Physical Hard Drive Switch?
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Physical Hard Drive Switch?
I want to build a dual-boot machine again, and at this point I'm pretty much stuck with Windows 10, but I don't trust it; I've read too many stories of 10 updates trashing conventional dual-boot schemes. What I have in mind is a system with two drives with completely independent single-boot OSes and a mechanical switch to make one online and visible while making the other, for practical purposes, non-existent. That way, I can switch between the two without any cumbersome bios operations, and 10 can think it rules the roost when in fact it's simply there to play games on occasionally. I've done some searching, but haven't found anything promising so far, and I was hoping some one here would know what I'm talking about and be able to point me to applicable resources. Any assistance would be appreciated, thanks.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
you should be able to do that in firmware - - that is the PCs BIOS - - via the F12 Boot Function key
ie: use that F12 to select between the two different HDDs at start-up.
& that way, each system is independent, of the other system.
ie: use that F12 to select between the two different HDDs at start-up.
& that way, each system is independent, of the other system.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
I don't trust 10 that much; I want my real OS (i.e: Mint) completely invisible when 10 is running, and the only way to guarantee that is to physically cut it off from the system. Yes, I am that anal and paranoid.
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
sure - - and that is an fair assessment of that win-10 system, as well.
but, that method will work, just fine, and since the LinuxMint is using ext4 formatting,
- - then it can't be seen, natively by that win-10 system
without any extra drivers being installed, that is, within the win-10 system.
but, that method will work, just fine, and since the LinuxMint is using ext4 formatting,
- - then it can't be seen, natively by that win-10 system
without any extra drivers being installed, that is, within the win-10 system.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
But the drive itself will still be visible, and what's worse, it will be visible as a potentially "unformatted" drive(!) What happens when Ten gets arrogant enough to see an "unformatted" drive and appropriate it?Pierre wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:35 am sure - - and that is an fair assessment of that win-10 system, as well.
but, that method will work, just fine, and since the LinuxMint is using ext4 formatting,
- - then it can't be seen, natively by that win-10 system
without any extra drivers being installed, that is, within the win-10 system.
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
If you are really that worried then have Windows 10 installed on 1 USB drive & Linux installed on another.
Then only plug in the USB OS you want to run.
For me.. Pierre's advice would be good to go.. but I don't worry about an great deal of 'stuff' that other folks do..
Then only plug in the USB OS you want to run.
For me.. Pierre's advice would be good to go.. but I don't worry about an great deal of 'stuff' that other folks do..
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
I know a case where Win 10 update destroyed dual boot Windows. The net also has similar cases.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/792692/ ... -partition
https://askubuntu.com/questions/792692/ ... -partition
If I have helped you solve a problem, please add [SOLVED] to your first post title, it helps other users looking for help.
Regards,
Deepak
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
Regards,
Deepak
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
Exactly, and somehow I don't see Ten getting any less Draconian.deepakdeshp wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:54 am I know a case where Win 10 update destroyed dual boot Windows. The net also has similar cases.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/792692/ ... -partition
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
The answer is in my dual boot system on a single disk, I hardly connect Win 10 to the net,hardly use win10 and have never updated it in last 4 years.
If I have helped you solve a problem, please add [SOLVED] to your first post title, it helps other users looking for help.
Regards,
Deepak
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
Regards,
Deepak
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon 64 bit with AMD A6 / 8GB
Mint 21.1 Cinnamon AMD Ryzen3500U/8gb
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
Ah, but the next time you do, and let Ten update, even inadvertently, might be the time it pimpslaps your machine.deepakdeshp wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:59 am The answer is in my dual boot system on a single disk, I hardly connect Win 10 to the net,hardly use win10 and have never updated it in last 4 years.
I appreciate everybody's input, but my question still stands.
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
& I have given you the answer....after all if it is just an electronic switch then, some time in the future, Windows X will, undoubtedly, be able to turn that on..pendrifter wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:10 am I appreciate everybody's input, but my question still stands.
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
Technically that would work, but it strikes me as inelegant. And probably slow.RIH wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 am If you are really that worried then have Windows 10 installed on 1 USB drive & Linux installed on another.
Then only plug in the USB OS you want to run.
For me.. Pierre's advice would be good to go.. but I don't worry about an great deal of 'stuff' that other folks do..
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
Okay, it looks like this is not the proper venue for my question after all after all. I'll try a more hardware-oriented board.RIH wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:15 am& I have given you the answer....after all if it is just an electronic switch then, some time in the future, Windows X will, undoubtedly, be able to turn that on..pendrifter wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:10 am I appreciate everybody's input, but my question still stands.
OS: Linux Mint 21.2 x86_64
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Host: 82TD Legion 7 16IAX7
Kernel: 6.2.0-34-generic
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
YES - - you can actually use a mechanical switch to make one online and visible while making the other,
for practical purposes - non-existent.
& that will work .. but it's also clumsy, as well.
plus, you may need non-standard, special wiring, in order to do that.
for practical purposes - non-existent.
& that will work .. but it's also clumsy, as well.
plus, you may need non-standard, special wiring, in order to do that.
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] - when your problem is solved!
and DO LOOK at those Unanswered Topics - - you may be able to answer some!.
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- Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
This is why I use Terabyte Unlimited (https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/)
I've been using this since 2004/2005
Their boot manager is awesome. Every OS I have win and linux thinks it's the only OS on the drive.
I'm NOT a shill it's just an awesome product. It will literally do exactly what you want
I've been using this since 2004/2005
Their boot manager is awesome. Every OS I have win and linux thinks it's the only OS on the drive.
I'm NOT a shill it's just an awesome product. It will literally do exactly what you want
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
If your hard drives connect via USB then you can get a USB hub that has switches for each USB port. This will allow you to turn on the USB port for the drive you want to use and leave the other one off.
This is the one I've got and it lets me leave USB devices plugged into the hub and switch them on and off as needed: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/USBMBE ... individual It even has a light next to each switch so I can see which are on and which are off. Oh, and it's a powered hub, so power isn't an issue.
This is the one I've got and it lets me leave USB devices plugged into the hub and switch them on and off as needed: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/USBMBE ... individual It even has a light next to each switch so I can see which are on and which are off. Oh, and it's a powered hub, so power isn't an issue.
Running Mint 19.3 Cinnamon on an Intel NUC8i5BEH with 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD
- absque fenestris
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
On my departed IBM Thinkpad T42, vintage 2005 this would not have been a problem: The hard disk was in an ejection chute on the left side, so that you could easily exchange one hard drive for another...
A good concept that I can't see any more with current devices.
A good concept that I can't see any more with current devices.
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
I have an external bay on my desktop with a SATA hard drive that is accessible from the front just by pulling the door and it has an on/off switch. It only gets switched on for backups. In Mint it works fine - it had to have a reboot to be noticed if it was switched on whilst in Win7. Can't say for Win8/10.
So, if you have 2 of those, you could pick which one of those you wanted to switch on at the time of switching on the computer.
It is made by Akasa - if you have trouble finding it let me know and I'll get you a link.
You'll need a case with 2 spare 5.25inch external bays.
edit:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Akasa-AK-IEN-0 ... B00919K2MC
edit edit:
It works - ignore the idiots who can't plug it in and give it a bad review.
So, if you have 2 of those, you could pick which one of those you wanted to switch on at the time of switching on the computer.
It is made by Akasa - if you have trouble finding it let me know and I'll get you a link.
You'll need a case with 2 spare 5.25inch external bays.
edit:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Akasa-AK-IEN-0 ... B00919K2MC
edit edit:
It works - ignore the idiots who can't plug it in and give it a bad review.
Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
You could run mint only and with virtual box run win 10.
"Tune for maximum Smoke and then read the Instructions".
- absque fenestris
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Re: Physical Hard Drive Switch?
I have been using a similar part for years: designed for 2.5" hard disks - it has a separate slot for fixed installation with a SATA connector. Excluded from the slot it is a normal external hard disk with USB-2 port. Actually a brilliant idea.gittiest personITW wrote: ⤴Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:31 pm I have an external bay on my desktop with a SATA hard drive that is accessible from the front just by pulling the door and it has an on/off switch. It only gets switched on for backups. In Mint it works fine - it had to have a reboot to be noticed if it was switched on whilst in Win7. Can't say for Win8/10.
So, if you have 2 of those, you could pick which one of those you wanted to switch on at the time of switching on the computer.
It is made by Akasa - if you have trouble finding it let me know and I'll get you a link.
You'll need a case with 2 spare 5.25inch external bays.
edit:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Akasa-AK-IEN-0 ... B00919K2MC
edit edit:
It works - ignore the idiots who can't plug it in and give it a bad review.
It was a random purchase, the brand is "Chieftain" and I never saw it again, although I would have been very interested in more of them.