I know many people who use Linux on secondary hard disks, and most of them have had problems using both Windows and Linux. The problem arises only when you don’t install it properly. Grub is one of the best boot-loaders available. It is also the most customizable. But what may seem easy to some people may look like climbing the Mt. Everest for others.

So here’s how you should install Linux(if you have a second HDD attached):
1. Switch on computer.
2. Press delete.
3. Change the “First Boot Device” in the Boot Settings or Advanced Settings to “HDD1″ from “HDD0″.
4. Insert your Linux CD/DVD and start the installation.
5. When you are prompted by messages asking you about how your system should be partitioned, you would generally also see “Boot Options” or something similar. Click on Boot Options, and setup the Bootloader in such a way so that your MBR(Master Boot Record) on your primary hard disk is not touched. It’s to change the destination where you’d like the Bootloader to be installed.
6. Once you’ve completed step 5, you may install Linux with all the features you’d like to see in your desktop OS and finish your installation.

This is almost always the only problem-free solution for installing Linux for testing or development. You may find this on a million other forums, but I just had to talk about Linux today because of the two calls I got from a couple of friends on how to fix their MBR.