I have a desktop setup with two NVMe SSDs, each loaded with Windows 11. I mainly use SSD 1 for everyday tasks like gaming and banking, while SSD 2 is reserved for dodgy programs I wouldn't trust on my main setup. Given this, I want to avoid having both SSDs active at the same time to prevent any chance of malware from SSD 2 affecting SSD 1. Removing SATA SSDs is simple, just unplug them, but with NVMe, it's tricky because I have to deal with screws, and the SSDs are blocked by my CPU cooler and GPU. I'm looking for a way to completely disconnect one of the SSDs while using the other without having to unscrew or remove my hardware every time I want to switch. Depending on my needs, I might have to do this multiple times a day.
6 Answers
You could consider encrypting SSD 1. This means it won't be writable when you're not booted into it, though it's not foolproof against malware attacks.
Another way is to just remove the drive letter from the other drive in the OS. Each OS will think it only has one drive, or you could disable them in each OS to avoid access.
Riser cables for M.2 SSDs can really help here! They provide similar convenience as unplugging SATA cables and give you a totally isolated connection.
A PCIe expansion card could also work for you! It allows you to use extra PCIe slots for your NVMe drives, and there’s no reason you can’t use these for your main drives, too.
One option is to use an NVMe to USB 3 enclosure. This way, you can easily plug and unplug the SSDs without messing with your setup.
If you want to keep both SSDs installed, you can disable one of them in the BIOS to ensure they don't operate simultaneously. The USB enclosure option is safer, though.
But, can you boot from USB? Also, is there a risk of data corruption if the USB gets unplugged while you're using it?