I’m applying for a job which would require me to have a Windows computer to work from home. If I get this job, I would have to use my own computer. I have a SSD and a larger HDD. What I would like to do is to put Windows on the HDD. How bad an idea is this to try to do? I realize it will mess up my grub boot. How hard will it be to get my EndeavourOS to boot properly again? (I need a job, but I’m almost hoping I won’t get it so I don’t have to ruin my perfect computer haha)
What job requires you to have a computer but doesn’t also provide one? That’s interesting.
Is it a desktop? I used to have separate SSD in one computer, one with Windows, one with Mint at the time and I would just use the BIOS if the computer to boot into respective disks.
Ummm - I would install rEFInd before Windows - then if grub goes, so what? (you could fix it easily after booting with rEFInd anyway)
Separate drives you can just select from boot menu in bios. If you are that worried just unplug the SSD (while the system is off ) and install windoze on the HD.
Not hard.
Prepare partitions, install Windows, restore GRUB.
Just make sure you have a Linux live installer environment prepared…
VOIP tech support
Customer service, but yes.
You didn’t state if your computer was a laptop or desktop.
If it is a desktop, I would highly recommend for reliability to do as @fbodymechanic suggested and use two separate storage devices and use BIOS (usually F11) to boot into the desired OS.
Pudge
Once Windows is installed, boot Endeavour (with the Windows disk connected) and run the following:
sudo pacman -S --needed os-prober
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
That will add Windows to the GRUB menu.
Personally, because this is what I do for work, I’d run Windows in a VM. That way you get the best of both worlds.
I’m running a laptop and am concerned that I don’t have the hardware to support that. I have only 16GB of RAM for example, when that’s the minimum amount that they state they need when I applied
Linux uses so much less RAM compared to Win10, you can give windows 8GB and be fine. Start with 2 cores & 4GB and see how it is, bump it up incrementally if need be.
I have a laptop, but I did install it on my HDD with EndeavourOS on my SSD. Everything seems to be fine, except that Windows has already frowny face blue screened on me.
Installing Windows after the fact
Euw.
After, before, next to, above, below… all the same; euw.
Good luck [ps: your employer sounds quite sucky].
If your job is not some 3D modeling or game dev, but rather simple communication or something light - i’d make VM (VirtualBox is easy), not to mess with whole dual-boot thing!
I’d never accept such job though, it’s like insult
When applying to new one i always first state: “If you want me as a professional - prepare for me to newer install / use: Windows, Skype, Zoom, TikTok, Instagram etc.”
And i don’t hesitate to walk away, if it’s “required”, usually when you do so - some greater opportunity without bs comes out fast anyway
But you know, just personal experience
You could install W*****s
on a separate drive and not mess with dual boot (i.e. not use grub to boot W*****s
).
Though, I believe that malware called W*****s
belongs locked away in a VM, and not on real hardware.
As the OP mentioned, some hardware can’t handle VMs comfortably… so a dual boot of SOME kind is an answer…
Separate drive is a good idea, and rEFInd would handle that too, if desired - to save a BIOS trip every time the boot needs to be switched…
…or acquiring better hardware capable of running W*****s
in a VM.
Hopefully, this job will come with some sort of a salary, so I think it’s a good investment not to have malware running on real hardware.
But that’s just my opinion
I’m struggling to discern your sentiments here. Some people should learn to get off the fence.
He’s going to get paid - but why create further misery by making it run worse? Besides, maybe it could be “Wine’d” after he runs it a while