Windows 7: Dual boot, two seperate internal HDDs

kingmonkeywoman · 09 Aug 2012

Hi Guys

I want to create a dual boot for Windows 7 and ubuntu using two seperate HDDs.

My first question is what is the best set up for this?

At the moment I have:
80GB windows7 HDD (IDE)
320GB files HDD (IDE)
2TB external for backup and for using with my laptop

My spare HDDS are:
20GB HDD (IDE)
40GB HDD (SATA)

Would it be better to use the 20GB IDE or the 40GB SATA to install ubuntu?
Obviously the 40GB would be better in terms of size, but I am unsure as to whether mixing SATA and IDE HDDs has disadvantages?

I am also unsure of the best way to arrange the HDDs in terms of IDE1/IDE2 and jumpers
(obviously this also depends on which HDD I chose to use)

And one more quick question. Does it matter which power cables you use with which IDE cables?

Any info would be great thanks. I'm not very experienced so bare with me!

Cheers
Soph

Bare Foot Kid · 09 Aug 2012

Here you go mate, have a look through this.

Information

The easiest way to do away with boot issues between separate Operating Systems (OS) is to use the BIOS one time boot menu to select which OS to boot at system startup, each motherboard has an individual hot-key to tap during system start-up to access this menu.

If you have 2 separate Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and have one OS installed to one HDD and you want to install another OS to the second HDD, disconnect the HDD with the first OS installed on it and leave only the HDD you want to install the second OS to connected.

Install the second OS to the connected HDD and when complete and the system is booting good, power down and reconnect the first HDD with the first OS on it.

This way the OSs will boot independently of each other and there will be no boot conflicts between the 2 separate OSs to have to sort later.

Then set the BIOS to boot the HDD / OS you want as default and if you want to start the other (new) OS you use the BIOS one-time boot menu to select that HDD / OS to start when the PC is started.

Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer – F12
Packard Bell
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Gigabyte – F12
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

kingmonkeywoman · 09 Aug 2012

Cheers for the reply.

I currently have ubuntu on 20GB IDE and windows7 on 80GB IDE
(this was more form messing around rather than knowing what I was doing, but luckily it fits what it says to do in your post!! heh)

However when I get to BIOS I don't understand how to chose.
When i select which boot device it just says 'Hard drive' (and all the other options such as CD ROM etc). It doesnt ask me which hard drive.
Am i looking at the wrong bit?

Also, any opinions on whether i should have ubuntu on 20GB IDE or a 40GB SATA when I currently have

windows7 80GB HDD
data 320 GB HDD

advantages/disadvantages of having a mix of IDE and SATA drives or stickin to all one kind?

Cheers
Soph

kingmonkeywoman · 09 Aug 2012

ahhhh found it 'hard disk boot priorety' !! Sorry im a bit slow

kingmonkeywoman · 09 Aug 2012

any imput on whether i should use the 40GB SATA or 20GB IDE for ubuntu would still be appreciated

Cheers
Soph

Bare Foot Kid · 09 Aug 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by kingmonkeywoman

any imput on whether i should use the 40GB SATA or 20GB IDE for ubuntu would still be appreciated

Cheers
Soph

Hello Soph.

Good to see you getting it sorted.

Anything someone has to say about which HDD is better that would only be conjecture, if something works, why fix it eh.

Windows 7: Dual boot, two seperate internal HDDs

Dual boot, two seperate internal HDDs problems?