Set up a Linux distro completely independently using its dedicated EFI drive on a new SSD.
Set up a Linux distro completely independently using its dedicated EFI drive on a new SSD.
I set up a dedicated 1TB SATA SSD for a separate Linux setup. I’m still choosing between Ubuntu or Arch, but dual booting causes partitions to overlap, which can cause issues. I need two independent installations on different drives—Windows 11 stays untouched on its NVMe drive, while the second OS gets its own boot loader and partitions on a separate SSD. I want to avoid removing the NVMe drive, which is difficult. How should I achieve this?
On certain systems you can set the drive type in M.2 slots, especially for NVMe devices. Changing it to SATA might render the drive unusable or unrecognizable. This issue appears to affect some units with a POST warning, while others revert automatically. If it doesn’t function on your setup, you may need to disable it to confirm.
Linux systems typically let you divide the storage yourself, letting you decide the exact location for your EFI partition. On Arch Linux you have full authority over bootloader selection and target drive, making it straightforward to stick to standard setup steps and point to the right disk when needed.
I'll go through both of these options. For most decent installers, manual partitioning should suffice. Windows often makes mistakes and reinstalling might need turning it off or, if that fails, removing the other drive just in case it tries to place its bootloader there.
It's unclear if the issue has been resolved. Previously, selecting a partition to place the EFI loader in the Ubuntu installer would cause it to ignore the choice and fall back on a previously found one.