12.04 - Install on Second Hard Drive with startup boot option? - Ask Ubuntu

in theory, want simple, i've done google research , read posts on site , i'm still confused.

i want keep win7 on primary c:\ drive, , install ubuntu (12.10) on secondary drive (that have yet buy or install. want i'm successful when this). if @ possible i'd if when start computer have option boot either win7 or ubuntu, account log in type thing pick drive i'm running day. , reiterate, not want partition c:\ drive or alter, change, or affect win7 system in way.

the reason i'm still uncertain of this, lot of guides i've read have been earlier versions of ubuntu. vast majority of guides partitioning 1 drive fit both os'. want 2 separate os running 2 separate drives can pick @ boot. guides did find mentioned there issue grub being installed on c:\ rest of os being installed on other drive. still case? how avoid that?

also, if helps, i've been running 12.04lts on laptop few months in , out of class , love it.

finally, if please point me guide or write answer in form of guide 2 year old that'd awesome. i'm still ubuntu novice , don't want mess win7.

how works

each partitioned disk contain 1 small block called mbr. resides @ beginning of disk.

now, os inserts code mbr load own bootloader. windows same, linux same.

they insert small code pointing actual location of bootloader. in linux, mbr contains stage1 of grub (grub bootloader used in linux) loads larger executable stage2 may located in other partition.

if install windows, , linux, grub stage1 sits in mbr. other part of grub (the actual bootloader) contains windows bootloader location. when select windows grub menu, windows starts load. called chain loading (grub loads first, grub loads windows bootloader based on selection).

coming question

in case, have 2 mbr (because have 2 hard disks).

therefore, have 2 options:

easiest option

• create partition on 2nd disk.

• install ubuntu on partition & install grub on 2nd disk's mbr not on first disk's mbr. careful here. see below image (just demo purpose), need in (probably) sdb.

• you select already created sdb partition, edit, assign mount point /, , file system type ext4

• select boot loader location sdb , not sda (see red colored section)

• once done, reboot , booted windows 7.

it happens because, boot disk priority says boot first hard disk (where didn't change anything).

so open bios, change boot disk priority disk containing ubuntu comes first.

• this time, grub loaded. , can boot either os.

• remove disk, windows 7 boot directly.

• again plugin 2nd disk, verify boot order bios 2nd disk comes first. can boot os again.

another option

you can modify windows bootloader load ubuntu 2nd disk. bit harder, , since don't want touch windows 7 @ all, not recommending it.

note: tutorials available here talks adding ubuntu same disk different partition. have not done across devices, may need adopt accordingly.

here tough guide so.

there great gui tool edit boot loader called easybcd (it free personal use). their guide setting ubuntu using windows bootloader.

you can have more resource on easy bcd help: dual boot win7 , ubuntu 11.10 -- "add new entry" ubuntu

i recommend using grub bootloader, more flexible. may can set windows default boot option and/or reduce timeout value.