New Seperate M.2 SSD for Windows 10 Pro install Help

[arcman7]

So I've posted in other threads a while ago about my issues with Ubuntu freezing endlessly randomly, so with no solution to this, I've decided to install a new Corsair MP510 M.2 ssd and install Windows 10 Pro from Kinguin. What is the best way to do this dual boot setup. I'm keeping Ubuntu on my older 500gb Samsung EVO ssd and wanting to put Windws 10 on the newer Corsair M.2 drive. I have yet to install anything yet. I want to make sure I do this right. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[CelticWarrior]

Your Ubuntu was installed in UEFI mode, right? That hardware kinda needs it...

If installed in UEFI mode there's an EFI partition in the first drive, Windows will use it as well. So...

- Install the new drive
- Boot Ubuntu and open GParted, select the new drive, open the Device menu > New partition table... > select GPT. Do not create any partition.
- Shutdown Ubuntu, insert the Windows installer USB stick, boot from the external media...
- Install Windows - when asked make sure to select the unallocated drive as destination, proceed with the installation.

Note: Windows will change the UEFI boot order to itself. After finishing the installation make sure to disable Fast Startup in Windows. Shutdown. Open UEFI settings and change the boot order back to Ubuntu (Grub), confirm and boot Ubuntu. In Ubuntu run

sudo update-grub

. Now Windows is added to the Griub menu and you should be able to boot Windows from Grub.

[oldfred]

See if your UEFI has a setting to turn off a drive. Mine says disabled.
Then Windows will totally install to just the new drive.

Most UEFI autofind Windows when a drive is plugged in or reconnected, but not Ubuntu.
You may have to use live installer and use efibootmgr to update/replace Ubuntu UEFI boot entry. Or re-install grub which will do the same as grub uses efibootmgr as part of its install.
man efibootmgr

More details and some examples of efibootmgr in link in my signature.

[arcman7]

See if your UEFI has a setting to turn off a drive. Mine says disabled.
Then Windows will totally install to just the new drive.

Most UEFI autofind Windows when a drive is plugged in or reconnected, but not Ubuntu.
You may have to use live installer and use efibootmgr to update/replace Ubuntu UEFI boot entry. Or re-install grub which will do the same as grub uses efibootmgr as part of its install.
man efibootmgr

More details and some examples of efibootmgr in link in my signature.

You saying this option eliminates the need to disconnect my Samsung EVO SSD while Windows to loads onto new SSD? I'm seeing other tutorials talk of Windos wanting to put something on the the 1st drive that can mess things up. You would do this before putting in usb stick with Windows right?

Yes Ubuntu was installed via UEFI.

[oldfred]

Since it is often difficult to disconnect a drive particularly NVMe drives, you can do it with software.
We have seen a few cases where user could not see drive, and it was not all the usual suspects but a setting in UEFI.

[arcman7]

Since it is often difficult to disconnect a drive particularly NVMe drives, you can do it with software.
We have seen a few cases where user could not see drive, and it was not all the usual suspects but a setting in UEFI.

Ok interesting, is there a step by step guide on how to do this disable drive deal when setting up a separate drive for Windows? Do I restart into UEFI then do the "disable drive" , then restart again? This assumes the new SSD has been installed.

[oldfred]

You need to look at your UEFI and see what drive settings it has.

In my manual is this and my UEFI uses the periphials tab.

Port 0/1/2/3/4/5
Enables or disables each SATA port. (Default: Enabled)

[arcman7]

IMG_20200114_194618914.jpg I appears that I can according to this. I hope this pic is visable. Under "Advanced tab" I have Sata controllers settings and and detection settings for SATA and the M.2's.

[arcman7]

Since it is often difficult to disconnect a drive particularly NVMe drives, you can do it with software.
We have seen a few cases where user could not see drive, and it was not all the usual suspects but a setting in UEFI.

From what I understand its only my present Ubuntu SSD which is not M.2( its Sata) that would need to be disabled/or disconnected. The new SSD I'm putting Windows 10 onto is a M.2 SSD.

[mastablasta]

Y
- Boot Ubuntu and open GParted, select the new drive, open the Device menu > New partition table... > select GPT. Do not create any partition.

out of curiosity and for possible future use- what does thi sstep do exactly? change to GPT format. but what happnes to existing data on drive. is this a painless procedure like changing fat32 to ntfs?