Can I install Windows 11 on a separate NVMe without breaking GRUB?
Asked by
MellowKite47
I currently use a 512GB NVMe as my Bazzite system drive, along with a hard drive and a separate 2TB NVMe formatted as ext4. I'm considering installing Windows 11 onto that 2TB drive so I can move it between my old laptop and desktop for a dedicated game-modding setup. Will installing Windows on the separate NVMe leave my existing GRUB/Linux boot setup intact? Would it be better to install Windows directly in the desktop, or can I install it in the laptop and then move the NVMe over? Also, what's the best tool for creating the Windows installation USB—Fedora Media Writer, Balena Etcher, or something else?
Answers
For creating the installer, use Microsoft’s official Windows 11 ISO and a tool that supports writing it correctly to a USB drive. Fedora Media Writer or Balena Etcher may work depending on the ISO, but Ventoy is often convenient because you install Ventoy to the USB and then copy the ISO onto it. Whichever method you use, boot the installer in UEFI mode and double-check the target disk before formatting.
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Yes, this should work, but disconnect the Linux system drive and any other drives during the Windows installation. Windows sometimes places its EFI boot files on a different connected disk, and isolating the target drive ensures it creates its own EFI partition there instead of touching your existing GRUB setup. Afterward, reconnect the Linux drive and select the desired OS through your firmware boot menu or GRUB.
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You can move the NVMe, but installing Windows in the laptop and then transferring it to the desktop may trigger driver changes, activation issues, or hardware-specific problems. For the smoothest result, install it while the drive is connected to the desktop where it will normally be used. Windows 11 should boot in UEFI mode as long as the desktop supports the required settings, such as TPM and Secure Boot compatibility.
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A separate Windows drive won’t normally destroy GRUB. You can also switch between operating systems by choosing the appropriate drive in the motherboard’s one-time boot menu. Just be careful when selecting disks in the installer, and keep backups of anything important.
MellowKite47: Using the boot menu sounds preferable to having Windows change the Linux boot entries.
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MellowKite47: That makes sense. If I install Windows on the NVMe while it’s in my laptop, can I just move the drive to the desktop afterward?