I need to reinstall Windows 11 after upgrading my second SSD. My computer dual-boots Zorin and Windows, but whenever the Windows installer reboots during setup, the system automatically goes to the boot-selection screen and the installation fails to continue. I know the usual advice is to install Windows first and Linux afterward, but I would rather avoid rebuilding the whole setup. Would temporarily disconnecting the SSD containing Zorin during the Windows installation solve the problem, or could it create boot issues later? Is there a simpler way to get the installation to reboot into the correct drive?
2 Answers
Temporarily make the Windows drive the default boot device in your firmware settings for the duration of the installation. If your Linux bootloader is handling the menu, you can also set Windows as its default entry until setup is finished.
You can disconnect the SSD containing Zorin before installing Windows, then reconnect it afterward. Once both drives are connected again, select the Zorin drive as the primary boot device and configure its boot menu to include both Zorin and Windows.
That sounds like the least risky approach for keeping the two installations separate. I am just hoping the Windows installation does not cause additional boot problems afterward.
If Windows is installed on a separate SSD, it is safest to disable the other storage devices in the firmware settings while installing. That prevents Windows from placing its boot files on the wrong drive.