Confused About Installing Linux Mint on the Right SSD
Asked by
CuriousCat99
Hey everyone, I need some help with my SSD setup. I've got two SSDs in my PC: a 2TB one for Windows and a smaller 512GB one for trying out Linux Mint since I'm considering switching over. I thought I followed the installation steps correctly and selected the 512GB drive for Mint, but it looks like it got installed on the 2TB drive instead. Now, neither Mint nor Windows recognizes the 512GB SSD, though my BIOS detects it. Can anyone suggest how I can fix this? I've got everything backed up just in case I need to reinstall.
Answers
It seems like the GRUB bootloader might have been installed on the 2TB drive's EFI partition. Boot into Mint, open a terminal, and run `df -h`. Check which partition is mounted at `/` and what’s mounted at `/boot/efi`, as that’s where the EFI should be.
Reply to this answer
Just to clarify, you installed Mint over Windows by mistake? If that's the case, you might need to restore your backup since it seems like Linux took over the 2TB drive.
Reply to this answer
You actually don't want to use the RAID option for this setup. If you installed Mint over Windows, restoring your backup is going to be essential.
Reply to this answer
One approach is to disconnect the 512GB drive and reinstall Windows on the 2TB. After that, disconnect the 2TB and reconnect the 512GB to install Mint on it. With both drives connected, see if you can choose the boot option you want from the BIOS. Good luck!
Reply to this answer
You might want to check out the migration page linked in our wiki for more guidance. There are also some migration tips available in the sticky. And remember, always verify the checksums of your ISOs after downloading!
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
CuriousCat99: Yeah, it seems that way. They both show up on the 2TB in boot priority.