Hi, can I remove my Windows HD (or at least just unplug it), install Linux on another HDD, then instead of using a boot menu to select the OS, I can just swap the HD's. Will that work? That way Linux will never touch my Windows boot drive and vice versa.
Thanks
Swapable Hard Drives?
Forum rules
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Swapable Hard Drives?
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.
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
Yes that will work.
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
Yes, the perfect way to keep them ignorant of the other's existence. Some BIOS allow you to switch off drives without changing the cables...the connectors may not be designed for repetitive use...gold-on-copper (RAM modules) does not last as long as nickel-on-steel (USB socket) for example.
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
Good concern wrong solution, ask for advice on how to deal with your hardware to successfully install in dual boot mode. You should consider cloning your drive first before installing in dual boot mode.
If currently booting in EFI mode I wonder the EFI firmware might not handle swapable drives properly.
If currently booting in EFI mode I wonder the EFI firmware might not handle swapable drives properly.
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
@childofthetao: install one OS on HDD1, then swap with HDD2 to install the other OS. Put HDD1 and HDD2 in your PC and you can use boot menu in order to choose which HDD to boot from. No need to swap HDDs all the time.
- austin.texas
- Level 20
- Posts: 12003
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:57 pm
- Location: at /home
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
It is not at all necessary to unplug the drives. With one drive for Mint and one drive for Windows, you have accomplished your goal of keeping them separate.
In fact, as mentioned before, if you are installing in UEFI mode, unplugging drives will create problems.
In fact, as mentioned before, if you are installing in UEFI mode, unplugging drives will create problems.
Mint 18.2 Cinnamon, Quad core AMD A8-3870 with Radeon HD Graphics 6550D, 8GB DDR3, Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI
Linux Linx 2018
Linux Linx 2018
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
Ah this seems to be the way to go thanks, I don't want my OS's to know about each other in any way.SOCRATE_MMXII wrote:@childofthetao: install one OS on HDD1, then swap with HDD2 to install the other OS. Put HDD1 and HDD2 in your PC and you can use boot menu in order to choose which HDD to boot from. No need to swap HDDs all the time.
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
I have two separate drives with two separate systems. I switch between systems by changing the BIOS boot order. This has worked for me for almost two years without issue but keep in mind that I am using SATA IDE/AHCI. Some of the newer systems may cause problems as noted in the above posts.
My issue was with GRUB.... I do not like it as it has always caused me problems. As far as I am concerned, your theory is sound.
Cheers!
Jim
My issue was with GRUB.... I do not like it as it has always caused me problems. As far as I am concerned, your theory is sound.
Cheers!
Jim
Re: Swapable Hard Drives?
That shouldn't work as most modern Linux's (Ubuntu, Mint etc..)make use of UUID device names, and that gets associated with the hard drive in use
--so a direct swap shouldn't work.
---------------------------
This is for adding a hard drive: I misread your item a bit
--------------------------
Yes you can always selectively use any hard drive you want, either old style with pluggable drive cases or just deselect the drive in the bios
--or as you say disconnect the control or power connection to make the drive unavailable within your system
--so a direct swap shouldn't work.
---------------------------
This is for adding a hard drive: I misread your item a bit
--------------------------
Yes you can always selectively use any hard drive you want, either old style with pluggable drive cases or just deselect the drive in the bios
--or as you say disconnect the control or power connection to make the drive unavailable within your system