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A linux gamer asks, "How do I install windows for just one game?" (piefed.blahaj.zone)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by sem@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world

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There is a game I am considering getting; it has been out for a few months now, and the devs are specifically blocking it from running under proton with a Kernel Level Anticheat which specifically blocks linux.

Folks on the discussion boards made the point tht it is technically possible to install windows for just one steam game, so I am looking for a guide on how to do that?

I've heard that if you don't activate windows, you can still use it, and if you get the LSTC (?) Version of windows, it is not so annoying.

Does anyone have a guide for how to install windows alongside linux for one game?

If we have a discussion in the comments about whether it is tactically appropriate to give money to a game corporation that requires windows, i guess we can, but i would rather learn how to install windows in the least annoying way possible.

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[–] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If you must run Windows, do it on a completely separate device if you can. That way your one game that's DRM-locked to Windows can stay on its own machine without Windows getting hostile to your Linux install like in a dual-boot.

If you don't have/can't obtain a separate device for installing Windows on and you must dual-boot, the safest way to do that is to disconnect your Linux drive(s), install Windows on its own fresh drive so it can have its own boot partition and its own bootloader, reconnect your Linux drive(s) after your Windows drive is finished setting up and set your EFI boot order to point to your Linux drive, and then set your Linux bootloader, usually GRUB, to query your Windows drive and let you pick it to boot from, that way hopefully Windows stays on its own drive and its own boot partition and doesn't try to screw over your Linux drive and its boot partition.

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

What i half remember is that if the windows installer (or Linux installer for that matter) detects an EFI boot partition, it will write to it, regardless of what the software says it will do, which is why we have to do this.

But once windows is installed and grub uses the chainloader method to pass the boot to windows's bootloader, does that mean that future windows updates will restrict their changes to the windows bootloader? Basically, what risks should I watch out for if Windows is on a drive in the same computer as linux?

I have tried to have separate computers share the same desk, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and dual monitors in the past, but it is not easy or cheap to do well :/

[–] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 2 points 1 week ago

GRUB just queries it so you can pick it and boot from it, it should still be on its own drive if you do as I described with it, or at least it did last time I dual-booted, which was forever ago.

[–] regdog@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Also, dual booting is much easier when using Windows 10 with Linux than using Windows 11 with Linux.

If you purely want Windows to have minimum impact on your Linux system then avoid Windows 11.

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

Thanks for the advice?