Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

Windows 7 on ThinkPads
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MikalE
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Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

#1 Post by MikalE » Sun Apr 30, 2017 12:21 pm

My T520 is set up with dual physical drives and I can boot to either upon startup.

If instead of overwriting the Linux drive, I just want to remove it and install a blank drive for increased storage, will I mess up the boot loader?

What I mean is, will I have to reconfigure the boot loader if I reinstall the Linux drive, or will the bootloader automatically re-detect the re-installed Linux drive and continue to offer which O/S I wish to boot to?
T510 i5, T510 i7 4349-A64 - T520 i7 4242-4UU, technically a CTO now.

T520: i7-2760QM(2.40GHz),16GB RAM, 500GB SSD/500GB 7200 RPM Drive, 15.6in 1600x900 LCD, 1GB NVIDIA, DVDRW, Smartcard reader, media card reader, FPR, Win7 Pro64, whitelist BIOS, Ultimate-N 6300 AGN, German KB, Bluetooth 4.0.

bit_twiddler
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Re: Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

#2 Post by bit_twiddler » Sun Apr 30, 2017 12:49 pm

Depends where the boot loader is.
What I usually do is to boot off a drive in the Ultrabay.
When I install an OS, I remove all other drives from the computer.
If you have Windows installed on your internal drive bay,
you can copy it to a drive in the ultrabay with Macrium Reflect.
Daily Drivers: W520 i7-2860QM | T420 FHD IPS i7-2640m | W701
Others: W510 | T400 | W500 WUXGA | 701C (on its shrine) | R61 14W (in the boneyard)
Non-TP: Dell T7500 (workstation), Dell m7510
Currently Experimenting With: T420s

MikalE
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Re: Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

#3 Post by MikalE » Sun Apr 30, 2017 2:27 pm

I can't be certain, but I believe when I followed the video instructions on how to set this up it is stored in the MBR on or before the first sector on C:, the Windows7 drive.

EDITED: It is not on the Windows drive. I just rewatched the video and the bootloader was installed on the Linux drive.

I should be able to reconfigure the bootloader using Easy BCD as I did when I installed Linux to the second drive.

Thanks for looking.
T510 i5, T510 i7 4349-A64 - T520 i7 4242-4UU, technically a CTO now.

T520: i7-2760QM(2.40GHz),16GB RAM, 500GB SSD/500GB 7200 RPM Drive, 15.6in 1600x900 LCD, 1GB NVIDIA, DVDRW, Smartcard reader, media card reader, FPR, Win7 Pro64, whitelist BIOS, Ultimate-N 6300 AGN, German KB, Bluetooth 4.0.

Cigarguy
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Re: Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

#4 Post by Cigarguy » Sun Apr 30, 2017 4:35 pm

Drives are cheap, even a modest size SSD. I used to dual boot Linux and Windows from 1 physical drive. Nowadays I simple load Windows on 1 drive, Linux on another and physically swap drives or on some system simple choose which drive to boot to by hitting F12.

MikalE
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Re: Win7 Pro 64 / Linux Mint

#5 Post by MikalE » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:40 pm

The question was would I mess up the boot loader if I removed the Linux drive on a dual drive/dual OS T520? The bootloader is on the Linux drive. But, Easy BCD is on the Windows drive so I can reconfigure at a later date if necessary.
T510 i5, T510 i7 4349-A64 - T520 i7 4242-4UU, technically a CTO now.

T520: i7-2760QM(2.40GHz),16GB RAM, 500GB SSD/500GB 7200 RPM Drive, 15.6in 1600x900 LCD, 1GB NVIDIA, DVDRW, Smartcard reader, media card reader, FPR, Win7 Pro64, whitelist BIOS, Ultimate-N 6300 AGN, German KB, Bluetooth 4.0.

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