Linux noob question

[WVDrummer]

I cannot update my old, self-built computer to Window 11. (Nor do I want too now.) I am going to build a new system but in the meantime, I was wondering if it work well enough to add a spare SATA drive to my old system and load Linux onto it. I do want to go through the troubles of partitioning me old drive, and it is getting a little too full anyway. That would give me dual-boot capability without the partition. I cannot see how this would not be viable, but I thought I would ask to be sure. You never know, something in the system might object.

I know a bit, but I know enough to be dangerous.  

Thanks for any advice folks!

[Zando_]

That's the most advisable way to dual-boot. Unplug the windows drive while installing too, so you don't accidentally place the bootloader in the windows EFI partition. Modern installers should be smarter than this, but it's better safe than sorry. 

[Thomas53]

You don't need to manually partition your drive, Linux is intelligent enough to do it for you if you choose "Install Beside" (I don't remember the actual name, but it's clearly defined)).

What this does is it uses part the space on the drive that contains no data, to allow Windows some of the space to grow, and uses part of it to use for Linux.

 

While it does it automatically, you can manually adjust the partition sizes, but most people let the installer do it for them.

[OhioYJ]

If you're just doing something like Mint, it asks you where you want to place the bootloader. Leaving the Windows drive hooked up gives you the benefit of it detecting the Windows drive, and handling the dual boot stuff for you. The Grub menu and everything will be setup automatically. 

[WVDrummer]

1 hour ago, Thomas53 said:

You don't need to manually partition your drive, Linux is intelligent enough to do it for you if you choose "Install Beside" (I don't remember the actual name, but it's clearly defined)).

What this does is it uses part the space on the drive that contains no data, to allow Windows some of the space to grow, and uses part of it to use for Linux.

 

While it does it automatically, you can manually adjust the partition sizes, but most people let the installer do it for them.

No all Linux Distros have that?

[Thomas53]

All of the Distros that I am familiar with have the application known as GParted with is used in the installation process. This gives you some choices as to what you want to do and it allows you to make changes to to the partition sizes, if you want.

[Eigenvektor]

5 hours ago, WVDrummer said:

No all Linux Distros have that?

Other than Arch (which as a noob you don't want anyway) basically any modern Linux distro should offer that option.

 

That said, if Linux shares an EFI partition with Windows, there's a chance future Windows updates will overwrite it (I do have Windows and Linux installed on the same drive, but use a separate partition for /boot/efi and haven't had any issues with that ever). But installing on separate drives and using the BIOS boot menu to switch is definitely an option.

[DoctorNick]

8 hours ago, WVDrummer said:

I cannot update my old, self-built computer to Window 11. (Nor do I want too now.) I am going to build a new system but in the meantime, I was wondering if it work well enough to add a spare SATA drive to my old system and load Linux onto it. I do want to go through the troubles of partitioning me old drive, and it is getting a little too full anyway. That would give me dual-boot capability without the partition. I cannot see how this would not be viable, but I thought I would ask to be sure. You never know, something in the system might object.

I know a bit, but I know enough to be dangerous.  

Thanks for any advice folks!

Yes you can just Install it to the other drive. You don't need to unplug, but you can, just to be safe. You should also be able to disable the drive in bios. Use Mint or Ubuntu for maximum support from the web.