Installing Ubuntu on a different SSD but still having ability to switch OS SSDs quickly
So I want to switch to ubuntu. Already familiar with ubuntu and all, have it installed in a VM for about a month now.
I cannot stay without a computer for more than a few hours.
My current setup is 240GB ssd (windows) + 2tb hdd + 2tb hdd.
I am planning, to minimize downtime, I am going to buy a new 500GB ssd and install ubuntu on that. That way, if something goes wrong or i am unable to work on ubuntu (for some odd reason or some problem occurs), i would have the option to simply unplug the 500gb ssd, plug in my 240gb ssd and continue working on windows.
My question to you folks is the following: is switching os is as simple as unplug an ssd and plug in another ssd?
Would GRUB not allow me to do that? Do I have to change anything int he BIOS?
Thanks!
dual-boot grub2 ssd
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
add a comment |
So I want to switch to ubuntu. Already familiar with ubuntu and all, have it installed in a VM for about a month now.
I cannot stay without a computer for more than a few hours.
My current setup is 240GB ssd (windows) + 2tb hdd + 2tb hdd.
I am planning, to minimize downtime, I am going to buy a new 500GB ssd and install ubuntu on that. That way, if something goes wrong or i am unable to work on ubuntu (for some odd reason or some problem occurs), i would have the option to simply unplug the 500gb ssd, plug in my 240gb ssd and continue working on windows.
My question to you folks is the following: is switching os is as simple as unplug an ssd and plug in another ssd?
Would GRUB not allow me to do that? Do I have to change anything int he BIOS?
Thanks!
dual-boot grub2 ssd
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54
add a comment |
So I want to switch to ubuntu. Already familiar with ubuntu and all, have it installed in a VM for about a month now.
I cannot stay without a computer for more than a few hours.
My current setup is 240GB ssd (windows) + 2tb hdd + 2tb hdd.
I am planning, to minimize downtime, I am going to buy a new 500GB ssd and install ubuntu on that. That way, if something goes wrong or i am unable to work on ubuntu (for some odd reason or some problem occurs), i would have the option to simply unplug the 500gb ssd, plug in my 240gb ssd and continue working on windows.
My question to you folks is the following: is switching os is as simple as unplug an ssd and plug in another ssd?
Would GRUB not allow me to do that? Do I have to change anything int he BIOS?
Thanks!
dual-boot grub2 ssd
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
So I want to switch to ubuntu. Already familiar with ubuntu and all, have it installed in a VM for about a month now.
I cannot stay without a computer for more than a few hours.
My current setup is 240GB ssd (windows) + 2tb hdd + 2tb hdd.
I am planning, to minimize downtime, I am going to buy a new 500GB ssd and install ubuntu on that. That way, if something goes wrong or i am unable to work on ubuntu (for some odd reason or some problem occurs), i would have the option to simply unplug the 500gb ssd, plug in my 240gb ssd and continue working on windows.
My question to you folks is the following: is switching os is as simple as unplug an ssd and plug in another ssd?
Would GRUB not allow me to do that? Do I have to change anything int he BIOS?
Thanks!
dual-boot grub2 ssd
dual-boot grub2 ssd
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
asked Jan 24 at 20:09
JumpingElephantJumpingElephant
1
1
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54
add a comment |
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Yes, it is very simple, I did that before in which I had ubuntu on an HDD and another one on an SSD, all what I used to do is just switching them (since I hadn't two places for two disks, I had just one).
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
add a comment |
You are thinking it wrong. Linux and windows can coexist on the same SSD.
- Install/migrate windows to your new SSD and save it in case of dissaster, leaving ~half of unpartitioned for Linux.
- Then install linux on it, and allow grub to manage your boot.
It will find windows and configure grub to select which OS you want to boot. No need to move disks at all.
You can try this on a Virtualbox VM before commiting to bare metal.
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "89"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2faskubuntu.com%2fquestions%2f1112611%2finstalling-ubuntu-on-a-different-ssd-but-still-having-ability-to-switch-os-ssds%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, it is very simple, I did that before in which I had ubuntu on an HDD and another one on an SSD, all what I used to do is just switching them (since I hadn't two places for two disks, I had just one).
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
add a comment |
Yes, it is very simple, I did that before in which I had ubuntu on an HDD and another one on an SSD, all what I used to do is just switching them (since I hadn't two places for two disks, I had just one).
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
add a comment |
Yes, it is very simple, I did that before in which I had ubuntu on an HDD and another one on an SSD, all what I used to do is just switching them (since I hadn't two places for two disks, I had just one).
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
Yes, it is very simple, I did that before in which I had ubuntu on an HDD and another one on an SSD, all what I used to do is just switching them (since I hadn't two places for two disks, I had just one).
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
answered Jan 24 at 20:36
Malek AdawiMalek Adawi
264
264
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
add a comment |
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I had an old computer laying around that had windows installed, I also had an extra 120gb ssd and i tried installing ubuntu on it, but i remember once i switched to the other ssd (the one that had windows), i remember the pc not being able to boot (could not find boot driver or something - can't remember the exact error). That's what I am afraid of happening if I do it with my current work machine.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:39
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
I think that you just didn't change some BIOS settings like boot priority or boot mode or secure boot is enabled while it shouldn't be. I'm sure that you can easily switch two disks with two operating systems, because each disk must contain its OS's boat loader.
– Malek Adawi
Jan 26 at 8:18
add a comment |
You are thinking it wrong. Linux and windows can coexist on the same SSD.
- Install/migrate windows to your new SSD and save it in case of dissaster, leaving ~half of unpartitioned for Linux.
- Then install linux on it, and allow grub to manage your boot.
It will find windows and configure grub to select which OS you want to boot. No need to move disks at all.
You can try this on a Virtualbox VM before commiting to bare metal.
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
add a comment |
You are thinking it wrong. Linux and windows can coexist on the same SSD.
- Install/migrate windows to your new SSD and save it in case of dissaster, leaving ~half of unpartitioned for Linux.
- Then install linux on it, and allow grub to manage your boot.
It will find windows and configure grub to select which OS you want to boot. No need to move disks at all.
You can try this on a Virtualbox VM before commiting to bare metal.
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
add a comment |
You are thinking it wrong. Linux and windows can coexist on the same SSD.
- Install/migrate windows to your new SSD and save it in case of dissaster, leaving ~half of unpartitioned for Linux.
- Then install linux on it, and allow grub to manage your boot.
It will find windows and configure grub to select which OS you want to boot. No need to move disks at all.
You can try this on a Virtualbox VM before commiting to bare metal.
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
You are thinking it wrong. Linux and windows can coexist on the same SSD.
- Install/migrate windows to your new SSD and save it in case of dissaster, leaving ~half of unpartitioned for Linux.
- Then install linux on it, and allow grub to manage your boot.
It will find windows and configure grub to select which OS you want to boot. No need to move disks at all.
You can try this on a Virtualbox VM before commiting to bare metal.
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
answered Jan 24 at 21:01
DolapevichDolapevich
11
11
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
add a comment |
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
Yeah regarding that, when I first installed windows on my machine, I tried to install ubuntu as dual boot, but the ubuntu installer would not recognize windows so I was not able to install ubuntu along side windows.
– JumpingElephant
Jan 25 at 9:37
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Ask Ubuntu!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2faskubuntu.com%2fquestions%2f1112611%2finstalling-ubuntu-on-a-different-ssd-but-still-having-ability-to-switch-os-ssds%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
If UEFI not quite as easy. UEFI forgets boot entries when a drive is unplugged. But if external drive, you can partition in advance with gpt & ESP partition. Grub will not install to it, but you can copy files to ESP on external drive. UEFI only boots external drives from /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi file which we make a copy of shimx64.efi from install. UEFI/gpt partitioning in Advance: askubuntu.com/questions/743095/… & askubuntu.com/questions/913716/…
– oldfred
Jan 24 at 20:54