Problems with installing Ubuntu on a added ssd in acer e5-576-393h

Win 10 is installed on HDD (sda) and boots up with no problems. I want to install Ubuntu 18.04 on the ssd drive with its own boot loader. SSD is setup for gpt partitions. I want to be able to select what drive to boot from in the powerup F12 selection process. Fast boot is disabled. Have read numerous articles but, not finding a "How To" for my requirements. I have already did one reinstall of windows due to false info from one article.

Doing the install, I need to know how to configure the Partitions for the sdd drive (sdb), so that I have the booting flexibility I want. Also, how do I deal with the "Stack Exchange" issue of 512b vs 4096b?

Have spent many hours researching this issue and know there has got to be a process in place to do this.....

Appreciate the help.... Thx

Accepted answers

Gawain

if you have 2 physically separate drives, then 2 uefi partitions (one on each) shouldn't be a problem. On sdb, i'd put 4 partitions /boot/efi (<250mb FAT with esp flag) / (15-20gb ext4) /swap (2gb) /home (the rest ext4). Thats pretty much how I'm set up (but reversed as I don't use Win10 much so on a normal boot goes straight to linux, on an F12 i get to choose the windows drive but I'm mapped on the linux drive to the windows partition should i need access to stuff there). Also putting your linux home drive on a separate partition makes it so much easier should you need to reinstall without wrecking your settings/personal stuff or should you wish to "hop" distro's. Secure boot off.

All comments

Gawain

if you have 2 physically separate drives, then 2 uefi partitions (one on each) shouldn't be a problem. On sdb, i'd put 4 partitions /boot/efi (<250mb FAT with esp flag) / (15-20gb ext4) /swap (2gb) /home (the rest ext4). Thats pretty much how I'm set up (but reversed as I don't use Win10 much so on a normal boot goes straight to linux, on an F12 i get to choose the windows drive but I'm mapped on the linux drive to the windows partition should i need access to stuff there). Also putting your linux home drive on a separate partition makes it so much easier should you need to reinstall without wrecking your settings/personal stuff or should you wish to "hop" distro's. Secure boot off.

Wiz70

Gawain

One other question for you. Should I set BIOS to Secure Boot Off before I start this process??? I disabled Windows Fast boot in the Power Options... Thx

Wiz70

One other thought I had, was to disconnect the HDD drive and do a new install on the SSD. Would this be a easier install?

christy1

Wiz70 said:

Gawain

One other question for you. Should I set BIOS to Secure Boot Off before I start this process??? I disabled Windows Fast boot in the Power Options... Thx

Hi @Wiz70,

Secure boot should be off. before installing the OS.

christy1

Wiz70 said:

One other thought I had, was to disconnect the HDD drive and do a new install on the SSD. Would this be a easier install?

Not required since the bootable device is set for its installation.

Gawain

hello there, personally i would turn off secure boot before install. As for disconnecting your original hdd, no need, just double check you a partitioning the right drive etc during install (speaking from experience, duh!). Disconnecting wouldn't make it easier as your both drives will be listed when you do the "something else" manual partitioning bit. (my apology's christy1, i didn't read the added bits to the thread before answering, me bad)

Wiz70

I really appreciate the help from both of you but, have one last question. If I disconnect the HDD and the SSD is configured for gpt partitioning, would it be feasible to select "Erase disk and Install Ubuntu" for the installation type?

Gawain

well, I reckon it would be but you'd lose the advantage of having separate partitions in the event of a reinstall/distro change etc. Besides, linux puts the fun back into computers, learn a bit on the way and if it doesn't work out try it again a slightly different way! Partitioning is pretty easy as long as you take note of what your clicking on.

Wiz70

I have been using / installed Ubuntu on 6 different PCs in the past many years. I remember it use to be a easy install on a few of them and then came UEFI, fast boot, secure boot. My good friend, also a EE, was more into the nuts and bolts of software, is gone. I'm more into hardware design. So, I do a lot of research along with making a few bad choices with these newer installs. Wanted to again thank all for the help....
Hope to have time to proceed with my installation in a couple of days...

Wiz70

Got a chance today to try the install with the info I got. Didn't go well. 1st issue was disable secure boot. Wasn't sure about the options provided so, didn't do anything to BIOS. Maybe this was my down fall. I included a screen shot of options. Please advise what to do....

I did try to install and setup the partitions as recommended. I selected /sdb to install boot and got a error. Screen shots included.

Would really appreciate some direction on what I did wrong.........

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/a9/i5fwm4b2amxb.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/87/si5slbpxxqrm.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/f0/mfhtevr6oliu.jpg

Wiz70

Including a clearer shot of BIOS options for secure boot

Gawain

okay, secure boot - to turn it off first set a supervisor password then you'll get the option. With the /efi bit, did you check the esp flag is ticked for the ubuntu efi on sdb? (I'm scratching my head a bit for that error as i just installed an ubuntu flavour on a separate drive and didn't get a message...these things are sent to try us!)

Wiz70

well, I entered a supervisor password, rebooted and selected F2. Got the same display as shown in previous response.. No option to disable secure boot. I just bought this laptop so, BIOS may have changed to allow it?#*!! As for setting the flag, didn't find a way to do it in the partitioning install setup for the /boot/efi. I looked but, must have missed something. This what I did:
sdb1 to: 200mb, fat32, mount point /boot/efi, format. (don't see a way to set flag)
if I set sdb1 to: 200mb, EFI system partition, I can't set a mount point or partition type.

Correct me if I'm wrong but, if I disconnect the HDD (win10) drive I have a bare nuts system with the blank SSD drive set for gpt. If I select the "Erase disk and Install Ubuntu" for then Installation type, shouldn't I get a self standing bootable version of Ubuntu? Isn't this SSD drive would act like a bootable usb drive that can be selected with the F12 key for boot? The only problem, how do I disable secure boot to do this install?

I had 2 older desk tops(before uefi) that I installed a 2nd sata drive which had ubuntu installed. All I had to do was select boot option from F12 to select Win of Ubuntu boot.

I hate Microsoft and their control over PC's....

Wiz70

I just found the way to disable secure boot.........

Wiz70

Solved...... I found what was required to setup the partitions in the "Something Else" installation type. The 1st partition needs to be set as a "UEFI System Partition" with size of 100mb. Bios was updated to provide another drive to boot from. Set bios to boot from the another drive. Laptop boots into the SSD with a grub menu to select either Ubuntu of Win10. Both options work.

Thanks for the help.... I might create a post describing this install.....

christy1

Wiz70 said:

Solved...... I found what was required to setup the partitions in the "Something Else" installation type. The 1st partition needs to be set as a "UEFI System Partition" with size of 100mb. Bios was updated to provide another drive to boot from. Set bios to boot from the another drive. Laptop boots into the SSD with a grub menu to select either Ubuntu of Win10. Both options work.

Thanks for the help.... I might create a post describing this install.....

Good to know that your issue is been solved.

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