There is a laptop with 2 slots for SSD, actually one for Windows, and on the second I want to install Linux. Is it possible to crank the following:

  1. Put the second SSD and remove the first, on which Windows.

  2. On a clean install Linux on the new SSD.

  3. Insert the original SSD in place.

In total, we have 2 completely different boot loaders on 2 different SSDs. To switch between systems in BIOS, change the boot priority (SSD 1 and SSD 2). Will it work or are there pitfalls? Xiaomi mi notebook air 13.3 laptop

  • Why so complicate? Grub one will perfectly cope with loading Windows and Linux. And it will be more convenient, that is, it will be possible to choose which OS to load manually and set which one will load immediately. - excellproj
  • @excellproj the problem is that Linux is more like an experiment with itself, so if I don’t want to go I’d like to tear down and forget it like a bad dream) The last such attempt failed and I was tormented by cleaning the bootloader, because I didn’t want to lose Windu was ... - Bobby Kitten
  • So this is no problem either. Restore the Windows bootloader or leave the Grub and Linux bootloader to demolish. - excellproj
  • one
    In theory, it should work. In the process of running bios, if it supports, select the disk from which it is loaded through F8. What distribution did you choose? - excellproj
  • one
    No different from the SSD + USB flash drive option. Not only theoretically, but practically as well. UEFI can choose a boot loader, if it needs to be very (again, in the case of UEFI there is no need for a separate boot loader for Linux) - 0andriy

1 answer 1

Your option will work uniquely! and everything will be as you intended. But, for understanding and ease of implementation:

  • In order not to pull out / pull in disks, you have (for example) a Windows on ssd1 / sda1 and it is included in bios as bootable. Insert the second disk ssd2 / sda2 (clean), switch it to bios as a boot disk.

    • install Linux, and when installing grub2, we point out that it should be installed on sda2 / ssd2. At the same time, he will pick up the Windows without wiping it !!! Windows loader on sda1 / ssd1, and with the next boot you can easily choose what to download!

    • if you don’t like Linux, you simply switch to the bios boot to the first ssd1 with a working win boot loader, and run the Windows standard, and with the second disk you do what you want) - at least format it, even if you insert it into another computer.

Profit)

  • Super! Thank you so much for your reply) - Bobby Kitten