I'm gearing up to install Linux Mint on my second drive, which is a SATA drive that I've cleared out. My main drive is an NVMe with Windows and a lot of my files. A lot of guides suggest unplugging the Windows drive before I install Linux. I'm concerned because accessing the NVMe drive means I'd have to remove my CPU cooler, and it feels like a hassle to do that twice. Is it absolutely necessary to disconnect the Windows drive, or is it mostly to avoid mistakes when installing?
3 Answers
Your concern is legitimate since the Linux Mint installer sometimes defaults to putting the GRUB bootloader on the first EFI partition it finds, which is usually on your Windows drive. If that happens, you risk your Linux installation becoming dependent on Windows. If you decide not to disconnect it, try using GParted to temporarily remove the boot flags from the Windows EFI partition before installation, then create a new EFI partition on your SATA drive for Linux.
You don’t have to disconnect your Windows drive for the install, but it’s definitely recommended to prevent accidental mistakes. If the Windows drive is physically unplugged, you can’t mistakenly overwrite it. Just be super careful when choosing the drive during installation to avoid an accident.
If you're not unplugging, make sure to back up your important Windows files first, just in case!
For more detailed guidance, you might want to check out the migration page on our wiki. They've got some handy tips there! Just a general note: always verify the checksums of your ISOs after downloading to ensure everything’s legit.
Exactly! There have been so many cases where users accidentally wiped their Windows drive, so taking those extra few seconds to prevent any mistakes can really pay off.