Dualbooting question about SSD and HDD

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adams_chaos

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Apr 16, 2015
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I have an SSD with Windows 7 on it, but I store my programs on an internal HDD.

Can I partition say 30GB on the SSD to install a Linux distro? Last time I did this, I ended up installing Mint on the HDD, wiping every thing on it in the process.
 
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WyomingKnott
Yes to the question about GRUB.

As for disconnecting other disks, it's probably not necessary for this install but it's a habit I picked up installing Windows. If you install Windows on Disk A while Disk B is connected, part of the installation (at a minimum the recovery partition) will be put on Disk B.

Even worse, if you have a bootable Disk B and a blank Disk A and install Windows on Disk A, the boot sequence will actually start on Disk B. So it's become an ingrained habit to install OSes with only one drive attached.
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WyomingKnott

WyomingKnott

Legenda in Aeternum
Aug 29, 2006
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You can, but there are things that you have to be careful of.
First, back everything up and be sure that you can restore your system to a running state from the backups.
Second, disconnect all drives except the SSD.
Third, be aware that even if it works you will now be booting off a non-Windows bootloader which will give you the boot menu.
 
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adams_chaos

Reputable
Apr 16, 2015
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4,510


Hi and thanks for helping.

I kind of understand what you mean about the non-Windows bootloader - is that where it uses GRUB so that if I want to delete the partition in the future I have to repair from the Win 7 disk? (Or is it easier than that?)

I don't understand what you mean about disconnecting the other drives though, why do we have to do that?
 
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WyomingKnott

WyomingKnott

Legenda in Aeternum
Aug 29, 2006
13,249
3
51,960
Yes to the question about GRUB.

As for disconnecting other disks, it's probably not necessary for this install but it's a habit I picked up installing Windows. If you install Windows on Disk A while Disk B is connected, part of the installation (at a minimum the recovery partition) will be put on Disk B.

Even worse, if you have a bootable Disk B and a blank Disk A and install Windows on Disk A, the boot sequence will actually start on Disk B. So it's become an ingrained habit to install OSes with only one drive attached.
 
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