So i've installed Ubuntu,Elementary OS, and linux mint. I also did this on separate ssd, so not to screw up Windows partitions.
Elementary OS and Ubuntu read my NTFS drive in file explorer. Linux Mint does not, it gives out error of not being able to mount.
Also using a laptop with a monitor. I power it on and close lid. How can I have the lid closed and have it not go to sleep/hibernate mode when in linux? On Windows, I have the lid closed and it just send the video signal to monitor.
My hdmi doesn't give signal/video until I either boot Windows or linux. So stuff like grub,bios, ie: anything before OS boot never show on monitor. Having the lid closed, I cant see what I am doing until it's too late to choose os to boot.
Any way to change it so, grub doesn't time out and I can press a button: 1=Windows 2=Linux
This way, I can easily just press a button on my external keyboard and not have to see what is going on.
Mint will detect the NTFS drive, you probably just need to reboot the system, go into windows, and then properly shut down.
Yes. If you play around in the power settings you should be able to find the options you need to configure your laptop.
I doubt it. That is a laptop question and not an OS question. Your best bet is to play around in the laptop bios and see what you can find.
And yes depending on your laptops BIOS. You can easily configure grub to not have a time out. Just google how to configure grub, and you will find several helpful guides.
The key here is to make sure that your external keyboard can work in grub. So long as you can currently navigate grub with your keyboard, you should be fine.
That you should be able to change in the BIOS/UEFI of the Labtop; Set the primary output to external/hdmi/or what ever not means the built in display ;-)
Google for grub settings; gurb time out that should give you plenty how-tos for that topic.
Linux also has powersettings where you can set what shall happen when you close the lid.
Thanks it was really helpful. I also looked through my bios, but no setting to change default video out. My Bios are really restrictive, so no real options.
I will check power settings again, I didn't see any setting for lid opening/closing the first time.
My best option should be trying to change grub timeout setting, then memorize what to press to boot a certain OS.
Try shutting down Windows while holding Shift, it should properly shutdown and unlock the windows partition in your hard drive for Mint to see. The setting @Tjj226_Angel is talking about makes this "real shut down" default, in power options turn off Fast Startup and Sleep Mode.
It got introduced with Windows 8; gosh that caused me a looot of headache back than; It also makes you able to access the UEFI in machines using intel rapid boot(?!) options;
The new (erish) Lenovo branded Laptops need that as you cant access it by pressing F2 or Enter anymore
Linux is on external drive-set as 1st drive. Windows-set as 2nd drive
So if I leave usb 3.0 drive plugged at boot, I get linux. I just press enter or wait for timeout. If I remove it before powering on, I get windows because its the 2nd option.
Fixed lid issue. Bios/HDMI issue can't be fixed, but above is the workaround.
A little update. Been using Linux for a couple of hours and find app selection to be severely lacking. Also app UI is also a hit or miss, with some looking great and others looking straight out of 1990's. The main issue, is excessive heat and freezing on my amd laptop.
I think a VM would have less load on my system, even running 2 windows vm doesn't cause as much heat as linux by itself.