How can I install Ubuntu on Windows 10 laptop with two hard drives on separate drives? [duplicate]

I have a brand new Windows 10 laptop that has two drives, a 512 SSD and a 1 TB hard drive. I would like to use the entire 1 TB drive to install Ubuntu on. I am new to Linux (just re-purposed an old Windows laptop to be all Linux two weeks ago and love it, but it is limiting because it is a 32-bit system.) I really need a 64-bit Linux machine for graduate school, but need Windows for work. I am afraid to make a mistake and risk loosing all the Windows installations I need for work. Is there a foolproof (yes I'm a Linux nube) step-by-step process? Thank you.

Solution 1:

Please don't do VM and all. Just go for normal dual-boot installation. If someone says, dual-boot is messy, just ignore them!

Refer Dual Boot Windows 10 and Linux Ubuntu on Separate SSD wherein I have answered in great details regarding installation of dual-boot.

But the answer was given for configuration involving two separate SSDs, but it does not stop you using the same answer for a single SSD scenario as in your case.

You can divide your 512 GB SSD into two, one partition (312 GB) for Windows-10 installation and the other one (200 GB) for Ubuntu 18.04 64-bit AMD. You will be good!

Note-1: you can effectively use your 1 TB hard disk to share between Windows 10 and Ubuntu 18.04

Note-2: you may go for two or three NTFS partitions on 1 TB hard disk and later mount them on Ubuntu 18.04 so that you can use them effectively!

Note-3: @Annabanana, you voiced few concerns but it seems vague. Please clarify the following:

1. The laptop has one 512 GB SSD and one 1 TB hard disk.
2. You have already installed windows-10 on 512 GB SSD.
3. You are keeping all your programs and data under 512 GB SSD.
4. Except your unsubstantiated fear of making some mistake and loosing all data, you are really interested in dual-booting Ubuntu 18.04 64-bit AMD with Windows 10.

5. How much of free space is left in 512 GB SSD?

6. Are you using 1 TB hard disk? In which way?

It is seems that you have already started using 512 GB SSD not only for programs but also for data. If not, you would not be so generous to dedicate entire 1 TB hard for Ubuntu 18.04 installation! You must be a great philanthropist!

I am glad to deal with a Data analyst because I can easily reason with a data analyst.

I want you to be more rational in your decision to allocate entire 1 TB hard disk for Ubuntu 18.04 installation. If so, at some point of time later where will you keep your data? Is it in 512 GB SSD? It is a bad choice! Never keep data in SSD.

I would suggest you to go for partitioning 512 GB SSD into two, and you need to install Ubuntu 18.04 on the second partition because the first partition has a pre-installed windows-10.

You have already thrown some confusing conclusions. You said that you want a 100% all linux system for big data analysis. You sound as if it needs 1 TB hard disk Ubuntu 18.04 installation for such a huge data analysis!

For data analysis, what you really need is a powerful RDBMS software with data warehouse capabilities with enough disk space. That is it! Definitely not a huge Ubuntu 18.04 installation on a 1 TB hard disk!

Let me summarize your computer system configuration needed for a good data analysis:

1. Change drive letter for 1 TB hard disk. If it is 'D', then assign an unused drive letter let us say 'G'.

   Refer the link to change the drive letter of 1 TB hard disk: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-assign-permanent-drive-letter-windows-10

2. Create a partition in your 'C' drive. i.e. you can shrink 'C' drive and create a new partition with that redundant space by using Disk Management for a size of 200 GB.

   Refer the following link to carve out a new partition from an existing 'C' drive: https://www.disk-partition.com/articles/how-to-partition-c-drive-3889.html

3. Note down the device information of the newly created partition. Is it /dev/sdb or /dev/sdc? What is the drive letter of new partition? is it 'D'?

4. Restart your computer and log into system. If you are successful, then this implies that your Windows-10 pre-installation is safe and sound and working great, after cutting out a new partition!

5. Install Ubuntu 18.04 on the newly created 200 GB partition.

   I have already given answer to create bootable USB stick using Rufus, you refer What does it mean to make a bootable LiveUSB?

   To install Ubuntu 18.04 refer my answer Dual Boot Windows 10 and Linux Ubuntu on Separate SSD

6. Change drive letter for 1 TB hard disk, back to 'D'

   Refer https://www.windowscentral.com/how-assign-permanent-drive-letter-windows-10

7. Divide your 1 TB hard disk into two or three NTFS partitions and name/label the partitions sensibly (names/labels should be contiguous and no gaps)

8. Mount all the NTFS partitions of 1 TB hard disk on Ubuntu 18.04 which are needed for your data analysis tasks.

   If you need my help in setting up mounting and so on, please feel free to contact me.

9. You need to install Oracle 18c (Enterpise Edition) for your data warehouse activities such as mining, drilling and so on.

   I have already answered in great details about installation of Oracle 18c (Enterprise Edition) on Ubuntu 18.04 How to install Oracle 18c (Enterprise Edition) on Ubuntu 18.04?

Good Luck!