So I am buying a new 250 GB SSD drive and caddy to replace my CD Drive with. The laptop that I am installing this on currently has only Windows 7 on it. I plan on keeping the current hard drive in it just for Windows 7 and then using the SSD just for Ubuntu (I'm trying to install Ubuntu on the SSD).
Note that I am trying to also have the option to boot either Ubuntu or Windows at startup, so only one or the other.
Would I have to install the SSD under Windows first? Or would I have to create a partition for Ubuntu in my current hard drive and then use Ubuntu to install the SSD, then reinstall Ubuntu onto the SSD? Is it possible to simply replace my CD drive with the SSD without doing anything with software (will my computer recognize it for use right away?) so that I can boot Ubuntu directly from a USB flash drive onto the SSD? I'm very confused about how to go about this process, answers are very appreciated!
Best Answer
The Ubuntu installer will recognize the drive as long as it's properly connected. You can build the necessary partitions to run Ubuntu fully on the SSD. So you don't have to do anything in Windows as long as it's properly connected.
I have a similar setup but on a tower PC.
Be aware that you have to create some 4 different partitions on that SSD for the EFI boot loader, root partition, home partition and swap partition.
Look around for some Ubuntu manual installation tutorials.