Best way to install with partitions and boot.

I'm going to re-install Linux soon on my desktop and I want to have a bootloader that won't crap in my hand if I ever have a problem with Windows. Basically, what I want is:

Windows partition is on HDD 1
Linux partition will be on HDD 2

Linux's bootloader should have access to both Linux and Windows. Windows' bootloader needs to stay intact. In other word, if I put HDD1 as Master, it will boot into Windows directly, but if HDD 2 is Master, I will have GRUB with Windows & Linux.

What I'm thinking to do now is:
Unplugg HDD 1
Install Linux
Plugg HDD1
Manually add Windows to GRUB.

So if I ever need to re-innstall Windows for instance, I'll just unplugg HDD 2 and do my things, then fix GRUB. Is it the good way?

 

It's doable as you say.
I've got it done that way.

my /boot/grub/grub.conf:

[root@sol etc]# cat /boot/grub/grub.conf
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd2,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/mapper/rootvg-rootlv
# initrd /initrd-version.img
boot=/dev/sda1
default=0
timeout=15
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
# title Fedora (2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.x86_64)
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.x86_64 ro root=/dev/mapper/rootvg-rootlv rhgb quiet SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 LANG=en_US.UTF-8 KEYTABLE=us rdblacklist=nouveau
# initrd /initrd-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.x86_64.img
title Fedora (2.6.31.12-hax00)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.31.12-hax00 root=/dev/mapper/rootvg-rootlv rhgb quiet SYSFONT=latarcyrheb-sun16 LANG=en_US.UTF-8 KEYTABLE=us
initrd /initrd-2.6.31.12-hax00.img
title win7
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
chainloader +1


gl&hf

 

Simply install GRUB on HDD2. To use GRUB as the bootloader, you'd set HDD2 above HDD1 in the boot order (in your BIOS). If you want Windows to boot directly (without Windows being chainloaded through GRUB), you'd just put HDD1 above HDD2 in the boot priority settings.

 

I'm an ultra noob at Linux so i'll default to those with more knowledge, but what has worked for me is to first install Windows then Linux. Windows, especially Windows 7 will write over the Grub so you have to repair it thru the terminal, at least that's what i've read.

I have Windows 7 on partition # 1 and Mint on partition # and Linux doesn't ruin the Windows 7 bootloader.

 

GRUB won't touch the Windows bootloader. Every Windows bootloader overwrites the crap out of GRUB. As noted above, no need to physically unplug a drive, just set bootloader priorities. Both bootloaders are easy to fix even if they do get screwed, just pop in a Win7 install CD and fix the bcd, or for GRUB, LiveUSB / LiveCD and install -- reinstall libdebian-installer[somenumberhereiforget] , os-prober, update-grub.