Yes, Windows can terminate a dual-boot setup even if it's running on different drives.
Yes, Windows can terminate a dual-boot setup even if it's running on different drives.
You're wondering if switching your Windows 10 to Linux might cause issues, especially since both are installed on separate drives. It's possible that updating Windows could affect your Linux setup, though it depends on how the updates are handled. To prevent Windows from interfering with Linux, you can ensure both operating systems remain on their respective drives and avoid mixing them during updates. If you need further guidance, feel free to ask!
Ensure the Windows drive is disconnected and any other drives are excluded during installation to position the bootloader correctly.
I work with dual boot and both Windows and Linux can run together smoothly, even on the same storage. The main challenge comes when you install Windows after Linux, because it ignores the previous OS—so you’d lose Grub until you reinstall it, especially if you’re using a boot manager.
The Bios installs a boot manager, which then loads the operating system. The boot manager bundled with Windows is exclusive to Windows. Most Linux distributions include a boot manager like GRUB that can start various OSes. I’d also recommend removing the Windows drive if you truly wish to run Linux on the HDD, as suggested by @Kilrah. A better approach would be to use a fast USB drive and install Linux there for testing. Alternatively, downloading a 'Live' version might work, though keeping data there can be challenging.
Based on my own observations, even a quick USB drive tends to deliver quite limited performance. Remember that slower speeds usually stem from USB technology rather than Linux itself. Another consideration: placing the installation on a different drive with the Windows drive disconnected means Grub won’t recognize the Windows setup, making it impossible to switch OS without further adjustments later. This also reduces the chance of accidentally erasing your Windows installation.
USB stick offers ease of use, but my device is a compact 2242 SATA SSD housed in a tiny case—making it quick. Taking it out from the factory flash drive would really slow things down.