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My problem is unrelated to this workaround (the question) here, but the end result is that I cannot change boot order (or use a boot menu) on my laptop. It is currently running Ubuntu 12.04 with a dual-boot to Fedora if anything goes catastrophically wrong with Ubuntu (read "if I mess it up").
I would really like to install Windows 7 (but XP would be fine) on an empty FAT32 partition I have already made because of issues with WINE-emulated programs running more slowly than under Windows. The problem is, I can only boot from my hard drive. I can boot from other devices by removing the hard drive, but this is irrelevant because SATA is non-hotpluggable (I can't plug it back in to install).
Is there any way I could boot up a Windows installer CD (or other CDs)? (I know how to keep my Linux distros.) I have both the .iso's and the physical CDs (or can obtain them).
This may be unneeded, but just as a disclaimer this is completely legal. The computer belongs to me, I have admin privs, etc. I'm not doing anything shady!
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Actually SATA IS hot-pluggable. "The Serial ATA Spec includes logic for SATA device hotplugging. Devices and motherboards that meet the interoperability specification are capable of hot plugging."
– Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2012-06-22T18:31:36.820Well, that's interesting, but the GParted LiveCD seems to have not done that. Maybe Acer was lax. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-06-22T18:39:19.430
I didn't know that, thank you. (Didn't mean to come off as too brusque there.) – WindowsEscapist – 2012-06-22T18:45:14.887
No problems. Just figured I'd throw that out there so you know it (may be) available as an option, after all. :) – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2012-06-22T18:46:27.587
Yeah, I might try re-plugging the hard drive while syslinux is still loading the kernel for GParted. I would have to time it pretty exactly, though. – WindowsEscapist – 2012-06-22T18:52:47.890
Upvotes for everyone! I've had this q up for days on Ask Ubuntu, and in forty minutes a possible solution! Thanks SO MUCH (this is my only computer)!!!! – WindowsEscapist – 2012-06-22T19:07:43.847