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.
I have to second the get your own laptop.
The company I work for has software that does hardware / software inventory regularly. So additional hardware added can and will show up.
Also, when hired we are told in in uncertain terms that tampering with the laptop can and will be grounds for termination.
Booting off of an external drive is ill advised as many work laptops have restrictions to the USB/thunderbolt ports as well as modifying bios settings.
Lastly, using corporate hardware (be it a cell phone, or a laptop) should never be used for personal use. It’s a good way to lose your job. I know more than one person in my career that lost their job either from texts sent from a work cell phone, or using their work computer for personal things. It’s just not worth it.