I've been trying to set up a dual boot for Windows 11 and POP OS on two different SSDs for over a year now, but I just can't get it to work. I've followed various tutorials, but many of them are specific to installations on the same drive, and the few that do cover separate SSDs are quite confusing to me. I'm a complete beginner when it comes to using Linux commands, but I really want to use POP OS as my main OS to learn more about Linux. I've been able to install other distributions like Ubuntu and Mint without any issues, so this is frustrating.
After installing both operating systems on their respective SSDs, my boot manager won't detect both installations, and I don't get an option at startup. I've tried copying the Windows EFI file to the POP OS EFI folder and other troubleshooting steps, but nothing has worked. I don't want to have to press F12 every time I boot up to choose the OS. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
If removing the Windows SSD isn’t feasible, you might want to try setting up rEFInd as your boot manager. Install it on POP OS, and you can configure it to detect both operating systems. This way, you won't need to go into the BIOS frequently to switch. It usually just takes a couple of terminal commands to get it running, and it can make the boot process a lot smoother. There's some decent documentation available to help as well!
Sometimes the issue might be related to the EFI partition. After you've installed both OSes, make sure the boot order in BIOS is set correctly to prioritize the right EFI partition. This can sometimes resolve detection issues. You can also use a tool like Boot Repair after installation to help manage boot entries more effectively. Let me know if you need specifics on any of that!
It's crucial to ensure that the BIOS settings are set correctly. If possible, unplug the Windows SSD during the POP OS installation to avoid any confusion. After installing POP OS, you can plug the Windows SSD back in. That way, you only have one drive during the installation process, which should help set up the bootloader correctly. It's also a good idea to check if secure boot is enabled; disabling it often resolves boot issues. Hope this clears things up! Let us know how it goes!
Thanks for the tip! I usually have secure boot enabled, so I'll try disabling that first.
I might have to give rEFInd a shot; sounds easier than wrestling with BIOS!