Which device to install the bootloader should I choose?

[KeplerBR]

I have an Acer Aspire E1 with Windows 8.1 installed from factory.
I need to install in dualboot the Linux Mint without formatting the computer and safely.

I kept the UEFI and deactivated the secureboot, and liberated 80GB from Windows.


However, I am in doubt on one of the installation steps. Which device should I install the bootloader?
The options are:

• /dev/sda
• /dev/sda1
• /dev/sda2
• /dev/sda3
• /dev/sda4
• /dev/sda5

In the table above, have the following:

• /dev/sda1 | ntfs | 419mb total | 288MB used
• /dev/sda2 | efi | 314mb total | 52mb used.
• Windows is in / dev/sda4
• Free space (not inform the sda), is where I want to install Mint
• /dev/sda5 | 18.533mb total | 15.586mb used
• Free Space | 0mb total

[Hendrick]

When you're on an EFI system, I think it's best to install GRUB in the EFI boot partition (sda2).
You could also install GRUB someplace else and use a program like EasyBCD to let the Windows
bootmanager do the work. This would not be my recommendation.

[Derek_S]

Hello KeplerBR - Grub should be installed to /dev/sda2, the EFI partition. This is the same partition that Windows uses for boot.

[mr_raider]

Normally, if you boot the installer in EFI mode, it should detect the EFI partition, and even if you set it to install at /dev/sda, it will install to the right partition.

[KeplerBR]

The Mint successfully installed! Thank you very much!

Follow what you talk about, I created the partitions for Mint (/, /home and swap) and let the installer work.

I was afraid of having caused "something wrong" that could break the Windows, but everything went without a problem.
Additionally, I needed to configure the boot order of computer, because Windows was running before of GRUB. A few clicks and now everything works perfectly - it might be good Mint installer do this automatically since it may confuse some users.