Installation on a fresh system with multiple storage options.
Installation on a fresh system with multiple storage options.
Hi, I've set up a PC with one SSD and two HDDs. You want to run Windows on the SSD and install Ubuntu on one of the HDDs. You're curious about how to get the GRUB selection menu at startup and what happens to the third drive. You're unsure about partitioning and want to know if Ubuntu should take the whole HDD while leaving the second one for Windows. I'll walk you through it step by step.
Based on my experience, installing an OS lets you select a specific HDD. After choosing one, it will exclusively use that drive and not others unless you decide otherwise.
Start by disconnecting all the HDDs and setting up Windows on the SSD. (Windows tends to create a hidden partition on a secondary HDD, which is why I usually unplug the other drives first.) After everything is functioning, connect the one HDD and install Ubuntu there (select the disk when prompted). It will automatically set up Grub. When you're ready, insert the remaining HDD and use it for storage.