Same laptop 2 OS on different SSDs | Linus Tech Tips | Page 1

stark fractal Oct 21, 2022, 4:35 PM

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Hi Everybody.
today i have a computer that has a windows 10 installation with bitlocker enabled.
I wonder if i can buy another ssd, remove the ssd1 and replace it with my ssd2 and install windows again (other serial).
I know that this will be possible.
The trick is: will i be able to return to ssd1 and access my the other windows installation? Im not sure if that will work with bitlocker enabled as i dont know if windows install changes anything in bios after installation.
In the end i want to have 2 different windows installations that i can use any of them whenever i want just by replacing the ssds.
tks for the help.

mighty lion Oct 21, 2022, 5:08 PM

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Why not just have two partitions?

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Windows does not make any changes to the BIOS post-installation

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Short of the bios detecting the EFI partition and changing the default boot drive

stark fractal Oct 21, 2022, 5:23 PM

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Ssd1 cannot be touched... the stuff im talking about in bios is some kind of keys and custom keys. I not really sure if i understand them.

mighty lion Oct 21, 2022, 5:24 PM

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This seems like a lot of work just to have two windows installs

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I'm not super familiar with bitlocker. If I were in your position I'd attempt it, and if it doesn't work, wipe and return the second SSD

stark fractal Oct 21, 2022, 5:25 PM

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It is a very very specific use case 😉

mighty lion Oct 21, 2022, 5:25 PM

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What kinda use case?

stark fractal Oct 21, 2022, 5:26 PM

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100% Isolate installations

mighty lion Oct 21, 2022, 5:27 PM

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But why tho, sorry for prodding I'm just so curious

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I've answered the best I could - shouldn't be an issue. Try it and return drive if it doesn't work. Now I'm just curious

#Same laptop 2 OS on different SSDs