I have two hard drives. One is used for Windows and one is empty. I want to install Ubuntu on the empty hard drive. The Windows hard drive is disk0 in Windows and the empty hard drive is disk1. When I install Ubuntu and it asks where I want to install it, I choose "Something Else" but I am stuck there. What do I choose for "boot loader installation"?
3 Answers
Put the boot loader (known as the GRUB) in the hard drive that you are installing Ubuntu on. If Windows is in /dev/sda put GRUB in the MBR of /dev/sdb. That is, do not put GRUB in /dev/sdb1 or another partition.
In the BIOS set to boot from the Ubuntu drive. This may boot straight to Ubuntu at first. If that happens open a terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T and type sudo update-grub. From the next boot you should get the choice to boot Ubuntu or Windows.
Installing Ubuntu on 2nd hard drive, Windows on 1st
Unplug Windows hard drive.
Install Ubuntu on second hard drive.
Plug Windows drive back in.
Set Ubuntu hard drive as the first HDD in BIOS.
Boot Ubuntu hard drive.
In Terminal run:
sudo update-grub
This should automatically add a Windows menuentry to the grub boot menu.
You can change back to Windows bootloader, (first HDD), using BIOS if desired.
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I connected up one drive and installed Ubuntu. Then disconnected the drive. Then connected another drive and installed Windows 7. Then I connected up both drives and in the Bios set the computer to boot from CD as 1 then the Windows 7 as 2 and lastly the Ubuntu drive. Now when I start up it boots into Windows 7 without any menu. When I want Ubuntu as it is booting up I press F11 and choose the hard drive Ubuntu is on.
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