Is Dual Booting with Separate SSDs a Good Idea?
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TechyTurtle93
I'm looking to try out Linux on my main PC, and I've got an open NVMe slot for a new 2TB SSD dedicated to Linux. I already have a 2TB SSD for Windows and a 1TB NVMe SSD for storing games and other files. Given that I'm using a B650 Aorus Ultra motherboard, will it be complicated to manage two different operating systems on separate SSDs? I also want to know if I can have a common drive that both OSs can access without losing any data. I understand I'll probably need to format the 1TB drive to ensure both systems can read it easily. Is it really just a matter of pressing one key or the other at boot to select the OS? I want to keep using some Windows apps that aren't compatible with Linux, like Fusion 360.
Answers
You’re all set to go! Just keep in mind that while most data can be shared between the two OSs on your 1TB drive, running games on it from Linux can be problematic, especially with anti-cheat software. If you plan to keep the 1TB drive for just file transfers, you shouldn't have any major issues. And selecting the OS at startup is really as easy as it sounds!
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Dual booting with two separate SSDs is actually a smart move! It'll keep your systems organized and should minimize complications. As for the shared 1TB drive, Linux can read and write to NTFS just fine, but be careful if you want to run games from it—could lead to file corruption. It's better used for exchanging files between Windows and Linux. And don't worry, you don’t need to reformat that drive; Linux will recognize it without any issues. Booting will be easy too—just press the right key at startup to pick your OS!
CuriousCat22: Thanks for the info! I'm glad to hear it's straightforward. I'm a bit worried about running games that have anti-cheat systems on Linux—would they give me a lot of trouble?
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TechyTurtle93: That's a relief! I just want a smooth transition while keeping my Windows applications available.