Hey everyone! I'm planning to upgrade an old computer by adding an SSD. I want to install Linux on it, but I'm wondering if I unplug the HDD where Windows is stored during installation, can I plug it back in later and still access Windows from the boot menu if needed?
5 Answers
That's really the best method for setting up a dual-boot system. You can just select which OS you want to boot from the menu when the computer starts up.
You don’t even have to unplug the Windows drive! If you partition well, you can dual-boot right from the same drive without any hassle.
Yes, that's definitely possible! Just make sure to reconnect everything after the Linux installation. Once you've booted into Linux, open up a terminal and run the command `sudo update-grub`. This will help your system recognize Windows, and next time you boot up, you'll see a menu where you can choose between Linux and Windows. Just keep in mind that it depends on the Linux distro you're using, whether it supports grub for booting, and if os-prober is enabled. For some distros like Mint, it's good to disconnect the Windows drive to avoid certain installation bugs, but if yours is older, it might be easier to manage with UEFI options.
Absolutely, the nice thing about older computers is that it's easy to unplug a SATA drive. Just install Linux, and after you plug in the Windows drive again, enable os-prober to make it easy to boot into Windows when you need to!
By the way, we have some [installation tips](http://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/wiki/installation) on our wiki! Additionally, always connect via ethernet when installing, and remember to remove the boot media once you’re done! 😊 Just looking to help out!
+1 to that! I was going to suggest the same thing, glad I saw your comment.