Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

sdf66 · 2016-11-29 12:49:45

I have 2 PCs. One is archlinux, andther is windows 10. I would like to plug the windows 10 hard drive into the arch linux machine. And using arch-linux bootloader(systemd-boot) to dual-boot.
Can I do that without reinstalling archlinux nor windows10? How can I do that?

Slithery · 2016-11-29 13:04:41

AFAIK you may have to reinstall Windows as it's closely tied to the hardware it was originally installed on, but there's nothing to stop you giving it a go first.
Another thing to note is that if Windows came pre-installed on the computer you are moving it from the license will prohibit you from using it on a different machine.

Simply running bootctl update should automatically pick up the Windows installation and add the appropriate entries to systemd-boot.

Last edited by Slithery (2016-11-29 13:07:50)

satanselbow · 2016-11-29 16:01:37

slithery wrote:

AFAIK you may have to reinstall Windows as it's closely tied to the hardware it was originally installed on, but there's nothing to stop you giving it a go first.
Another thing to note is that if Windows came pre-installed on the computer you are moving it from the license will prohibit you from using it on a different machine.
Simply running bootctl update should automatically pick up the Windows installation and add the appropriate entries to systemd-boot.

From experience you may also then struggle (license wise) to return the W10 disk to it's original hardware... so probably best to just say no...

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-11-29 20:06:32

I think Windows always needs to be on the "first" disk, GRUB has a drivemap option that allows a workaround for this:

https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manua … 02fWindows

For systemd-boot, I don't think it would load Windows from a separate ESP but I may be wrong.

sdf66 · 2016-11-30 03:25:24

slithery wrote:

AFAIK you may have to reinstall Windows as it's closely tied to the hardware it was originally installed on, but there's nothing to stop you giving it a go first.
Another thing to note is that if Windows came pre-installed on the computer you are moving it from the license will prohibit you from using it on a different machine.
Simply running bootctl update should automatically pick up the Windows installation and add the appropriate entries to systemd-boot.

Thanks for your response.

Don't worry about license problem. I have volume license.

bootctl update can not pick up the Windows installation.

sdf66 · 2016-11-30 03:37:42

I think I may just use the boot manager provided by the firmware instead. No need to install Windows 10 entry into the systemd-boot.

StanleyRick · 2016-12-02 02:11:55

I have a similar issue. n my first HardDrive (sda) I have Windows 10 installed, and on my second HD (sdb) I have Arch Linux installed. When I frist tried to install grub I used this command:

grub-install --target=i386-pc --recheck /dev/sdb

, but then an error ocurred, I don't remenber what was it but it didn't install grub correctly, so I changed from sdb to sda (where the Windows 10 boot was located) and it worked, but it has "overwritten" the boot of windows 10, and now grub only reconizes Arch Linux as a bootable OS. Is there any possibilty to recover windows boot and keep Arch Linux aswell? I hope you guys understand, english isn't my primary language Thanks!

P.s.: I can still look at the Windows files.

Last edited by StanleyRick (2016-12-02 10:42:28)

satanselbow · 2016-12-02 20:46:03

Your post should be in it's own thread

The solution differs depending whether you gave your Arch disk it's own EFI partition or not...

StanleyRick · 2016-12-02 20:48:25

Oh, ok. Thanks

glyons · 2016-12-05 01:03:02

RE some of the comments windows 10 licensing and swapping
According to various links I have read you can change every component of your PC without a reinstall or re-activation of windows 10 with latest update of Windows 10 Anniversary Update, just by linking your Microsoft account with the digital license as per link
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-ac … are-change

I have not done this yet in real life although I hope to change a motherboard in a PC soon and keep same arch linux and windows hard drives without reinstalling.

Mr.Elendig · 2016-12-05 12:13:47

You don't need grub, just move to the esp created by windows, or use the boot selector in your firmware to choose to boot arch or windows.

Arch Linux

#1 2016-11-29 12:49:45

Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#2 2016-11-29 13:04:41

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#3 2016-11-29 16:01:37

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#4 2016-11-29 20:06:32

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#5 2016-11-30 03:25:24

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#6 2016-11-30 03:37:42

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#7 2016-12-02 02:11:55

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#8 2016-12-02 20:46:03

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#9 2016-12-02 20:48:25

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#10 2016-12-05 01:03:02

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

#11 2016-12-05 12:13:47

Re: Dual-boot with windows 10 on another hard drive.

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