step)

1. Choose your language and click Install Zorin OS.
2. Choose your keyboard layout and click Continue.
3. On the Updates and other software screen, keep Download updates while installing Zorin OS and Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi checked, then click Continue.
4. When asked about the installation type, choose Something else. This way you decide exactly where Zorin OS goes.
5. Select the free space you created in Step 4 and click + to create a partition.
6. Set Use as to Ext4 journaling file system and the Mount point to / (root), then click OK.
7. Click Install Now and confirm with Continue.
8. Choose your location, then enter your name, a computer name and a password.
9. When the installation is done, click Restart Now and remove the USB drive.

Warning: Do NOT touch the Windows partitions (NTFS, the C: drive and the recovery partition). Only use the free space.

Step 7: Fix the GRUB Boot Menu (If Windows Doesn’t Appear)

On some Legacy MBR systems, Zorin OS starts directly and Windows doesn’t appear in the boot menu. This happened on my PC too. Don’t worry, Windows is still there. Here’s how to fix it:

1. In Zorin OS, open Terminal and open the GRUB settings file:

   sudo nano /etc/default/grub

2. Enter your Zorin OS password when asked.
3. Make sure these lines look like this. Change GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden to menu, and set the timeout to 10 seconds:

   GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
   GRUB_TIMEOUT=10

4. Go to the end of the file and add this line:

   GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false

5. Press Ctrl + O and Enter to save, then Ctrl + X to close the file.
6. Update GRUB so the changes take effect:

   sudo update-grub

7. Restart the computer:

   sudo reboot

You will now see Zorin OS and Windows in the menu at startup. If you don’t choose, Zorin OS starts after 10 seconds.

Note: The menu may call your Windows entry “Windows 11” even if you have Windows 10. That’s only the label, Windows 10 starts normally.

Step 8: Fix the Windows Shutdown Problem

After installing Zorin OS, Windows may restart instead of shutting down. Turn off Fast Startup:

1. In Windows, open Control Panel.
2. Go to Power Options.
3. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
6. Click Save changes.

Your PC will now shut down normally.

Step 9: Install GPU Drivers (NVIDIA)

After your first login in Zorin OS:

1. Open Software & Updates.
2. Go to the Additional Drivers tab.
3. Select the recommended (tested) NVIDIA driver. Zorin OS found the driver for my Quadro 2000 card automatically.
4. Click Apply Changes, enter your password and restart the computer.

This fixes screen glitches and improves performance.

Step 10: Install Updates

• Open Software & Updates again and install all available system and security updates.
• On the Updates tab, you can choose to download and install security updates automatically.
• After that, Zorin OS is stable and ready to use.

Running Windows Software on Linux

Zorin OS can run many Windows apps with Wine and Bottles. Install the Windows App Support package:

• It installs the Wine compatibility layer and Bottles.
• After that, you can run many Windows .exe programs.

Note: Not all Windows software works. For example, Microsoft Office 2019 works in my test, but the latest Office versions don’t.

Free Linux Alternatives to Windows Apps

Instead of Windows software, you can use native Linux apps:

• LibreOffice: a free alternative to Word and Excel (already included)
• Google Chrome: works the same as on Windows (download the version for Ubuntu)
• Audacity: audio editing
• Steam: full Linux gaming support

Most popular apps already exist for Linux. Before you install a program, check if it has a Linux version.

Gaming on Linux (Steam)

Steam works very well on Linux:

1. Open the Software app and search for Steam.
2. Install it and log in with your account.
3. Download your games and play.

Linux gaming has improved massively in the last few years.

Final Thoughts

Zorin OS is one of the best Linux distributions for Windows users, especially if:

• Your PC is old
• Your PC can’t run Windows 11
• You want speed and stability

With dual boot, you risk nothing: Windows stays on your PC and you can try Linux at your own pace.

Not sure if your CPU really can’t run Windows 11? Read How to Run Windows 11 on Older PCs Without SSE 4.2 & POPCNT Support. For more about resizing partitions, see How to Partition C Drive Without Formatting.

If you have questions or problems, leave a comment below or check the Tips2Fix YouTube channel for more tutorials.

God bless 🙏