Last Update: 2023-07-18

Note: This guide is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of multiple operating systems. If you find the content challenging, consider seeking assistance from a friend or visit the Community for support.

#0. Preparation

This tutorial is specifically designed for individuals looking to install FydeOS as a secondary system on a device that already has a functioning primary operating system.

#System Requirements

• A 64-bit PC with UEFI support and UEFI booting capabilities.
• A primary operating system that is functioning normally (macOS, Windows, or any Linux distribution).
• A GPT-partitioned hard disk with at least 10GB of free space.
• FydeOS for PC v5.3 or later.

#1. Allocating Disk Space for FydeOS

To install FydeOS, you'll need at least 10GB of free disk space on a primary partition. The following steps will guide you through this process for various operating systems:

#1.1. Windows System (Windows 10 Example)

To create a new partition on Windows 10, you'll need to use Disk Management:

1. Search for Computer Management applications on Windows.

   

2. In the Computer Management window, navigate to "Storage" > "Disk Management". This opens the built-in Disk Management tool.

   

3. If you only have one primary partition (usually the C drive), and there's sufficient free space, you'll need to shrink this partition to create space for FydeOS. Right-click the primary partition and select "Shrink Volume".

   

4. In the Shrink dialog box, specify the amount of space to shrink in MB. We recommend allocating at least 20GB (20480MB) for FydeOS. For easier partition identification, choose a size that differs from your primary partition. Click "Shrink" when you're ready.

   

5. The Disk Management tool now displays the newly freed space. Right-click on this unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume".

   

6. In the New Simple Volume Wizard, leave the volume size as default.

   

7. Choose "Do not assign a drive letter or drive path" when prompted.

   

8. Leave the partition format settings as default.

   

9. After completing these steps, Disk Management will create your new partition. You're now ready to install FydeOS.

   

#1.2. macOS 11 Big Sur

On macOS, you can use Disk Utility to create a new partition:

1. Open Disk Utility, found in the Utilities folder or Launchpad.

   

2. Click the "Partition" button. In the resulting dialog, macOS will suggest creating a new "APFS volume" within an existing "APFS container". Because we need to modify the partition table to install a new OS, select "Add Partition" instead.

   

3. Click the "+" below the partition layout, then specify the name, format, and size for the new partition. We recommend choosing "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for the format and allocating at least 20GB for FydeOS. To make the new partition easier to identify, choose a unique size.

   

4. Click "Apply". Disk Utility will summarize the changes for your review. If everything is correct, click "Partition".

   

5. Disk Utility may take some time to create the partition. Once the process is complete, click "Done". Your new partition for FydeOS is now ready.

   

#1.3. Linux

If you use Linux, you should not need additional instructions: p

#2.Boot FydeOS from a USB Drive

Follow the steps outlined in to load FydeOS onto your portable storage device and use it to initiate the system boot. The welcome screen for first-time users will guide you through the basic setup process, so please follow these instructions. This step ensures that FydeOS operates smoothly on your device without any significant hardware compatibility issues.

#3.Install FydeOS on a Separate Partition Using the "Installer" App

1. Once you've accessed the FydeOS desktop and maintained an internet connection for a few minutes, FydeOS will automatically download and install several necessary components, including the "FydeOS Web Store". Launch the "FydeOS Web Store" from the app launcher. Here, you'll find the "Installer" app. Click "Add to FydeOS" to install it:

2. When the FydeOS installer launches, choose the "Dual-boot installation" option:

3. In the "Select System Partition" section at the top left, choose the desired disk from the "Disk" dropdown menu. The installer will automatically identify and disable the option for the portable storage device running FydeOS. In the example below, nvme0n1 is the target disk, and the remaining nvme0n1** is an additional partition on the disk that can be disregarded:

4. Choose the desired partition from the "Partition" dropdown menu in the "Select System Partition" section at the top right. The installer will automatically determine the size of the target partition. Using the steps in the "Make Partition for FydeOS" section, you can double-check that it is the correct target partition. Note: Ensure that the target partition is where you intend to install FydeOS, as the subsequent steps will erase all data on this partition. If you're uncertain, do not proceed.

5. Following these steps, proceed to the "Select EFI Partition". Typically, the disk of the EFI partition matches the disk of the system partition. In the "EFI partition" section, the "Partition" dropdown menu will allow the installer to automatically identify the EFI partition and disable other invalid options.

6. If your system does not have a multi-OS boot manager installed, we've provided for your convenience. Enable the "Install rEFInd" option, and the installer will automatically assist you with the boot manager's installation and configuration.

7. Click "Install". The installation app will prompt for confirmation. After verifying the information, click "OK" to proceed:

8. While the installation script is running, you'll see progress updates. Depending on your disk's read/write speed, the installation process may take some time. Be patient as it may take up to approximately 30 minutes:

9. Once the installation is complete, click "Restart". Congratulations, you've successfully installed FydeOS!

#Switching the Operating System

If you've correctly followed the installation steps above, your device will display the rEFInd operating system selection screen upon restarting. Use your keyboard to select the operating system you wish to use. For your convenience, we've added icons to FydeOS. If you don't make a selection, rEFInd will default to the last selected operating system after a few seconds.

If you chose not to install rEFInd in the previous step, or if you've previously installed another operating system boot manager, you'll need to manually set it up.

#Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the installation take?

Typically, the installation process takes around 10 minutes. However, this duration can fluctuate based on the speed of your disk and USB boot device.

Will the installation process delete or modify the data on my disk?

The installer will reformat the partition you specified, erasing all files within it. It will also modify some files within the EFI partition to include the operating system boot manager and related settings. However, the installer will not modify or delete files on any other partitions.

Note: The installer and its associated scripts are still in their early testing stages. While we strive to ensure stability, we cannot be held responsible for any data loss due to oversights on our part. We strongly advise backing up your data.

Will I be able to upgrade the system via OTA after the multi-boot configuration is completed?

Yes, OTA upgrades are supported.

What if I encounter an issue?

Since this multi-boot solution and the mentioned software tools are still in their early testing stages, you may encounter errors during the installation process. If an error is detected, the installer will halt the installation process and display a basic error message.

In case of problems, you can seek help on the forum. Please provide detailed error information, hardware specifications, and related operations for better assistance.

Even if an error occurs during the installation, in theory, the installer will not modify any data on your other disks. This means the original operating system should remain unaffected. You can reboot your device, launch the previous operating system, delete the partition and merge the freed space back into the primary partition to revert the operations.

Can I install another OS after installing FydeOS?

Yes, you can. However, you will need to manually shrink an existing partition to create space for the new operating system. Alternatively, you could delete partitions from other previous operating systems and create new partitions for the new OS.

I no longer want FydeOS. How do I uninstall it?

FydeOS, like any other operating system, can't be traditionally "uninstalled". If you no longer require FydeOS, you can format the disk where FydeOS is installed, repartition it as desired, or install another operating system of your choice to overwrite FydeOS.a