Advice for relocating a hard drive while keeping an Ubuntu installation on an Intel laptop connected to a 2A AMD desktop
Advice for relocating a hard drive while keeping an Ubuntu installation on an Intel laptop connected to a 2A AMD desktop
Linux operates independently of hardware constraints unlike Windows.
If you feel anxious about it, you can build another kernel tailored for AMD and include it in GRUB for simple installation. Generally Linux accommodates this well and supports AMD as well. You might still require some external drivers for Wi-Fi or Ethernet to be properly set up. The key is choosing an Intel Ethernet adapter—PCI or PCI-E depending on your hardware. These are typically included with Linux by default. Once everything is functioning, you can detach the card. The main challenge could be if you compiled applications specifically for your previous system; then you might need to rebuild them or use standard install tools.
Based on my observations, Windows functions smoothly with hardware changes—like upgrading from an old Intel CPU to a new AMD one, which worked perfectly for me. Sometimes reactivation is needed, but it’s usually not an issue unless special drivers are involved. On Linux, you might face problems with the graphics driver, potentially causing a black screen at startup. Fixing this often requires logging in via TTY using alt+f2 and installing the right driver manually. Apart from that, the BIOS could block boot if certain features like fast boot are enabled.
I’ve run some tests by putting Windows on an external drive and switching between my different computers. It functions, though occasionally the transition might cause a BSOD a few times and require an automatic fix. The main issue is that after installation, drivers for various hardware from WU can take about 15 minutes to download and set up. In comparison, installing Ubuntu between the same machines works instantly without any problems. The only part that might need updating is the GPU driver, but even without it, it performs well for everyday tasks thanks to built-in support—unless you need to run 3D or compute programs.
On Linux, drivers are integrated into the kernel from the start, hardware is recognized each time you power on, and popular distributions come with large kernels that accommodate many devices. Unless your setup relies on something that needs special proprietary support—like certain Nvidia cards—you should be all set.
Many users, particularly those working with graphics, run in kernel mode on Windows. Fresh installations work well with most NVIDIA chips (though 3D acceleration isn't available without reclocking), just ensure you have the latest kernel.