Ttgjyuk

I want to install Ubuntu alongside windows 7 on a seperate SSD. So windows 7 is installed on my first SSD (sda), then I have two further HDDs for data (sdb and sdc) and on the second SSD (sdd) I want to install Ubunut.

I have now chosen "something else" in the installation but I don't know now, which device to choose for the bootloader. I've searched in the internet but I always find answers, where windows and ubuntu is installed at the same SSD (HDD) just on another partition.

What makes me wonder is the following entry in the list for the boot loader devices:
/dev/sdc1 Windows 7 (loader)

I'm wondering why the loader is on sdc instead of sda (I've installed Windows on sda but that was already some years ago so I don't fully remember, what I did exactly)

Here some further information from parted:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo parted -l
Model: ATA M4-CT128M4SSD2 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 128GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 1049kB 128GB 128GB primary ntfs


Model: ATA WDC WD20EZRZ-00Z (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 2000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
 1 17.4kB 134MB 134MB Microsoft reserved partition msftres
 2 135MB 2000GB 2000GB ntfs Basic data partition msftdata


Model: ATA SAMSUNG HD103SJ (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 1049kB 1000GB 1000GB primary ntfs boot


Model: ATA Samsung SSD 860 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdd: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 1049kB 246GB 246GB primary ntfs


Model: Generic Flash Disk (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 4038MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
 1 1049kB 4038MB 4037MB primary fat32 boot, lba

Since sda is MBR(msdos) partitioned, Windows is the old BIOS/MBR boot. And then you want Ubuntu installed in BIOS boot, but have boot loader in same drive as Ubuntu, and keep Windows boot loader on Windows drive.

Only if installing to sdb which is gpt partitioned, you will also need a 1 or 2MB unformatted partition with the bios_grub flag.

Just use Something Else install option and choose correct drive (not partition) on the partitioning screen. Do not use any auto install option as that will install grub to drive seen as sda, overwriting your Windows boot loader.

If no Windows skip those screens, but partitioning screenshot shows combo box at bottom for drive to install grub bootloader, choose sdd if that is drive you are installing into:

How to use manual partitioning during installation?

After install set BIOS to boot from drive you installed Ubuntu, or sdd. But it will show drive by brand/model not sdd.