Configure your external SSD for multi-boot setup.
Configure your external SSD for multi-boot setup.
To everyone who visits and leaves comments on this thread, I appreciate your support ahead of time. My friend plans to set up a multi-boot external SSD using a Samsung T7, installing Windows 10, Ubuntu, and Kali Linux. He wants to maintain his M.2 SSD for gaming and video production. If he encrypts the drive with BitLocker, will it remain accessible or can it be changed on the multi-boot system? His main aim is to protect the M.2 SSD from any modifications in this combined setup. I welcome your creative and technical suggestions. Thank you.
No, unless you possess the key. It really depends on your approach to managing BitLocker. Are you utilizing a TPM for BitLocker? Have you committed to that storage device? If not yet, check out the iDrive drives—they allow you to hold several virtual drives, eliminating the need to interfere with bootloaders. I’ll install Windows 10 first via Windows to navigate, then reduce the partition and add Linux distributions there. Finally, I’ll set up GRUB.
Bitlocker with or without TPM doesn't influence the performance of an external multi-boot drive. Your setup won't be affected by whether it has a TPM or not. I understand your preference for simplicity—no need for multiple boot loaders. Your Asus 570 Pro board is fine, and since you haven’t bought the SSD yet, you might want to explore IODD drives later.
This won't change the speed, but it will impact the security and options of BitLocker. Are you interested in using BitLocker on the external drive? Yes, it works great for this. Just add some VHDs to it, and you can create a separate VHD for each operating system.
I don't recommend this approach. Encrypting an M.2 SSD with BitLocker doesn't fully protect against a Multi-boot Drive, as it may not cover all storage areas or configurations. Consider alternative security measures.
Encrypting your M.2 SSD with BitLocker prevents direct access to files stored on the drive, so you won’t see errors like "FILE INACCESSIBLE." If you attempt to open a file from Windows installation on the encrypted drive, it will likely fail. Accessing the BitLocker-protected file from the Multi-boot drive will also result in an error, as the system enforces encryption restrictions.