I'm new to Linux and considering switching to Mint for general use. However, I have some applications and games, like FL Studio and heavily modded Skyrim, that don't run well on Linux. So, I'm thinking about dual booting and just switching to Windows when necessary.
I've heard that dual booting from a single drive can lead to problems. What about if I install each OS on separate drives? Are there any potential issues or edge cases I should be aware of?
4 Answers
I've been dual booting with Windows and Linux on two separate drives for a while now and haven't run into any issues. Just make sure to be cautious when you're using disk management tools, and everything should be fine!
That's exactly my setup! I have a Dell with a 2TB SSD and added another one just like it. I've switched between them without too much hassle. Just a heads up, though; not all SSDs work seamlessly with Linux. I use Western Digital drives, and that's something to keep in mind when buying new components.
Occasionally, Windows can take over the boot menu and launch directly into Windows instead. It happened to me not long ago. I fixed it simply by going into UEFI settings and moving Linux to the top of the boot priority list. It’s quick and easy to fix, but it might not be a permanent solution. I keep Windows installed just because I have a license, but I rarely use it anymore. There are a lot of guides online that can help with recovering the boot menu if you need help.
In the past, when I'd add another hard drive, it created some issues with the boot order in BIOS. I think they've fixed this by now though, so it shouldn't be a concern now.
Same here! No problems at all in my experience.