Dual-boot 2 HDD
 

Hello!

Is it possible to "dual-boot" windows 8.1 and linux mint 16 cinnamon by installing windows 8.1 on ONE hard drive and its bootloader, and then install linux on the SECOND hard drive with grub. So basically I would have to choose in the BIOS which hard drive to load on start. Is this possible? What are the problems that may occur or are present while doing this?

As far as I understand computers this would be the "safest" way to "dual boot" a system. Since if i am correct there is no chance that grub will overwrite windows bootloader and vice versa IF either decides to update the bootloader in an update.

Hope you understand! Thank you!

Yes, I do that often. I use the bios selection for order of hard drive to make installers believe what the correct drive is to install on. To be extra safe, I usually remove power to the unused drive to totally protect the data. Then when install is finished, I add back the power. I then use a hot key to select the drive I wish to boot. F10 or F9 or such brings up boot menu on many systems.

When this is done properly, no data is damaged on either drive. No left over boot issues, no order of grub issue.

Thank you! I'll give it a go.

I really want Linux but really need Windows. :( such a dilemma :D

This certainly works well for Windoze versions prior to Win8 - I have deliberately avoided "Win8 certified" machines as I don't want to fight the restrictions M$oft is trying to impose.
Nice to know it all still works.

I have a custom built pc. So there should be no restrictions. Upgrading o windows 8 was s big mistake... But what can you do when they hbe a launch sale to upgrade your system for 30 euros. :S . Switching back to windows 7 could have been an option however I fell in love with the hybrid-boot "fastboot".

When you dual boot, windows always shows wrong time. If this happens to you, follow the link..
Windows, Linux dual-boot system time issues
Fix Incorrect Clock Settings in Windows When Dual-Booting with OS X or Linux

Thanks for the heads-up!

If your setup is a Msdos or MBR, after installing linuxmint & reconnectiong windows drive you can just run
or
Which will add wins to you grub menu

I know how to dual boot like that with windows showing up on grub. BUT I dont want that. Because sometime windows gets an update that will replace the grub boot menu or vice-versa. I feel more comfortable to be able to choose from the BIOS which OS boots up. And keep them conpletely separate.

Yes you are somewhat right,but not fully.
1. You haven't changed MBR, only on sdb,
2 Since you haven't changed MBR on sda(windows drive) you still can change it to boot 2st without booting from grub.

This goes somewhat beyond my understanding. But do you mean that having my PC booting up the Linux drive as primary, I could still boot into windows from grub. BUT if i choose to disable/remove the linux drive. It will boot windows as normal?

You won't have to disable or remove, but change the boot order in bios as you wanted to also.

So setting my system up like this, windows update can't screw up grub, nor can linux effect windows files? Grub just has a "path" to the windows drive so the pc, when selecting windows from grub, reboots and starts the windowd drive. Alternatively I could change the boot order from BIOS to boot directly into windows?

Yes

Thank you!!! High five!