PRE installing an SSD with linux

Sisrace

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Sweden
Hi!, I wonder if i could hook up my new Kingston SSDNOW W300 120Gb ssd to my main computer with windows 8 ( Crappy 1Tb Seagate SSHD ) And install linux on the ssd. So when me and my friends motherboard finaly arrive i will be able to just hook up the ssd and go right into linux?
Also i want to be able to temporarily play around in linux with the main computer ( Boot into linux instead of win 8. ) to play around and install the things i want
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 NON PRO
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 Stock Clock
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport Overclocked to 1866Mhz 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 660 DirectCUII OC
    Sound Card
    Intergrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary; ASUS VG247QE 24" 144Hz. Secondary; HP 2009v 20" 60Hz, Third; Benq 21.5" 60Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1:1920x1080 2:1600:900 3: 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1: SAMSUNG 850 EVO 250GB SSD
    2: 1TB Seagate 3.5" 7200RPM SSHD
    3: 2TB WD Green 3.5" HDD
    PSU
    Corsair RM650
    Case
    Fractal Desigt Define R4 Windowed Black
    Cooling
    Cpu cooler: Noctua NH-U14S, 2 140MM Aerocool DS RED LED
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70RGB CherryMX Brown
    Mouse
    Roccat Kone XTD
    Internet Speed
    100Mb/s DOWN - 100Mb/s UP : Fiberoptics
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    F-Secure, Malwarebytes
You don't actually install "Linux" -- since that is an operating system kernel; instead, you install a distribution (known as a Distro), such as Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc.

You most certainly CAN install a Distro to the SSD, just be sure to NOT have the Seagate drive connected at the time -- to prevent accidentally installing GRUB to the Seagate and thereby, probably hosing up the Windows boot.

Also, while the same Distro is likely to work when you connect the SSD to your new motherboard, realize that the onboard devices are likely to be quite different, and while Linux distros typically handle this well, there is a strong possibility that if the devices on the motherboard are very new, there will not be Linux drivers for them -- which you will find out when you try to boot from and use the SSD on the new motherboard. If that proves to be the case (no Linux drivers), you'll have to live without using that hardware until drivers come out.
 

My Computer

Oohh yeah.. Forgot the devices has to bee compatible?
Using AMD A10 7700K, Gigabyte A88X Mini-Itx WIFI, 8Gb Corsair Veangence Pro 2133Mhz Ram, Kingston ssdNow 120Gb v300.
So i think it should work. The mobo may be changed out. We've had some problems right now with it... But i've checked and the mobo supports Linux!.

I just want to install a clean linux install on the ssd to set up the game servers and teamspeak server etc: ( its a game server computer ) and wondered if i could put the ssd in. Partition 20% of the ssd to be non usable ( safety thing for filling ) and putting in downloaded files into the ssd. Then boot via the ssd. set it up and when the motherboard arrives its just to plug and play.. And install necessary drivers
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 NON PRO
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    AMD FX 8350 Stock Clock
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P
    Memory
    Crucial Ballistix Sport Overclocked to 1866Mhz 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 660 DirectCUII OC
    Sound Card
    Intergrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary; ASUS VG247QE 24" 144Hz. Secondary; HP 2009v 20" 60Hz, Third; Benq 21.5" 60Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1:1920x1080 2:1600:900 3: 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1: SAMSUNG 850 EVO 250GB SSD
    2: 1TB Seagate 3.5" 7200RPM SSHD
    3: 2TB WD Green 3.5" HDD
    PSU
    Corsair RM650
    Case
    Fractal Desigt Define R4 Windowed Black
    Cooling
    Cpu cooler: Noctua NH-U14S, 2 140MM Aerocool DS RED LED
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70RGB CherryMX Brown
    Mouse
    Roccat Kone XTD
    Internet Speed
    100Mb/s DOWN - 100Mb/s UP : Fiberoptics
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    F-Secure, Malwarebytes
I understand what you want to do ... I'm just saying that what your proposing may not work.

Things to consider:
1) When you install a Linux distro to the SSD it IS going to add the necessary drivers for the hardware components it finds. IT does that automatically as part of initial setup. It's not something you do manually. So, when done, it will have drivers installed to the SSD.
2) The new motherboard is almost certainly going to have different hardware. When you connect the SSD, it will do a hardware scan (like it did during install) and attempt to install the needed drivers for the new components. If it finds drivers for the all, you will be good to go, but if it does not, you will have some hardware that doesn't work.
3) If, among the things that do not work is the Networking, then you're going to have a really hard time getting drivers.

So, basically, what I recommend is making a bootable USB installer of the Distro you want to use on the new motherboard. When it arrives, boot from that and run the Distro in Live mode. That will allow you to see what hardware works, and what does not. Then, you can use your still working machine to search for the drivers needed, put them on a USB stick, and have them ready when you connect the SSD to the new motherboard.

For more details, you should really visit the forum of the Distro you plan to install. They will be able to provide you more detailed help about installation and drivers.
 

My Computer

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