F5F Stay Refreshed Software Operating Systems Check the boot sequence using your USB drive.

Check the boot sequence using your USB drive.

Check the boot sequence using your USB drive.

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zFenix045_
Member
126
11-02-2025, 05:43 PM
#1
You're looking to set up a dual-boot system with Windows and Linux, using two drives—one HDD and one SSD. You want both partitions split into separate partitions and are concerned about performance and boot speed. You're asking if it's possible to program your USB stick so that upon detection, it automatically boots to Fedora instead of the default Windows or Linux order. Your idea is to make the USB act like a boot manager itself. That’s an interesting approach!
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zFenix045_
11-02-2025, 05:43 PM #1

You're looking to set up a dual-boot system with Windows and Linux, using two drives—one HDD and one SSD. You want both partitions split into separate partitions and are concerned about performance and boot speed. You're asking if it's possible to program your USB stick so that upon detection, it automatically boots to Fedora instead of the default Windows or Linux order. Your idea is to make the USB act like a boot manager itself. That’s an interesting approach!

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zP3DRO_1
Member
118
11-04-2025, 01:49 PM
#2
Boot order is handled by the BIOS/UEFI on the motherboard. you can select boot order there, but you cannot have it be directed by the first boot device unless the boot device has a boot manager on it, that would direct the BIOS to boot onto just the OSs on that device. there is no way to speed this process up with multiple OSs (that i'm aware of) you have a default OS, and if you need to boot something else just use the BIOS's boot override function when the MB does a POST.
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zP3DRO_1
11-04-2025, 01:49 PM #2

Boot order is handled by the BIOS/UEFI on the motherboard. you can select boot order there, but you cannot have it be directed by the first boot device unless the boot device has a boot manager on it, that would direct the BIOS to boot onto just the OSs on that device. there is no way to speed this process up with multiple OSs (that i'm aware of) you have a default OS, and if you need to boot something else just use the BIOS's boot override function when the MB does a POST.

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Gustavgurra03
Posting Freak
815
11-04-2025, 02:11 PM
#3
It seems you're simplifying the process. Using BIOS or GRUB is fine, but I favor GRUB. When GRUB loads, I just press the up or down key then Enter to select the OS. If nothing is pressed, it boots the last one after about 5 seconds. Do you think such quick boot times are essential?
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Gustavgurra03
11-04-2025, 02:11 PM #3

It seems you're simplifying the process. Using BIOS or GRUB is fine, but I favor GRUB. When GRUB loads, I just press the up or down key then Enter to select the OS. If nothing is pressed, it boots the last one after about 5 seconds. Do you think such quick boot times are essential?

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Zayceur
Member
56
11-04-2025, 04:12 PM
#4
Explore iReboot: https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Lau...boot.shtml
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AnttoZz
Member
179
11-04-2025, 05:09 PM
#5
You configure the system through the UEFI boot sequence, then install Windows, followed by Fedora. After that, you use the Fedora install to set up GRUB on the USB drive and create a custom configuration file on it. This approach works because a boot loader operates independently of the operating system (except for Apple).
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AnttoZz
11-04-2025, 05:09 PM #5

You configure the system through the UEFI boot sequence, then install Windows, followed by Fedora. After that, you use the Fedora install to set up GRUB on the USB drive and create a custom configuration file on it. This approach works because a boot loader operates independently of the operating system (except for Apple).

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MidBosque
Junior Member
33
11-07-2025, 09:35 PM
#6
It's making things more complicated, I don't want to always pick one OS. If the BIOS finds a USB, it starts Fedora; otherwise, it boots into Windows. But this slows down startup and uses a huge amount of power just to press two keys.
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MidBosque
11-07-2025, 09:35 PM #6

It's making things more complicated, I don't want to always pick one OS. If the BIOS finds a USB, it starts Fedora; otherwise, it boots into Windows. But this slows down startup and uses a huge amount of power just to press two keys.

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0ZeroGaming0
Member
152
11-17-2025, 02:52 AM
#7
right, thats the plan. my question is how do u write the custom config file and use it on grub
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0ZeroGaming0
11-17-2025, 02:52 AM #7

right, thats the plan. my question is how do u write the custom config file and use it on grub

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3Edge
Senior Member
718
11-22-2025, 06:47 AM
#8
Searching for the latest grub documentation that I haven't explored before.
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3Edge
11-22-2025, 06:47 AM #8

Searching for the latest grub documentation that I haven't explored before.

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xXRattataXx
Member
175
11-22-2025, 10:34 PM
#9
I used Windows on my hard drive, added an SSD afterward and installed MX there (with the HDD removed). After reconnecting the HDD, I went to the boot menu to make the SSD the first priority so it always boots into Linux. When I need Windows or a CD, just press a key (F8 on my Asus desktop).
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xXRattataXx
11-22-2025, 10:34 PM #9

I used Windows on my hard drive, added an SSD afterward and installed MX there (with the HDD removed). After reconnecting the HDD, I went to the boot menu to make the SSD the first priority so it always boots into Linux. When I need Windows or a CD, just press a key (F8 on my Asus desktop).