Not my text but here’s what Gemini laid out, apparently projects like WubiUEFI do something like this but with caveats.
”
Project: “One-Click Linux” Installer
Objective: A simple .exe for non-technical users to install a full Linux distribution from Windows 10/11. The process will be fully automated after a single click.
Core Technologies & Components
The Windows Application (.exe)
GUI Framework: .NET (C#) to build a minimal user interface and leverage deep Windows integration.
Disk Partitioner: Script the built-in Windows diskpart.exe utility to automatically shrink the existing Windows partition and create a new one for Linux. Requires Administrator privileges.
Installer Preparation: Download a pre-selected Linux distribution (e.g., Linux Mint) and extract its core files.
The Bridge from Windows to Linux
Boot Configuration: Use Windows bcdedit.exe to create a temporary, one-time boot entry that points directly to the Linux installer, bypassing the normal Windows boot.
Automated Installation: Generate a preseed or kickstart script. This file will provide all the answers to the Linux installer automatically (language, keyboard, and instructions to use the partition created earlier).
The Modern Boot Solution (Post-Installation)
Boot Manager: rEFInd. The automated Linux install will install rEFInd. It is chosen for its superior auto-detection of both Windows and Linux, and its user-friendly graphical interface. It will automatically provide a clean, icon-based menu to choose an OS on startup.
Boot Method: EFI Stub. The Linux kernel will be launched directly by rEFInd as a bootable EFI application. This is a fast, clean, and modern method that avoids the complexity of older bootloaders. rEFInd will handle discovering the kernel and presenting it as a boot option.
”
Eh, now that I think about it, such a project would either need to take a lot of decisions for the user, or risk becoming too complex for giving the user options. I mean, I see partitioning, and I realise that’s something I hadn’t thought of. I assumed just an install, but what if the user wants dual boot? What distro to pick? How much space for each “boot”? Do we choose a specific DE or take the distro’s main or default? So many variables. I mean, it’s one thing to BAM! Ubuntu auto-installer .exe. Now, to allow for user choices… or not to? You either give options, which could be overwhelmimg to someone who might not even understand all that, or become simple and, in the process, heavily “opinionated”
Not my text but here’s what Gemini laid out, apparently projects like WubiUEFI do something like this but with caveats.
” Project: “One-Click Linux” Installer Objective: A simple .exe for non-technical users to install a full Linux distribution from Windows 10/11. The process will be fully automated after a single click.
Core Technologies & Components
Eh, now that I think about it, such a project would either need to take a lot of decisions for the user, or risk becoming too complex for giving the user options. I mean, I see partitioning, and I realise that’s something I hadn’t thought of. I assumed just an install, but what if the user wants dual boot? What distro to pick? How much space for each “boot”? Do we choose a specific DE or take the distro’s main or default? So many variables. I mean, it’s one thing to BAM! Ubuntu auto-installer .exe. Now, to allow for user choices… or not to? You either give options, which could be overwhelmimg to someone who might not even understand all that, or become simple and, in the process, heavily “opinionated”