Dell XPS 13 9360 Dualboot Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16.04

DUALBOOT Windows & Ubuntu on Dell XPS 13 9360

Big thanks to @oldfred for help!

Short answer: Dell XPS 13 2016 (intel i5 9360, KabyLake) has SATA operation in RAID mode, which doesn't work for Ubuntu. You need to change it to AHCI. Also disable secureboot so you can see usb and install it. You may need to add usb in boot sequence as option. In Windows you need to disable fastboot so Ubuntu can recognize partitions correctly.

This is for future reference for me and all of you Dell XPS 13 9360 owners. I'm using BIOS version 1.2.3. Ubuntu 16.04. Windows 10. Dell XPS 13 9360 manufacture date: 11/2016. It may or may not work on your setup.

Long answer/steps to take you through it:

Setting up Windows and bios:

  1. If you have installed Windows already and maybe you should. Do a recovery USB-stick.(minimum 16Gb USB-stick, I used 32GB stick).
  2. Update BIOS, if link doesn't work, Google: "Dell XPS 13 9360 drivers"

Setting up live-ubuntu USB

  1. Download Rufus and Ubuntu.
  2. Use Rufus to add Ubuntu in the USB (min 6-8GB?) (another USB than the one with recovery): choose UEFI option.

Installing Windows in AHCI mode

  1. Restart, open bios(F2) when DELL logo comes up.
  2. Change secure boot disabled: BIOS->Settings->Secure Boot->Disabled.
  3. Change Sata Operation to AHCI: BIOS->Settinsg->System Configuration->SATA Operation->AHCI.
  4. Click "Apply"-button at bottom right in bios.
  5. If Windows loads you're golden, if not select: more options, and somewhere in there is "restore with default settings" or something in those lines.

You may try to install Windows with your recovery USB too. (you may need to add the usb to boot sequence in BIOS)

Now if your Windows starts up, you need to do one more thing so Ubuntu can recognize partitions correctly.

  1. Disable fastboot in Windows: Power Options->Choose what the power buttons do->Change settings that are currently unavailable->uncheck "Turn on fast startup"

Installing Ubuntu

  1. You may need to add USB to boot-sequence if it doesn't load when you restart with ubuntu-USB on laptop: go to BIOS(F2 on dell logo)->Settings->Boot Sequence->"Add Boot Option"-button, add name and choose option with usb in File System List, not the one with "Pci"-in the name.. click "OK".
  2. Select in Boot Sequence your usb and move it all the way up with the arrow buttons, so it boots first.
  3. Then, in BIOS, click "Apply" and "Exit". This will restart your laptop.
  4. Now you should boot up in grub like environment, select "try ubuntu".
  5. Open Gparted, resize biggest partition so we can fit Ubuntu. Make at least 20GB for Ubuntu. I did 50GB.
  6. Run the Ubuntu Installer. Do your configurations, select all update options. Choose the option with "along side Windows".

Now you should have Windows and Ubuntu on your laptop!

  1. You can go to BIOS settings and set the option "Ubuntu" in boot sequence first so you start up in grub.

UPDATE:

I've updated to BIOS 1.3.7 few days ago. Seems to work fine. If you have problems with trackpad palm recognition in Ubuntu, update your Ubuntu or try this: https://medium.com/@patrickmmartin/dell-xps-13-9360-journey-to-linux-trackpad-fix-a2d9b551d291 If you still are in Safe mode in Windows, try this: http://www.pcworld.com/article/3085034/windows/how-to-get-out-of-windows-safe-mode.html

UPDATE 2:

I've updated to BIOS 2.3.1 and everything seems to work fine. Though same problems exists that I've found before:

  • touch-pad gets uncontrollable after a long time of use in Ubuntu.
  • Windows shuts down itself unexpectedly sometimes for unknown reason, going blue-screen.
  • Windows shutting itself down after no use, gets error shutting down.
  • usb 2.0 devices don't work correctly, like external-SSD and such. Though I got Logitech's Unifying USB receiver working after installing their software. Unifying receiver works fine in Ubuntu.

I think errors in Windows might be due to incompatibility with grub-launcher or dual-boot itself. As of now, if you want trustworthy experience in Windows side, I don't recommend dual-boot.

EDIT:

Dell released a guide to make a dualboot for Windows and Linux on Dec. 2017, that might be very helpful: http://www.dell.com/support/article/nz/en/nzdhs1/sln301754/how-to-install-ubuntu-and-windows-8-or-10-as-a-dual-boot-on-your-dell-pc


Dell xps 13 9360, BIOS - 2.3.1, Manufacture - 7/Feb/18, 500Gb SSD

In Australia, Dell does not offer pre-loaded Linux. They also completely disown you if you try to do it yourself. That makes it a bit daunting.

The following worked as at Feb.2018.

I've read there are some problems with the later UEFI(BIOS) version so I didn't upgrade.

http://www.rationaljava.com/2016/10/dell-xps13-dual-boot-windows-10-with.html had useful information.

  • shrink Windows partition to make space for Linux

    (https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/resize-partition-windows-10.html)
While booted into Windows 10:Using "Computer Management->Disk Management" tool
I had to shrink it by max 100G at a time for some reason
Maximise Ubuntu installation > 300Gb in my case

  • turn off bitlocker encryption:

    Control panel->update&security
Not sure if it's necessary to turn off bitlocker???

  • turn off fast boot: (Unable to mount Windows 10 partition; it "is in an unsafe state")

    Right click on start, OR windowskey/+x
Choose: Power Options
"additional power settings" (on the right)
"choose what the power buttons do"
"change settings that are currently unavailable"
Uncheck fast startup
(I also changed "When I press the power button" to "shutdown")

  • enter "safe mode":

    For some reason, you need safe mode to set disk to AHCI
At Windows start/search, type "msconfig" then <enter>
Select boot tab
Click safe mode, minimal
Reboot - requires full password from your initial setup.

  • set AHCI:

    Make sure you have put Windows into safe mode before doing this
Restart Windows
Press F2 during reboot
system config -> SATA -> AHCI -> yes
reboot
Exit safe mode (reverse enter "safe mode" - see above)
Reboot and hope like hell that windows works - it did!

  • disable secure boot option

    Boot into UEFI/BIOS (press F2 during boot) and disable secure boot
You can do this at the same time as setting AHCI.

  • Add boot option

    Plug in bootable USB with linux FIRST, then
Reboot into UEFI (F2 at boot)
From "General -> Boot Sequence", click "Add Boot Option"
Give this boot option a name, eg: "linux"
From the file system list, select the one that includes "USB" in it's path
For "File Name", use the widget to select /EFI/BOOT/grubx64.efi
Click OK, note there is now a Boot sequence option for "linux"
Using the arrows on the right, move "linux" to the top of the boot sequence
Apply and Exit. I did not save as custom setting.
Make sure you leave the bootable USB inserted when rebooting.
  • Install Ubuntu - don't forget to remove USB after it asks for reboot.
  • Reset display: settings->Displays->Resolution-> 1920x1080 / 16x9 aspect
  • After installation, a grub menu including Windows will appear when rebooting.
  • Give thanks to the digital gods that it all went well.

Just installed Ubuntu on an XPS 13 9360 Kaby Lake i7-7560U.

The above procedure worked except for getting Windows to boot in ACHI (step 9 in J-ho @ Jan 5 at 10:55). Here I used this trick to boot into Windows Safe Mode, then switch BIOS to ACHI: http://triplescomputers.com/blog/uncategorized/solution-switch-windows-10-from-raidide-to-ahci-operation/

I downsized the Windows partition in Windows itself, which was painless and quick. I did not need to update the BIOS. I used a standard Ubuntu 16.04 64-bit USB stick.

Tags:

Uuid

Uefi

Grub2

Dual Boot

Initramfs

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