Linux requires a Windows installation to start properly.
Linux requires a Windows installation to start properly.
You're experiencing an issue where removing the Windows SSD causes your Linux system to fail to boot, leaving only the Linux Mint interface visible. This suggests a potential conflict or dependency between the two operating systems. It's not necessarily a total loss of your Linux setup, but it does raise concerns about stability if the Windows side is compromised.
My initial reaction was that the EFI bootloader shares with Windows. However, it seems impossible if you're encountering the GRUB bootloader and an option to start Linux/Windows without the Windows partition connected. To understand why it freezes, Linux uses a text-based boot sequence. Modifying the GRUB configuration as suggested here can help—https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=347913. When you boot Mint, instead of a logo, you'll now see a continuous scrolling display of the boot steps. Which line appears during boot when the Windows drive is removed?
I believe your fstab file includes the Windows disk, but it can't locate it and causes issues. Review the /etc/fstab file.
You're looking to adjust the fstab file to exclude your Windows drive. That makes sense—just edit the relevant section and save it. Make sure you're targeting only the drive you want removed, not the entire system. If unsure, double-check the drive letters and confirm the changes before applying them.
Make sure to exclude the Windows partition from fstab. Remove the corresponding UUID entry, then save the changes and restart your system; it should function properly.
The fstab doesn't list a "windows drive." Insert your Windows drive, power on, and view the results with lsblk. The UUID mounted at /boot/efi could be stored elsewhere—possibly on an NVMe device—so we can adjust it if needed for exclusive creation. That's why you should always note your fstab entries.