[SOLVED] I have a SSD a 500GB drive and a 2TB drive and want to move Ubuntu from 500GB to SSD

greatormesby · 07-01-2015, 02:45 PM

I hope subject wasn't too long or confusing. As I said I have 3 drives at the moment I have Windows 7 installed on the SSD and Ubuntu on the 500GB drive and I use the 2TB drive for most of my windows data although this is accessible from the Ubuntu system.
The way it is set up it unfortunately boots the loader (GRUB?) from the Ubuntu drive and then I can select windows or Ubuntu. But I want to have the SSD as the initial loader so that both systems will boot quicker.
Can I do this easily or does it require reinstalling both systems? If I do have to reinstall what is the order to do this in? Windows then Ubuntu or Ubuntu the Windows?
I hope this makes sense and I hope I have not missed a previous post the same. I did look but couldn't find (did find similar but not similar enough to help).

Keruskerfuerst · 07-01-2015, 02:51 PM

Partitioning of the drives?

suicidaleggroll · 07-01-2015, 03:20 PM

Your subject and your post contradict each other (at least to my understanding).

Do you want to move Ubuntu (meaning the actual installation) to the SSD, or do you want to leave Ubuntu on the 500G drive and just move the boot loader over to the SSD?

If it's the former, you'll want to use Windows to shrink its partition on the SSD to free up available space, then reinstall Ubuntu on this available space. Once done, you can reformat the 500G drive and use it for whatever.

If it's the latter, it's easy but it won't accomplish anything. The bootloader is tiny and it gets out of the way as soon as you select an OS to boot, moving it from the HDD to the SSD won't make a difference.

syg00 · 07-01-2015, 07:54 PM

It's also possible the OP wants to move the current Ubuntu install to the SSD keeping all the cutomisation and data as-is, but on the SSD.
Or maybe leave the data on the HDD, but move the system to the SSD ...

Simple questions rarely have straightforward answers unless all the requirements are fully specified. Hopefully the OP will be more forthcoming.

ss32 · 07-02-2015, 08:37 AM

The 2TB drive is extra information, no need to even mention it as it isn't relevant to the problem.

First things first: In order for Windows to boot you have to boot from and install grub on the windows drive (at least this has been my experience with Windows 7 and 10). You will have to reinstall at least one OS if you're wanting to swap drives. How big is the SSD? Clonezilla will clone a boot partition but only if the disks are at least the same size, or if the source is smaller than the destination. If the SSD is smaller than 500gb (I'm assuming it's this way) then you can use clonezilla to clone Windows over to the 500gb drive, then reinstall ubuntu on the SSD, then run Boot Repair to install grub on whichever disks need it.

veerain · 07-02-2015, 10:19 AM

In a hdd it takes less than 1 second to load linux kernel and initramfs(20MB) from disk by grub.

Though sometimes(or rarely) it may take more.

jefro · 07-02-2015, 02:51 PM

"I want to have the SSD as the initial loader so that both systems will boot quicker."

Yes, pretty easy usually.

You have two things that can control the boot sequence. One is hard drive boot order in bios/uefi. Two is loader on the hard drive. It is common to have a loader on multiple drives.

What you want to do if there is room is to put a secondary or another loader on this ssd and use F key or bios entry to change boot device.

See how to add grub to a system in web pages.

greatormesby · 07-02-2015, 07:47 PM

Hi Sorry I wasn't clear I will try and explain in more detail The machine was originally set up Windows 7 installed on the SSD (C

and I put all my user data on The 2 TB Drive.(D

I then installed Ubuntu on the 500 GB Drive (E

along with the boot loader.
While trying different physical configurations of the drives I realized that because of the way I had installed I could not have just the C: and D: drives connected and therefore information vital to booting up the system must be on the E: drive (500 GB)
Because the system takes 30 to 40 seconds to boot up I assumed that I need to move some part or all of the boot up data from this drive to The SSD so that, during initial booting, and the bios set with the SSD as the first HDD, speed would increase dramatically (or maybe I am missing something).
What my question is, is can I now simply change the setup to enable this or as Keruskerfuerst put it (Partitioning?) would I have to reinstall a re-partitioned SSD.
Could I achieve this by simply installing Ubuntu on the SSD and then reformat/reuse the 500GB drive and of course having the SSD as the first HDD to boot.
Here is a windows capture view of drive setup now.

I hope this clarifies.

P.S one good thing is I am learning about Linux as we go so even if I don't get resolution I am hoping for I will still have gained a lot.

Many thanks once again.

syg00 · 07-02-2015, 09:48 PM

This is quite common - when you installed Ubunut, by default it installs grub as the boot loader on the "master" hard-drive. In your case this over-wrote the Win boot-loader in the MBR of the SSD. The small part of grub in the MBR then points to the 500G drive to load the menu and the rest of the grub executables. Much slower than the SSD.
Before doing anything, run this command from a Ubuntu terminal and post the output

Code:

sudo lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,SIZE,MOUNTPOINT,LABEL

Simplest might be to re-install Ubuntu, and leave the /home on the 500G drive. You need to make room for Ubuntu on the SSD - in Win7 you should be able to resize from that screen you posted. I usually only give Linux 15G - so reduce the C: drive by whatever you feel comfortable with, and leave it as unallocated space. Disconnect the 500G to save hassles, and re-install Ubuntu - it will set-up as you want. Then you can reconnect the 500G and get at the /home data - hopefully on a separate partition. Also hopefully not ecrypt - let's see that output.

veerain · 07-03-2015, 12:40 AM

Yes. Definitely using SSD for base install of Linux will definitely speed up init and follow up process.

greatormesby · 07-03-2015, 05:43 AM

Hi syg00 Here is the output asked for
Yes I always have backups of everything I can't restore and lots that I can just to make life easier if things go wrong
Thanks for help. I might not be able to carry out changes for several days as my mother is not so well so I will be busy doing things to help her.
I will however get back to you as soon as I can and give you any information about outcome etc.
Thanks also for replies from everyone I will get back to give feedback.
Many many thanks all.

Anyway here is output

syg00 · 07-03-2015, 11:10 PM

It's a pity that the /home isn't a separate partition, but I'd proceed as I suggested; should be easy enough to fix up the /home after the re-install completes.

greatormesby · 07-06-2015, 09:58 AM

Thank you all for taking the time to help I have followed the advice given by syg00 so special bug thanks there.
I did encounter a few problems but nothing overwhelming and some of my own making (taking disk out too early)
The first reinstall did stick while trying to detect something (should have made note) but I simply started again and it all went smoothly.
Yes I do have backups Lots of them on external drive and dvd's as well as on separate internal drive. Now I have the system set up the way it is I will have all my data on the 2 TB drive and will clear the 500 GB one. I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet but it leaves lots of option. I may use it just for Ubuntu data or for backups or even another O.S. (the last one not very likely)
Anyway thank you all again.

I have lost the Soved button at moment bit this problem IS SOLVED