Dual-boot Mint Cinnamon Maya on SSD and Xp sp3 on HDD

[Newall]

Hello everyone!

I will soon acquire a laptop without OS. These are the technical specifications:

Intel Core i5-3230M, RAM 8 Go, SSD 120 Go + HDD 750 Go, 15.6" LED, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M

I intend to install Mint Cinnamon Maya on the SSD and an old XP SP3 that I have, on the HDD, in dual-boot.

Concerning the SSD install, I've already checked this very interesting suggestions given here:

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/ssd

I suppose the install of Mint should work quite in the same way.

Now, my questions are as follows:

First, I am used to make dual-boot on the same drive (Windows first and Linux after), though never on SSD, so I do not know if old XP works fine on this kind of drive (this is why my option for secondary HDD install). Anyone has an idea about XP working on SSD?

Second, if I pursue the install as first planned (Mint on SSD and XP on HDD), do I have to install XP first as usual? And, if so will the Mint GRUB (after install) recognize the XP boot-loader ?

Last, do you know any good tutos concerning dual-boot on different drives, or specifically about this case?

Thanks in advance!

[Newall]

Up!

[ro@st]

I'm trying to do the same kind of OS set-up with my newly built HTPC. Installing Linux Mint Maya shouldn't be too difficult (but the link you posted may come in handy, thanks). Installing XP on a SSD seems more complicated as you can see in this guide

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum ... -on-Vertex

So I've decided to try and put Maya / on the SSD with /home on the HDD and XP on the HDD. I found this forum thread which may be useful in answering your second question.

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=103384

Good luck with your dual boot instal and let me know how you're getting on.

[Newall]

OK!
Thanks for the links!
It seems rather tricky to make XP work on SSD.
I think I will stick to my first choice at put it on HDD, in order to keep the entire SSD for Mint.

In the topic you suggested [viewtopic.php?f=90&t=103384] it is said that one should unplug manually and successively the drives in order to get a proper instal. Still, it must be a simpler solution than the screwdriver. Maybe it is possible to manipulate the drives from BIOS (master/slave or something like that), though I’m not 100% sure about it.

I'll try as soon as I receive the machine and let you know how it worked.

Oh! and I found this:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=179902

[Newall]

I finally installed the dual-boot.
As I thought, it is possible to disable SSD drive from BIOS and then install XP on HHD (MBR will install there). After that, the SSD has to be re-enabled in order to install Mint. The GRUB will recognize the other OS directly.
After installing everything one should follow the instructions from this link: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/ssd
as already suggested.
For me, it worked like a charm.