Will This Work? Dual boot using two separate controllers???

[SkOrPn]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here at the LM forums, so I want to say hello to any and all of the members here. Secondly, Id like to say I love LM 12 on my Netbook which has inspired me to try it on my main rig, mainly because Cinnamon is just damn nice

However, I am not interested in doing a normal dual boot setup with Windows 7 because I have win7 on the ICH10R controller in Raid mode and all the ports are being used. However, it just occurred to me that this mobo of mine (Asus Rampage III Extreme x58) has an additional SATA controller for which I have never used and from the quick look I just did in the BIOS it has AHCI mode enabled by default. SOOO, my question is, can I use this secondary SATA controller in AHCI mode and install TWO unused 32gb SSD drives using Linux software Raid by chance? I would like the end result to be to select my OS of choice simply by using the "Press TAB for BBS Popup" function in order to select the boot device at boot (does that make sense? kinda like when you are selecting a USB flash drive etc). However, I do NOT want linux touching, or even seeing the Windows drives as they are production drives and are used for my business.

So, is it possible to somehow raid two SSD's and install LM 12 on them and when in LM somehow make it to where the "other" drives that are attached to the ICH10R are completely invisible and not possible to corrupt? I am somewhat a Linux n00b and do not want to mess up my Windows setup, however I want to get my hands dirty with the Linux terminal, do some serious tweaking and take full advantage of my spare unused SSD hardware (I have two spare OCZ Vertex drives Id like to test with LM in raid).

Also, I figure since Windows 7 needs a driver for the extra controller it wont even see the Linux stuff. Am I right? Any ideas or opinions that can help me try this setup? I've spent several months now reading up on dual boot and Windows "fakeraid" and I have come to the conclusion that it is "Over my Head" so to speak, and although I have been building computers and messing with windows since the early 90's, this dual boot linux/windows/raid is just something a Windows guy needs to stay away from lol haha...

Ok, so is this doable? TIA

SkOrPn

[SkOrPn]

NVM, this looks like it would be to difficult as well, at least the 'Software Raid" part of it without messing with the drives on the Intel controller. So, I will just install LM on a single SSD using the Marvell sata controller and look for a way to make LM ignore or keep the drives on the Intel controller unmounted at all times...

[blacknight7128]

Provided your second controller allows you to boot..I would say yes, to both of your questions. The trick would be to unplug the drive(s) that currently house your Windows 7 installation. If your computer allows you to boot from a raided drive both drives would have to be removed. Install the drive(s) that you want to install your Linux Mint 12 to. Complete the Linux Mint 12 install...Completely including all updates. After this is done and you have tested your booting ability at least 3 times, reinstall your drive(s) containing your Windows 7 install.

The reason for doing it this way is to avoid Linux Mint 12 from seeing your Windows 7 MBR record. If it does it will setup a dual-boot. The way discribed will allow you to choose the hard drive from your Boot Options screen with seperate boot-loaders.

[usbtux]

Wouldn't it be simpler to install mint to an external drive?
Just turn it on when you want to start linux and reboot - Linux Mint that is totally interdependent of windows.
All you need is an old HDD a caddy and a spare USB port. this is how I run my Mint - lots of fun.

Take a look at http://usbtux.hostzi.com/How_to and specificity http://usbtux.hostzi.com/somethingelse or http://usbtux.hostzi.com/external

This may not be what you want but gives you a second option.