Ubuntu-Windows Dual Boot with two HDDs

[WinNut]

Hi guys, 

 

I'm trying to dual boot a rather unorthodox but simple setup:

I am currently running Windows 10 on Disk 1 (a 120GB mSATA SSD) and wish to install Ubuntu on a 28GB partition which I have already allotted on Disk 0 (the original 280GB mechanical drive which came with the machine). Will installing Ubuntu into the 28G partition affect my E: drive at all? For context, I am not new to Linux dual-booting, as I have done it before on previous machines, but this is my first time doing it with two separate drives.

 

Thank you!

[STRMfrmXMN]

42 minutes ago, WinNut said:

Hi guys, 

 

I'm trying to dual boot a rather unorthodox but simple setup:

I am currently running Windows 10 on Disk 1 (a 120GB mSATA SSD) and wish to install Ubuntu on a 28GB partition which I have already allotted on Disk 0 (the original 280GB mechanical drive which came with the machine). Will installing Ubuntu into the 28G partition affect my E: drive at all? For context, I am not new to Linux dual-booting, as I have done it before on previous machines, but this is my first time doing it with two separate drives.

 

Thank you!

Grub might hate you for it if you ever try to delete your Ubuntu install but that's about it. Make sure both OS boot types are the same, either Legacy or UEFI. Looks like your install of Windows is Legacy so you don't have to do anything special when installing Ubuntu.

[ARikozuM]

When you're installing Linux, it should say if it'll overwrite everything. 

[Egg-Roll]

It shouldn't affect it but you will you be using the first part as SWAP? If not i would probably do all partitions inside windows to be safe. This way during installation you just chose the partition you wish for each and let it do the rest.

 

I should note i have not dual booted in a while due to compatability issues and lack of will to upkeep linux (last one became too outdated and refused to update)

 

3 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Grub might hate you for it if you ever try to delete your Ubuntu install but that's about it.

GRUB should install on the drive Ubuntu is on, if anything windows will bitch.

[STRMfrmXMN]

7 minutes ago, Egg-Roll said:

It shouldn't affect it but you will you be using the first part as SWAP? If not i would probably do all partitions inside windows to be safe. This way during installation you just chose the partition you wish for each and let it do the rest.

 

I should note i have not dual booted in a while due to compatability issues and lack of will to upkeep linux (last one became too outdated and refused to update)

 

GRUB should install on the drive Ubuntu is on, if anything windows will bitch.

All you have to do on Windows is just run bootrec /fixboot and bootrec /fixmbr and you're done if Windows does put up a fit.

[Egg-Roll]

7 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

All you have to do on Windows is just run bootrec /fixboot and bootrec /fixmbr and you're done if Windows does put up a fit.

I've not had a MBR issue with either 7 or 10 so no idea what happens when it fails, but the fact you have to be in windows to fix it is hilarious considering the MBR is the sole thing denying you access to fix its issues... But like i said no idea, i just find it funny, i miss the good old days of the windows XP boot.ini  Easy to fix 90% of the time.

[WinNut]

Update guys: I managed to make it work, no problems. 

 

I used the first partition as SWAP, it turns out that the partition was there because it was holding a bootloader for Windows 7, as the drive used to boot 7 before I moved it to the SSD.

 

The Windows 10 installation is actually legacy, so I went to the BIOS and changed settings to force all boots to be in legacy, to prevent any ugly mishaps. 

 

Thank you all for your help!