Can I install Windows 11 on a separate NVMe without breaking GRUB?
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MellowCedar47
I currently use a 512GB NVMe as my Bazzite system drive, plus a hard drive and a 2TB NVMe formatted with ext4. I'm considering installing Windows 11 on that 2TB drive so I can use it for a dedicated video game modding setup, then moving the drive from an older laptop into my desktop. Will this work reliably without damaging my existing GRUB or Linux boot setup? Also, what tool would you recommend for creating the Windows installation USB—Fedora Media Writer, Balena Etcher, or something else?
Answers
A separate Windows drive is perfectly workable, and you can choose between the two systems through the motherboard’s boot menu. Some people even swap the drives instead of changing bootloader settings, though that’s less convenient than configuring a proper dual-boot entry. Just make sure both operating systems are installed in UEFI mode.
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For the installer USB, use Microsoft’s official Windows 11 ISO and a tool such as Ventoy or Fedora Media Writer. Balena Etcher can work for some images, but Ventoy is convenient because you copy the ISO onto the prepared USB rather than rewriting the drive each time. Back up anything important before repartitioning or moving the NVMe.
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Yes, but the safest approach is to disconnect your Linux drives before installing Windows. Windows sometimes places its EFI boot files on an existing drive instead of creating them on the target NVMe, and it can also interfere with the current bootloader. With the other drives unplugged, Windows should create its own EFI partition on the 2TB drive. Reconnect the Linux drive afterward and select the desired OS from your firmware boot menu or update GRUB if needed.
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MellowCedar47: So I could install Windows on the laptop first and then move that NVMe into the desktop?
PixelHarbor8: It may boot, but moving an installed Windows system between different hardware can trigger driver, activation, or boot issues. Installing it in the desktop with the other drives disconnected is generally the cleaner option.