How to run Linux under Windows

You’ve got three good ways to run Linux under Windows 11, depending on how much integration or isolation you want. Here’s a breakdown:

This is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization for running real Linux inside Windows.

To set it up:

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:wsl --install
Wait while Windows downloads and installs everything.
It’ll set up WSL 2, Virtual Machine Platform, and a default Linux distro (usually Ubuntu).
Restart your PC when prompted.
After restart, open the “Ubuntu” app from the Start menu.
The first time, it’ll ask you to create a username and password.

You now have a full Linux environment running natively, sharing the same file system as Windows.
You can access files both ways:

You can even install GUI apps:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install gedit
gedit &

They’ll open in a window just like native Windows apps.

If you want Linux completely separated from Windows (useful for experiments or full-desktop use):

Tools you can use:

Steps:

Download an ISO of your preferred distro (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian).
Create a new VM in your chosen software.
Allocate CPU cores, RAM, and disk space (2 cores, 4 GB RAM minimum for comfort).
Boot from the ISO and install Linux as usual.

This gives you a full Linux desktop in a window, completely sandboxed.

If you want native Linux performance:

Download an ISO (Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, etc.).
Use Rufus to create a bootable USB.
Reboot and boot from the USB to try it (“Live mode”) or install alongside Windows for dual boot.
- The Linux installer can shrink your Windows partition safely.
- You’ll then get a boot menu each time you start your PC.

This is the most complete Linux experience, but you need to be careful with partitions.

Since you’re already using Linux on your observatory systems, I’d suggest:

Use WSL 2 for daily work and scripts, and keep a bootable USB for full-hardware access (e.g., SDR, GPIO, etc.).