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.

    • @beeng@discuss.tchncs.de
      1•5 months ago

      I was more looking for a functional reason, not just a “cos I said so” from the employer.

      I thought maybe some of you work in cybersec had a real answer or a cve/attack vector etc.

      • Lath
        6•5 months ago

        One doesn’t need to work in cybersec to know that the vast majority of attacks work because the targeted users have personal dum-dum moments.

        • @beeng@discuss.tchncs.de
          4•5 months ago

          You might need to, to know the windows partition has bitlocker (if the cybersec is worth their salt) of which is opened at windows login with a password.

          So again, how is this accessed by the Linux partition?

          Really just wanting to know how you see this happening… Presumably info being leaked from the work partition…

          • Lath
            -2•5 months ago

            Excuse my lack of cybersex knowledge, but if you plug in an infected appendage to a hub, then can’t that hub become infected as well and pass along the STI to any other appendage plugged in?
            Far as I remember, wearing a condom isn’t a guaranteed protection against infections.

      • @Borkdornsorkpor@lemmy.mlEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        I get what you’re asking, but this seems akin to stealing an ATM and then when the bank calls the cops you ask “but how would I even get inside? This is thick steel, there’s no way to get the money out of there without using my debit card anyway so idk what the big deal is.”

        Like you’re not entirely wrong, but for one thing the bank has every reason to suspect you might try to break in anyway. But more importantly, stealing it is a crime in and of itself. So the “because the employer said so” angle is absolutely valid here and more than enough reason to not do this because trying to load a separate OS that will give you root privileges to the device is shady af and will 100% violate whatever contract OP had to sign before they were given that laptop unless their IT dept is completely incompetent.