Hey folks, I'm a Linux Mint user and I love how fast and stable it is for my work. Recently, I've been needing to use software like Excel and Power BI for data analytics, but using them in a VirtualBox VM has been extremely sluggish. I'm exploring different options and am considering dual booting with Windows. However, I'm a bit cautious because I've heard that Windows updates can potentially mess with the bootloader, which I want to avoid at all costs. So, I'm thinking about installing Windows on an external SSD and only booting from it when necessary. My questions are: Will this setup provide decent performance for tools like Excel and Power BI? Is it a reliable solution for occasional use, such as for projects or online assessments? What major drawbacks should I be aware of? I'd really appreciate any advice from those who have experience with this setup! Thanks!
3 Answers
I've been dual booting Windows and Linux for years, and if you set everything up correctly, it works seamlessly. Running Windows 11 from an external SSD? Not the best option, though. I'd suggest sticking with dual booting if you can manage without complicating your setup too much.
If you're serious about dual booting, take the time to learn how to set it up properly. It really pays off in the long run, instead of juggling external drives.
Running Windows from an external USB drive can be tricky, and reliability may vary. It's generally better to use eSATA if your motherboard supports it, as it's more stable than USB for this kind of use. Just a heads up, I've noticed that external setups can lead to unexpected issues, so do your homework first!
I saw that Microsoft recommends using Windows To Go for this. Do you think that would help my situation? But I only have one SSD slot available; would that be a problem?
The issue is my laptop only has one SSD slot available, so dual booting looks complicated.