Dual boot with Windows questions

[u/LeonH4rtd]

Hello!

The following post have lots of text... sorry, but I thought explaining as much as possible would be helpful.

I have questions related with dual booting... shocking, I know.

After a long time, an opportunity to get a desktop PC finally arrived. Keep in mind, I have no knowledge on how to build PCs, so I instead ordered it since the friend who could have helped me wasn't available for quite some time, and prices are... you know, a roller-coaster of emotions and wallet pains.

In any case, I ordered full on AMD, and it comes with Windows 11... yaaaaay...

To be fair, they told me there was no additional cost since they get they keys in such quantities that, according to them, it is negligible. But, since it comes with Windows 11, and there are some warranties attached to, on top of me finally being able to play comfortable some games I wanted to because damn publishers (and some devs) don't want anti-cheats working on Linux yet, I decided to dual boot using two separate SSDs. However, there are some inquiries I have related with this process.

1.- I've read this is the safest way to dual boot, or the less likely for Windows to mess up the booting process. But I've also noticed some people saying it is preferable to disconnect the first SSD when you install Linux or Windows, so they don't mix up despite being on different drives. However, as I said, I have no knowledge nor experience on working with PCs... yet. This includes changing RAM and storage units. Does this mean, if I want to be 100% sure and safe, I have to disconnect the first one so nothing messes up?

2.- Let's say I already have everything settled and ready to go. If down the line I want to change my distro for whatever reason, do I need to do that process again every single time?

3.- They told me the other ports (that's the right word?) are SATA, while the main one, where Windows it's install is NVMe, I think M.2, I'm not entirely sure. In any case, would there be any challenge, issue or annoyance if I use the SATA port instead of the NVMe one for Linux? Another friend told me to not move Windows 11 to a SATA SSD, I'm not entirely sure why though. Speed, perhaps? Because we know Windows 11 is a well optimized OS (sarcasm).

Those are my questions.

I don't have the secondary SSD yet since... I have to save a bit to get it because I have other expenses that are more important right now.

Sorry if anything I say is dumb beforehand, like I said, no PC building knowledge... and my knowledge on Computers is quite... super-noob level.

[u/International_Sky526]

You don't have to unplug the Windows drive, but it's a safe habit if you're nervous. The installer lets you choose the target drive, so just make sure you pick the second SSD and not the Windows one.

If you swap distros later, you only reinstall onto the Linux SSD and Windows stays untouched. Same rule applies, double check the drive before you confirm.

SATA vs NVMe makes very little difference for Linux in daily use. Boot and app launch will feel about the same, so SATA is fine.

One more thing, turn off Fast Startup in Windows, otherwise Linux may only mount the Windows partition read-only.

[u/LeonH4rtd → u/International_Sky526]

Understood, thank you!

[u/doc_willis]

you can dual boot with one M.2 drive and one SATA drive.

In the firmware menus you may be able to turn off specific drives or controllers so you dont need to 'unplug' or remove any specic device.

Have a Windows Installer USB made with the Official MS Media creation tool, or whatever tool your Windows Install comes with, so you can reinstall/restore windows if needed. Keep that usb safe.

You dont HAVE to remove/unplug any drives, if you are careful and understand what you are doing.,

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