I currently have a Dell laptop that runs Windows for work. I use an external SSD via the Thunderbolt port to boot Linux allowing me to use the laptop as a personal device on a completely separate drive. All I have to do is F12 at boot, then select boot from USB drive.

However, this laptop is only using 1 of the 2 internal M.2 ports. Can I install Linux on a 2nd M.2 drive? I would want the laptop to normally boot Windows without a trace of the second option unless the drive is specified from the BIOS boot options.

Will this cause any issues with Windows? Will I be messing anything up? For the external drive setup, I installed Linux on a different computer, then transferred the SSD to the external drive. Can I do the same for the M.2 SSD – install Linux on my PC, then transfer that drive to the laptop?

Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

Edit: Thank you everyone! This was a great discussion with a lot of great and thoughtful responses. I really appreciate the replies and all the valuable information and opinions given here.

  • thequickben@beehaw.org
    11·
    9 months ago

    I’ve seen many people fired for doing less on a work laptop. Do not modify the physical machine. I’m surprised they don’t have USB locked off already. I’d get a personal machine.

    • L3ft_F13ld!@links.hackliberty.org
      5·
      9 months ago

      This was my first thought as well.

      Be happy you can boot from a USB. Do NOT fuck with the machine unless you want to look for another job.