Dual boot problem

Discussion in 'backup, imaging & disk mgmt' started by pb1, Nov 17, 2022.

  1. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Hi

    I installed a second disk in my pc and installed another Os on that disk. I have created a dualboot set up before on 1 disk, so with 2 disks i thought that the second Os would be totally separate, but no. This type of action is my first time. The problem with the Os #2 being dependent on Os #1:s boot partition and recovery partition is when backing up, on number 2 i can not back thoose 2 partitions up since they are on the other disk.

    The problem with this is, i think, when trying out software on Os number 2 , that i can not restore the 2 mentioned partitions and that is, safety wise, not satisfactory.

    Is there a way around this?
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2022
  2. Brummelchen

    Brummelchen Registered Member

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    first - the first boot sector is for all drives by default. you have set a drive as the first drive in BIOS/EFI, this one is used!

    second - if you want a different boot drive you need to unplug the first, then install as default.

    problem - you need to press a function key (f2/f8/f12 whatever) to have the option to choose another boot drive (same as for USB-stick).

    your method has not really advantage if you have all drives anytime plugged. and it is not recommended to plug/unplug, then buy a swap frame.

    recovery partition is futile, use a decent backup software instead. this can save boot partition and os partition and will recover those. to avoid a recovery partition just create the os partition manually when installing, do NOT let decide OS.
     
  3. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    So if i understand what you are saying, i can unplug disk #1 when installing an Os on disk #2 and in that way get 2 separate Os that can be handled in the same way as a usuall dual boot when booting. Right?

    Sounds logical when thinking about it.
     
  4. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    I think you'll have to unplug the OS you don't want to boot. If you want separate boot sectors.
     
  5. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Think, or know?

    To me it seems logical that, for instance, use EasyBCD to manage the boot process instead of plug in and out.
     
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    pb1,

    I assume you have a UEFI system. With multibooting UEFI systems you should ensure you only have one ESP (EFI system partition). Having more than one ESP can lead to bizarre boot issues. So when installing a second or subseqent OS you want all HDs attached so a second ESP isn't created. With a MBR system you only want one HD attached (during the OS install) so that the booting files install into the new OS partition, not into the active primary partition on HD0.

    With UEFI systems you can use BootIt UEFI as the boot manager and it's easy. All HDs remain attached, there is only one ESP, you can install Windows or Linux OS to the primary or other HDs. You can copy OS partitions to the same or other HDs. The booting files for each OS are held in the ESP.

    Say you have Win10 on the third HD and you plan an image backup. You have to backup Win10 and the ESP.
     
  7. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Ok. Well that answered my question in my first post. Wheter using 1 or 2 disks for 2 Os, there will, and should, only be 1 boot partition.
    So that`s straightened out.
     
  8. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    So that is conclusive then, i can not have 2 disks, with fully installed separate Os on both, and jump between them by shifting boot order in bios just in the same way one does it when jumping between a bootable usb and a Os.
     
  9. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I see no mention of what the 2 OSes are so that may make some difference. Maybe.
     
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    If you have two (or more) Windows OS you will only have one Windows Boot Manager in the BIOS so you can't use this WBM to boot multiple Windows OS. You can use this method to boot a Windows and a Linux OS as they appear differently in the UEFI/BIOS.
     
  11. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    W11 and 10, so i guees that makes it a no difference.
     
  12. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Only one WBM with a single ESP. You should see a Microsoft Boot menu however. It's been ages since I've multi-booted without BootIt so I've forgotten the details.
     
  13. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    What a bummer. Do you know anyone who wants to buy a disk ;).

    Anyway, thanks for the info Brian. Now i am off to rearrange some partitions, and Os.
     
  14. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    pb1,

    What partitions do you have on the second Disk?
     
  15. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Thoose that windows installed, the C: with W10 and the Reserved on 16MB.

    I am going to rearrange things on disk #1 and move the content on #2 to 1 so i can do full backup of respective Os.


    Post #2 above, recommended me to do away with the recovery partition, is not that a bad idè? It is not a manufacturer partition, it is the Windows made one. I recall several times when Windows could not boot properly due to a recovery partition out of shape even if i used Macrium R.
     
  16. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    I can't recall if you have BootIt. You could boot that OS from its present situation or move it to the primary drive and boot it from there.

    I don't mind having backups from two different drives. It's not an issue.

    Recovery partitions are good. You can make boot media from the winre.wim.
     
  17. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    No BootIt, no.
    But, as i mentioned in my first post, it can be a security issue under the circumstances i have now. Restoring the full Os is safer.
     
  18. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    Agreed. Just wanted to clarify that Linux was not involved here.
     
  19. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Well, now when i have been bitten by this dual boot thing i might install some Linux dist on the second disk, so what would you recommend?
    Something easy to handle for a Linux novice that just works. I dont want to have to be a programmer to use it.
     
  20. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    My preference is Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition
    https://linuxmint.com/
    If that is not to your liking Ubuntu 22.10 is nice as well
    https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop
     
  21. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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  22. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    What, that you don't want to have to be a programmer to use them? They are about as simple as it gets. I have had better reliability with Mint. For a Windows user it is pretty intuitive.
     
  23. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    As with Windows OS, the Linux booting files are installed into the ESP. So for backup purposes you need images from both disks (if Linux is installed on the second Disk)..
     
  24. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    After reading Brians answer above i understand that Linux will not be isolated to disk #2, booting from disk #2 fully. So now i wonder, what Os did you have in mind when you wrote as you did in post #9?

    I want something that resides totally and fully on disk #2.
     
  25. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    All Windows and Linux OS put their booting files in the ESP.

    You can have a WinPE on an internal Disk. They don't need booting files in the ESP. But that isn't your intention.
     
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