New
#1
Small question about OS'es...
I'm just wondering, could I put (for example!!) Ubuntu on my PC on another (seperate) HD and leave Windows on the main HD? (so no dualboot)
How would I achieve this?
I'm just wondering, could I put (for example!!) Ubuntu on my PC on another (seperate) HD and leave Windows on the main HD? (so no dualboot)
How would I achieve this?
Unhook all the drives except the one you want to install Ubuntu on, then install it.
Then when Ubuntu is installed... you can hook up the other drives.
Then, in the BIOS, set w/e boot order you want.
Then when booting the comp, hit w/e key brings up the boot priority, and choose which drive to boot from.
On my motherboard it's the F8 key. You'll have to check your manual to find which key it is for your motherboard.
/edit
If I was doing that, in the BIOS, I'd set the Windows drive first in the boot order, then the Ubuntu drive.
Then when I booted the computer it would boot into Windows, by default. But if I wanted to boot into Ubuntu, I would hit the F8 key and choose the Ubuntu drive instead.
This is what I would see when I hit the F8 key...
Like I said... you'll have to find out which key brings up the boot menu for your motherboard.
/edit2
Doing it this way keeps the Windows boot files on the Windows drive, and the Ubuntu boot files on the Ubuntu drive.
If you set the Windows drive to be the 1st boot device in the BIOS, then the comp will boot to Windows by default.
If you set the Ubuntu drive, 1st in the BIOS, then comp will boot to Ubuntu by default.
If you decide to boot from the OS that isn't the default, you just hit whichever key brings up the "boot menu", so you can choose the other drive (OS).
Last edited by Ghot; 12 May 2021 at 01:58.
Have you tried WSL?
Hello @RingTailCoon.
This is a definiteMUST
in my opinion, although you will be surprised how many people doNOT
do this and then end up with problems with theBOOTLOADER
. Here is something I put together explaining this . . .
It is highly recommended that you disconnect [ temporarily unplug ] ALL other Disks [ HDD's/SSD's/US's ]BEFORE
installing Windows. The reasons for this are . . .
- You
CAN'T
accidentallyOVERWRITE
a connected Disk.- The
BOOTLOADER
[ boot configuration files ] will get installed on the correct Disk [ because Windows has the tendency to install the bootloader rather randomly on ANY connected Disk ], and thereforeSTOP
problems with booting once the installation is complete.
Once the installation is complete . . .
- Check that the OS boots correctly.
- Check if the boot order in the
BIOS/UEFI
settings are correct [ ifNOT
, adjust accordingly ].Reconnect
the other Disks.
EXPLANATION:
Windows uses a different partition structure forBIOS/UEFI
. During the installation process, Windows asks which Disk / Partition you want to use for the WindowsC:\
drive, it doesNOT
however, necessarily use the same Disk for the other Partitions, and can therefore incorrectly create the hidden recovery partition on ANY attached Disk.
Additionally, forBIOS
, if another Disk is left attached, and at a latter stage you remove that Disk, you will find that the OS willNOT
boot. If you check theBIOS
, you will see that the OS has assigned theAHCI/RAID
setting instead of theLEGACY
setting and set it up asRAID
, therefore breaking the boot process.
I hope this helps.
Highly recommend if new to linux, install as a virtual machine first and see if you like it. If you have 10Pro you can use Hyper-V, if you don't, you can use Oracle virtual box (free).